Minimum Cetane

[3skidoos]

Hey, I was watching the disk that came with my owners manual, and it say's the minimum Cetane for the truck should be 45. Where I fill my truck at Hess, it's 40. How will this affect my performance? Can i by the Cetane boost over the counter or do I have to go to a dealer? Thanks

[Twix]

Either. I used to use Howe's Diesel Treatment but have since switched to Motorcraft Performance Booster and Anti-Gel from the dealer. Hope this helps!

[3skidoos]

IS there a list of companies that show if they have the 45 Cetane rating at thier pumps?

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by 3skidoos

Can i by the Cetane boost over the counter or do I have to go to a dealer?

Good luck finding ordinary #2 diesel with 45 cetane. Most truckstop diesel will be 40 to maybe 43 or 44. However, in some parts of the country you can buy "premium" diesel, which has a cetane of 45 to 50. It sounds like Ford is saying they want you to use premium diesel in your premium-priced engine.

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

In North America, diesel at the pump can be found in two CN ranges: 40-46 for regular diesel, and 45-50 for premium. ...
In Europe, diesel cetane numbers were set at a minimum of 49 in 1994 and 51 in 2000.

In California, you'll pay more for your diesel, but Big Brother in CA regulates the cetane level so "cheap" diesel cannot be sold for highway use. I don't know the minimum cetane number in CA, but I suspect it's plenty good for your 6.4L.

Most diesel fuel additive "performance" products include a cetane booster, but most also include a lot of other junk you don't need. So I don't use them. If I needed a cetane booster, I'd look for one that is only a cetane booster and doesn't make a not of snake-oil claims. For example, FPPF makes one: FPPF

[vance222002]

I use Stanadyne Performance Formula year round in all my diesels.

I run 45 Cetane in my 6.4l I used this link to find it. It's pretty good but not always correct.

http://anglo-hexon.net:88/beowulf9/tdi/PremDiesel/

[Harley350]

Cetane number is a measure of combustion quality for diesel fuel. Also, it refers to the measure of the fuel's ignition delay. Meaning the higher the cetane number the shorter is the ignition delay, the more time the combustion process will take place in your diesel engine.

This is why Ford wants you to use 45C which I have never seen around town. I've notice when I use a cetane booster my engine tends to have less of a diesel knock/ping which in short causes less cylinder wear and/or damage.

[applmac]

Originally Posted by SmokeyWren

I don't know the minimum cetane number in CA, but I suspect it's plenty good for your 6.4L.

Just for general information, CARB compliant diesel has a minimum cetane rating of 50.