diesel fuel debate

[steven f.]

I am wondering about the differance between auto diesel fuel and marine diesel. Sometimes it is easier to just fill up my 6 gal. portable fuel container to top off my tank as opposed to pulling the boat up to a fuel dock for a few gallons. Is auto diesel different than the marine? If so, will it harm my Westerbeke engine?

 

[Steve Dion]

Taxes & Color

Steven:I believe there is a chemical difference. Auto fuel is has lowered the sulphur content (in the Western states anyway). They also tax it different (no highway taxes) so they jack up the price on the water. They also add a chemical to change the color so they know that you are using marine deisel in your vehicles and visa versa.Steve Dion

 

[Tim Op't Holt]

Auto diesel

I also have used auto diesel with no problem. I've been told there is no difference.

 

[Scott Dube]

cheaper...

I have found auto diesel to be more expensive than marine diesel. I suspect the lack of road tax to be the reason. I have not run a lot of car diesel but it seemed to run the same to me. I know they do make additives for auto diesel. There is more discussion on this website under Yanmar tips on the main page. I clipped part of it for you to look at.FUEL Use low sulfur diesel (amber), or red, bought at a marina. It is approx. 38 cetane (flash point for ignition). 45 cetane gives the best engine timing and prevents smoking. ADD Yanmar FPPF 8 Plus cetane improver. 1/4 ounce per gallon. One bottle treats 120 gallons. It raises the cetane level and stops smoking and engine timing problems. ADD Yanmar Biocide Killem (small amount) to treat tank and prevent algae growth. ADD Yanmar FPPF Lubricity 100, 1/8 oz per gallon. A sulfur additive to stabilize fuel and lubricate. ADD Yanmar Diesel Fuel Treatment if 45 degrees F or less to keep diesel fuel fluid. Hope this helps and again that info was from the Yanmar tips on this site, not me...Scott