DIESEL CETANE RATINGS

[jdog]

I have read that Cetane ratings for diesel fuel should be at 45 or higher. Most available diesel fuels are at 40 Cetane. Miniumum California Cetane diesel fuels are required to be at least 50.What do you guys know about Diesesl Cetane ratings? Does Cetane booster need to be add to the fuel?

[wny_pat1]

moparmaga2 wrote:
I don't think that is does any good to worry about the Cetane ratings.

Why?

I have never been to a diesel pump that states its Cetane rating on the pump like a gas pump states its octane.

Usually, the pumps are only labeled ON-Highway Diesel.

Unless you are going to carry a chemistry kit with you in your RV, what good would it do to worry?

Many states require it be posted on the pump, just like they require that octane be posted on the gas pumps. All depends on the state's law.

[wcjeep]

Unless you are going to Alaska or Canada I wouldn't worry about cetane,#1 or #2 diesel. Find station with high volume sales and clean filters.

[mowermech]

moparmaga2 wrote:
I don't think that is does any good to worry about the Cetane ratings.

Why?

I have never been to a diesel pump that states its Cetane rating on the pump like a gas pump states its octane.

Usually, the pumps are only labeled ON-Highway Diesel.

Unless you are going to carry a chemistry kit with you in your RV, what good would it do to worry?

Yeah, it isn't like there is a lot of choice, other than buying chemical junk to pour in the fuel tank.
If you get tempted to buy any of that stuff, do yourself and your engine a favor and look up the MSDS on it so you can see exactly what you are feeding your very expensive engine. It is quite likely you will find it is naphtha, light machine oil, and benzene, with traces (less than 5% by volume) of other stuff.

[Lynnmor]

I have a 6.7 Ford diesel that is rather quiet. A few times I got fuel that caused a much higher noise level. The way these engines work is that they inject a small amount of fuel at first and the main charge later. If the cetane is so low that the small charge doesn't ignite, and get the fire started, then the main charge ignites causing the noise that the old diesels made. When I add cetane improver the noise subsides. Cetane is the opposite of octane, the higher number will ignite more readily.

[moparmaga2]

I don't think that is does any good to worry about the Cetane ratings.

Why?

I have never been to a diesel pump that states its Cetane rating on the pump like a gas pump states its octane.

Usually, the pumps are only labeled ON-Highway Diesel.

Unless you are going to carry a chemistry kit with you in your RV, what good would it do to worry?

[spadoctor]

Cetane is to diesels what octane is to gasoline. The higher the cetane the more power until you reach about 48 then levels off. Cetane is related to the paraffin level of the fuel, that's why if the fuel has been cut with kero for cold weather the cetane goes down and requires a booster. The fed requires all ON ROAD diesel to be a minimum of 40. You should not need higher to run well.

[John___Angela]

jdog wrote:
I have read that Cetane ratings for diesel fuel should be at 45 or higher. Most available diesel fuels are at 40 Cetane. Miniumum California Cetane diesel fuels are required to be at least 50.What do you guys know about Diesesl Cetane ratings? Does Cetane booster need to be add to the fuel?

I don't know much about diesel but I know our european diesels run smoother and quieter with a cetane additive. For whatever reason the same thing happens with biodiesel.

[downtheroad]

ScottG wrote:
I have never given cetane ratings a second thought.

Me either. I pull up, pump, pay, and get on down the road.

[Old-Biscuit]

I think it has been mandated by EPA since 1994 that 40 was the minimum.

[ScottG]

I have never given cetane ratings a second thought.

[2oldman]

Nothing more than what I could look up on my own.