Fuel Quality

[Crumm]

Here in Alaska all the trucking companies are having some major performance and fuel mileage issues with Cat engines. The company I work for got together with Caterpillar and did some extensive testing on a dyno with Seattle fuel and Alaska fuel. With a 500 hp C15 Cat on the dyno they got 50hp more on the Seattle fuel than they did with the Alaska fuel. They also tested a 565 ISX Cummins engine and found a loss of about 5hp with the Seattle fuel if that makes any sense. Several weeks ago we started shipping fuel from Seattle to the local terminal and the fuel mileage increases have shown up already with the Cat engines. The drivers are also much happier with the extra power it makes. I personally run a Cummins ISX and tried the Seattle fuel and found that I lost some power and about .5 mpg so I have went back to using Alaska fuel. Cat has admitted that these results show that they have some problems with there fuel mapping and are working to fix the problem. Prior to this testing they were not willing to do a thing. They also sent the Alaska fuel in for some lab tests and the testing firm found it to be the worst fuel they had ever tested.

This testing has got me to thinking about what we put in our trucks. Have you guys noticed any power/mileage differences depending on what refinery your fuel comes out of? My mileage has always been low compared to what some guys say they get.. This bad Alaska fuel may be why I can only get 16mpg on a good day when some claim 20mpg. I normally only run 14-15mpg empty and 10 or less when loaded down(16k).

 

[blueoneton]

Crumm,

Interesting artical.

That is a fine looking truck hard to believe it's a 1996 looks newer. How many miles on it?

blueoneton

 

[Crumm]

Crumm,
That is a fine looking truck hard to believe it's a 1996 looks newer. How many miles on it?

blueoneton

A little over 65,000 miles. I have not paid attention here lately so I am not exactly sure. Might be approaching 70K She has had a fairly easy life compared to most other than the extreme low temps she has to endure.

 

[blueoneton]

Wow, very low miles on a 1996, like I said truck looks good. I like the tires you have. I'm not sure if the tires you have will work on my 2002 F350 4x4 factory rims?

 

[Crumm]

315/75R16's will fit on factory 16" wheels but work better on wider wheels. I like the narrower rims as I can run lower tire pressure for better traction yet still get even tire wear. When loaded I would rather have a wider wheel so that tread wear will be even with higher pressures.

 

[blueoneton]

Thanks Crumm,

I will keep that in mind next time around. I ended up going with the factory size tire again. Will the larger tires like yours be harder on the front end? My truck although a 4x4 F350 is stock.

I live in Maryland, not as cold as your neck of the woods but we do get some cold winters. I run the Rotella 15w40, do you think that is a decent oil?


blueoneton

 

[hheynow]

I get better fuel mileage on wvo from a fish house than from a chicken fry. Must be the Omega 3s.

 

[blueoneton]

hheynow,


I liked that one!!

 

[BIG JOE]

Here in Alaska all the trucking companies are having some major performance and fuel mileage issues with Cat engines. The company I work for got together with Caterpillar and did some extensive testing on a dyno with Seattle fuel and Alaska fuel. With a 500 hp C15 Cat on the dyno they got 50hp more on the Seattle fuel than they did with the Alaska fuel. They also tested a 565 ISX Cummins engine and found a loss of about 5hp with the Seattle fuel if that makes any sense. Several weeks ago we started shipping fuel from Seattle to the local terminal and the fuel mileage increases have shown up already with the Cat engines. The drivers are also much happier with the extra power it makes. I personally run a Cummins ISX and tried the Seattle fuel and found that I lost some power and about .5 mpg so I have went back to using Alaska fuel. Cat has admitted that these results show that they have some problems with there fuel mapping and are working to fix the problem. Prior to this testing they were not willing to do a thing. They also sent the Alaska fuel in for some lab tests and the testing firm found it to be the worst fuel they had ever tested.

This testing has got me to thinking about what we put in our trucks. Have you guys noticed any power/mileage differences depending on what refinery your fuel comes out of? My mileage has always been low compared to what some guys say they get.. This bad Alaska fuel may be why I can only get 16mpg on a good day when some claim 20mpg. I normally only run 14-15mpg empty and 10 or less when loaded down(16k).

Good Post Crumm.

I worked in the Fuel Receipt & Delivery business for the FedGov for 25 years. In the first 20 years, or so, we only rejected 2 loads of #2 diesel (dirty fuel). In the last years of my career we rejected better than 25 to 30 loads.

With GOV regs on anti-monopoly, the suppliers were any Vendor who met the GOV requirements and capabilities.

In the beginning we would just do a visual check for clarity, an API gravity for grade, and accept it. In the end, we had to run a full and complete API Lab test on every load. Clarity, gravity, PPM particulates, flash point and a couple others I can't remember (Retirement issues ). We received.. Cloudy, Sour (old), Dead (flash pt.), high PPM (dirty) and wet (water content) Diesel. The loads came from Big Brand Oil companies and some of the smaller ones too.

Kinda goes along with your "Supplier" point ? Cat & Cummins have some Mapping issues but:

The Big Fuel Guru's back East told us the reasons were: World Wide Demand for Diesel grade Fuels. The Refineries are "Crack'n Diesel fuels as fast as they can but QA may slide some. Beware.

Vendors were put on notice to QA any Diesel fuels delivered to DOD entities. From the Refinery or the Distrabution Terminal.

I don't think We, the Private Sector Consumer would be exempt from any of this these days, with whats going on in the World.

About the only thing we can do is, buy our fuel from places that have a GOOD turnover of product and keep our filters clean.