I should be running #2 diesel
 

I filled the tank on my diesel Jetta at a truck stop but in the car lane. They said it was #1 diesel and was 25 cents higher per gallon than the sign on the station. The sign reflected #2 diesel.

I was driving down the road and decided that I should check the owner manual, my wife looked it up and sure enough it specified #2 diesel using #1 up to 50% in the winter only. Further stated that my mileage would be reduced if running the blend.

I am going to seek out #2 diesel. Comments?

Either/or is fine. #1 should be the better diesel. I know #6 diesel is extremely dirty. They like to run that cheap stuff at some power plants. I like the exhaust smell of B20 personally.

Recommended Guideline on Diesel Fuel
Biodiesel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fuel oil - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

#2 diesel is the one you want. It is normal summer diesel. More BTU per gallon. Possibly slightly less refined, hence the tendency to gel in colder weather, but not at all "dirty" when compared to #1 diesel.

You shouldn't see much reduction in mileage, it's just a lighter grade of fuel. However you would benefit from a lubricity additive, as #1 tends to be drier (although if it's diesel fuel, it should meet minimum standards.)

#2 has more BTU per gallon and will gel in low temps. Always use #2 for better mileage unless cold extremes dictate otherwise.

number one diesel is low power and ignites very fast.

Think of it like 83 octane gasoline.

The good news is it will not gell in the winter. The bad news is it is hard on diesel engines if you drive them very hard.

FWIW, heating oil and number one are the same thing.

No.1 middle distillate is also known as kerosene.

Jet fuel and "winter blend" are mixes of No.1 and No.2.

I mix it in 25% in the depths of winter to prevent gelling.

No. 1 has a lower heat content and you can expect about 15% lower MPG using it.

I wouldn't run No. 1 much with an old-style Bosch or Roosa-Master injection pump, but I don't think it will hurt HEUI (pumpa dusa) or common-rail injectors. these are not as dependent on the fuel for lubrication.

No.6 residual oil will run a diesel but you have to heat it up to 600 degrees to get it to flow. Mix No. 6 resid with aggregate and you have road asphalt. But No.6 does have a lot of heating value - and outrageous sulfur.

No. 4 middle distillate has more heating value than No.1 or No.2, but I haven't seen this stuff sold since the 70s.

I am going to ask the people who run the place that I normally buy my fuel as to what grade it is.
If 2 gives 15% more than #1. That would be good.

No, it should meet all the normal cetane requirements. And heating oil is closer to #2, #1 is more like kerosene with the appropriate additives.

One time last year I threw a couple of gallons of bio diesel that I use for my tractor in it and had better mileage. Another time I had a quart of old but clear 2 stroke oil that I put in the tank and thought that my mileage was better.

Who knows, maybe I am running #2 all summer just don't know it.