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Finding a gas station with diesel

22K views 126 replies 36 participants last post by  Snipe656 
#1 · (Edited)
In my short ownership of the X5 diesel, I've been to the gas station three times to put some diesel in. It's been an interesting exercise, as the first gas station (Exxon) I went to that sold diesel, only sold ULSD with 20% biodiesel (B20). Almost made a huge mistake of putting in the wrong diesel on my first fueling attempt. Found a Shell station a few exits down with the right diesel.

On my next fueling attempt, I could only find LSD (500 ppm) diesel pumps at the exit I took. Thankfully I was paying extra attention and did not put in wrong diesel. Again, found a Shell station with right type of diesel a few exits up on I-40.

Third time, I went straight to a Shell station and had no problems.

So my question to you diesel owners that have more experience: How do you find a diesel station with the right type of fuel when you are traveling out of your local area? Is there a web site that you can visit prior to the trip? Which gas stations have you found to have the correct diesel all the time (Shell, anybody else)?

By the way, I've had to use the nozzle adapter that came with the vehicle two out of the three times so far, so it appears there is no widespread standard nozzle size...
 
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#114 ·
Well I got a response from Chevron regarding their diesel fuel formulation (see below). Just for reference here's what the X5 35d manual says "The Engine of your BMW is designed for diesel with a low sulfur content: Ultra-low sulfur diesel ASTM D975-07a. Only refuel with ultra-lowsulfur diesel. The percentage of biodiesel in the fuel must not exceed 5%, referred to as B5."

Here's what I got from Chevron:

Your inquiry has been forwarded to us here at Chevron Fuels Technical
Service.

As part of the S15 (ULSD) regulation, the EPA requires that new labels
be placed on every diesel dispenser in the United States, excluding
California. The label should be located near the indicator that shows
how many gallons you have pumped into your diesel vehicle.

All Chevron and Texaco diesel dispensers, excluding those dispensers in
California, were appropriately labeled by June 1, 2006.

Note - The above labeling requirements only apply to the United States,
Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Canada does not have dispenser
labeling requirements.

Cetane Number:
* In general, the processing required to reduce sulfur to 15ppm also
reduces the aromatics content resulting in an increase to the cetane
number.
In the United States, the properties of diesel fuels are under the
auspices of an industry organization, the American Society for Testing
and Materials (ASTM). The ASTM Designation for diesel is D 975 -Standard
Specification for Diesel Fuel Oils. D 975 sets limits (requirements) for
the values of these properties. Most of the requirements of D 975 are
the minimum ones needed to guarantee acceptable performance for the
majority of users. In addition, the specification recognizes some
requirements established by the United States Environmental Protection
Agency (USEPA) to reduce emissions. Chevron abides by all of these
specifications.
The Cetane number limit (minimum) is 40.

There is a Federal cetane spec. for Ultra Low Sulfur Grade No. 1-D and
2-D (Grade No 2-D would be the one used in most all on-road vehicles). D
975 requires an aromaticity of 30 % vol. max. or a cetane index of 40
min.. Our understanding is that this is a Federal requirement and did
not originate with ASTM. Typical Chevron production excluding California
and Hawaii is 48 cetane. Chevron guarantees product limits only;
typicals are average properties, and higher and lower values are to be
expected.

Typical California Chevron production is 52 because of additional
requirements of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for vehicular
diesel fuel.
Typical Hawaii Chevron refinery production is 61.
There is no maximum ASTM Cetane number limit.

U.S. average cetane is 45. There is no way to tell what the "at the
retail pump" cetane value would be and is not required to be posted by
law, as is the case for gasoline octane minimum rating.
ULSD will not change these typical averages much. Not lower. Maybe a
little higher. (1-2).


For additional information about diesel fuels see the following link for
our Diesel Fuels Technical Review

http://www.chevron.com/products/prodserv/fuels/documents/Diesel_Fuel_Tec
h_Review.pdf

Chevron Diesel with Techron D

A Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) with an advanced cleaning additive
specially formulated to help keep critical diesel engine parts clean,
lubricated and free from performance-robbing deposits.

Techron Diesel could be introduced into more US
markets in 2010.

At this time no defined time line.

Use station Finder with Filter Option Diesel location checked:
http://www.chevron.com/products/ourStations/stationfinder/

Would have to phone station or physically check the pump if it is
containing Techron D.

Some companies marketed "premium diesel" before an industry definition
for what "premium" meant was established. Because of this, there had
been some confusion on what, if anything, made "premium" diesel
different from other diesel.

On July 16, 2003, the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM)
created a new definition for Premium Diesel.

To qualify as a Premium Diesel the following four properties of the fuel
had to be met (ASTM is the American Society for Testing and Materials):

a) The cetane number must be 47 or greater (using ASTM D 613 test
method)

b) The thermal stability must be sufficient to meet a minimum
reflectance limit of 80% (as determined by test ASTM D 6468)

c) The fuel must show suitable low-temperature operability by passing
either the Cloud Point Test (ASTM D 2500) or Low Temperature Flow Test
(ASTM D 4539) at the tenth percentile minimum ambient air temperature
for the region and time of year where the fuel will be sold. Ambient
temperatures for areas are noted in ASTM D 975

d) The lubricity must be sufficient to produce a scar no larger than
520 microns in diameter as determined by ASTM D 6079 (HFRR)

If the diesel meets theses requirement it will be posted on the pump
that it is a Premium Diesel.

Most of the time all Chevron & Texaco Diesel meet the Premium
requirement therefore you might not see the premium designation.
 

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#116 ·
I second that about the "station managers having no idea." None of them can give me any more info than what's on the pump.
I've been using Chevron with good results; plus my local station has clean pump nozzles that also have perfect auto-shut off feature.

Ayrton-- thanks for copying that corporate Chevron letter. I was really glad to read the part where it says:
"Typical California Chevron is 52 (cetane.)" I was guessing that I was pumping in the minimum of 40 on the unmarked pumps.
All they say is ULSD #2. BP is nowhere near where I live. There is Exxon and Shell diesel, which I have not tried yet. Thanks
guys for keeping this thread current-- extremely helpful and informative! Enjoy your "torquers..."

Bob
 
#117 ·
It seems CARB has a min cetane level for diesel and it is decently high. Wonder if they have something about biodiesel as well. I think even no name diesel in Cali is going to result in a pretty good cetane level over that base 40 value around the country. Now additives and such would be another story any why I'd only run name brand fuel in any car I cared about.
 
#127 ·
When you have that do you have a button up near thd sun roof controls? I'd sworn my car had three things up there, something on each side of the sunroof control but after they replaced the whole assembly it just has two. Unfortunately I am not in that car enough to remember details too well then also confuse details like that with the different 328i loaners I had for so long.
 
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