How to Identify the Diesel Fuel a Vehicle Should Use
Almost any kind of industrial or recreational engine requires diesel fuel to run. Some trucks and automobiles also take diesel fuel. In general, diesel fuel is considered more environmentally friendly than gasoline, especially the newer biodiesels that are now available. In fact, so many people are interested in using diesel fuels that there are now conversion kits to allow your standard car engine to take diesel. Just as there are many different kinds of engines, there are also different kinds of diesel fuels. Learn to identify the diesel that a vehicle should use.
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Instructions
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Identify whether your vehicle is intended for use on the road or off of it. If you have an off-road vehicle, you can probably use marked diesel in it. Marked diesel is treated with colored dyes that leave residues behind when they burn. It's illegal to use marked diesel in cars, but other kinds of engines can benefit from the increased efficiency of these fuels.
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Use only marine-quality diesel in boats. Boat engines are susceptible to algae, barnacles and water retention--all problems that other engines don't face. That's why boats require special diesel with the appropriate additives, in order to prevent these problems from plaguing them.
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Identify the age of your engine. Vehicle engines that were made in 2007 and after are required by law to use Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD). Engines made in 2006 and before are permitted to use Low Sulfur Diesel (LSD).
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Choose diesel fuel with a cetane number of between 40 and 55. The cetane number is an expression of the fuel's combustion quality, and most diesel engines see peak performance from cetane numbers of 40 to 55. This is true whether the engine is for a car, lawn mower or farm tractor.
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Use an appropriate conversion kit if you're planning on using vegetable oil as diesel fuel. This is a popular option for environmental advocates. Some engines will run on straight vegetable oil, but they won't be very efficient. In order to achieve top performance from the engine, a conversion kit should be used.
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Tips & Warnings
You can purchase a vegetable oil conversion kit for your diesel engine from most auto supply stores or from companies that produce products for sustainable living. The proper use of a conversion kit should enable your diesel engine to take vegetable oil as fuel. You can even put used vegetable oil through the conversion kit, for added environmental benefits.
