MPG and new diesel
 

Has the new ultra low sulphur diesel effected your MPG? We seem to be getting about 1 MPG less per gallon. :cry:

Hard to say, the new stuff came in just as the weather went cold. I just got 7.8 mpg coming from Calgary, so it can't be that bad.

I think there is a difference in my VW Jetta diesel. But we'll see how long the tank lasts before I make any judgement calls.

Ive noticed about 1/2 to 1 mpg less since the weather got cold, changed my air filters and fuel filters thinking that might help, then a friend whos been an o/o for 20 years with 5 trucks told me its the new low sulfer fuel thats caused it, it always dropped some when they start to blend the fuel in winter, but hes noticed its exceptionally worse this winter. Im curious if anyone else has noticed it also

Blending???
 

I read somewhere online (here?) that they cant blend the ULSD with anything......since no other petroleum (sp?) meets the required sulpher limits... If I remember right, kerosene was used but cant be used now since there is no such thing as ULS kero.

Anyone know anything more?

Be good, Jim

It may or may not be the fuel, but my current ride, a 2007 Freightliner Columbia, has a 515hp 14.0L Detroit with a straight 10, 11R-22.5 tires and 3.70 rears. At 47,000 miles it averages around 5.5mpg - 5.6mpg through one tank this week. This is up from the <4.5mpg it averaged when I got it with 7,500 miles.

My previous truck was a identically spec'd 2006 and I was averaging 6.5mpg when I gave it up at 75,000 miles. I drive the same.

-p.

I've done 3 tanks with ULSD in 2006 Mercedes 320 CDI automobile (ULSD not required in this one). Like routes, passengers, fuel loads etc comparisons say that ULSD on an apples to apples basis is 11% less efficient. THat's not too far off the claims of the petroleum engineers in terms of BTU/gallon comparing "old" diesel and ULSD. I used to be able to 400 mile runs and average 36-38mpg. Now I'm lucky to do 33 even when I constantly hunt for "soft" air on the interstate.

I believe you are missing a point there, like 1.1%? :P
Personally, i didn't notice any difference! :roll:

I have not run enough of it yet in my POV (06 Jeep CRD) to have enough data to get good info.

I did notice visiting my parents in Sacramento this weekend that diesel in CA has gone crazy(er). There is a $.60 spread between 87 octane gasoline and diesel. The really weird thing is that gas is .10-15 cheaper in CA.

The stations I drove past were all 2.90-2.95/gal, this compares poorly with the 2.60-2.70 at home in Reno. I just put in 5 gal @ Dutch Flat to give me a safety margin to make it home in semi-bad weather.

ULSD
 

Solo, 4/38=10.52%. As for the comment about diesel being more expensive than gasoline: Based on diesel, heating oil, etc. I believe we can expect distillates to be more expensive over the long haul than refined products like gasoline. The costs of production and distibution are different, as are the supply and demand models. As for the economics/savings, I'm just fine with 30% more mpg than a comparable gas car (which in my case is compared to premium fuel and not "regular" grade).