Does anyone know when the summer/winter grades are changed?

I think I am only getting 19 mpg on the freeway at 70mph. Last summer I got 21mpg at 72mph on a trip that I monitored it. I hear this has a lot to do with winter fuel not being as efficient. Does anyone know when they switch the blends?

My plan is to order 200 gallons of fuel next fall right before they switch to winter blend.

 

I think it varies from state to state but I have heard rumers that it is Oct. 1, to start and April 1 to end.

This is just what I have heard not anything more.

 

Thanks. If my figures are correct I would save about $50 by using 200 gallons of summer blend over winter blend if in fact I'm getting 1.5mpg better on average with summer blend. Not a lot of money, but I might consider it.

 

Sounds like its pretty much not worth it!!waytogo

 

Do they do winter vs. summer blends here in Central California? I thought diesel was always the same here. Seems that it hardly ever gets under 40, never thought a winter blend would be necessary.

Marc

 

not worht the hasle of having it i would think. you would then either have to have it delivered, or go get it and store it yourself.
i would not just let it sit dormant in the tank either for that many months.......
we have fuel delivered to use monthly, and only get a few more gallons than we anticipate using so that way it does not algy up. it costs us more per gallon at our self contained tank than it would if we drove down to the pump because of the delivery charge, and we are buying fom the biggest wholesaler around.

 

I have a 100 gallon, 200 gallon, and 500 gallon diesel tanks. I have fuel delivered already.

I wouldn't be a bit afraid to let the fuel sit in the tanks. It already sits for 6-8 months at a time, and is just fine. Diesel lasts, it's gas that varnishes up after a while.

 

Diesel goes bad just as fast if not faster than gas. Nobody really talks about it but it does happen.
My research indicated that moisture plays a large part in this. There is actaully a bacterial growth that can happen in diesel fuel in just a few months. I think most places use enough additives that it does not get these buildups.

I know around here the algee and bacteria would have to withstand minus 15 to 20 degrees for a few days at a time to live in the winter.
Then the summers are so dry that we don't have moisture problems at all.

 

I completely disagree. We have a farm and trucking business. Most of our equipment sees seasonal use, never have I had a problem with diesel getting black algea or going bad in any other ways. Some of our equipment even sits nearly a full 12 months without seeing fresh fuel, about a 1/4 tank sits in them for 11.5 months, never a problem. the only tank I have ever seen bad diesel in is a tank that had 3 year old fuel in it.

Diesel lasts a lot longer than gas.