[Whit]

What is the difference between No. 1-D diesel fuel and No. 2-D diesel fuel and can they be used interchangeably?


Always check with the manufacturer about the fuel requirements of your engine. However, both No. 1-D and No. 2-D are intended for use in compression ignition engines. In fact, in cold weather, No. 1-D is blended into No. 2-D or used by itself.
Three of the biggest differences between the two fuels are cetane number, heat content, and viscosity. The cetane number of No. 1-D may be one to two numbers below that of No. 2-D, but still above 40, the required minimum.

Since No. 1-D is less dense then No. 2-D, its heat content, measured in Btu/gallon, will be a few percent lower, leading to a similar reduction in fuel economy.

 

[Whit]

Btu content of diesel fuel


The heating value or energy content is not a product specification for diesel fuel, so it is not measured for each batch. However, the specifications effectively limit the heating value to a relatively narrow range. A typical net heating value for low sulfur No. 2-D fuel is 130,000 Btu per gallon.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

very cool. It would be cool to discuss cold weather properties and the kerosene myth with these too... A lot of people think I think kerosene is #1 which is not true I've been told...