Winter diesel

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Sat 3 Nov 2012 10:48
Winter diesel - mss1tw

Has the UK switched over to winter diesel yet?

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Sat 3 Nov 2012 11:22
Winter diesel - 659FBE

Yes. March and October are the change points - spread within each month, of course.

Expect a higher fuel consumption for a given work output due to the lower calorific value of winter fuel. It's a pity they don't adjust the price accordingly - even the domestic gas suppliers do this.

If you keep spare fuel in a can, make sure it's winter grade and watch out for algae growth.

659.

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Mon 5 Nov 2012 17:45
Winter diesel - mss1tw

Yes. March and October are the change points - spread within each month, of course.

Expect a higher fuel consumption for a given work output due to the lower calorific value of winter fuel.

That would explain my fuel gauge/trip computer observations! Thanks

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Sat 3 Nov 2012 13:08
Winter diesel - dervdave

Has the UK switched over to winter diesel yet?

It changes on 16th November.

Designation CFPP value time frame Cloud Point Summer Fuel -5 °C 16.03. - 15.11. 3 °C Winter Fuel -15 °C 16.11. - 15.03. -5 °C
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Sat 3 Nov 2012 13:33
Winter diesel - jamie745

I thought diesel was diesel.

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Sat 3 Nov 2012 17:15
Winter diesel - Engineer Andy

Interested to know whether the same rule applies to filling diesel vehicles as petrol ones - that its best buy fuel at night or when its cold out, so that less of the fuel vapourises.

Probably less of a problem for diesel as its less volatile and therefore has a higher evapouration point - presumably the change to "winter diesel" changes the evapouration temperature as well?

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Sat 3 Nov 2012 17:48
Winter diesel - bathtub tom

I understood it's not evaporation, but expansion. As it's sold by volume, petrol in particular can change noticeably according to temperature. So the best time to buy is when the storage tanks are at their lowest temperature. The problem is knowing when that is!

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Sat 3 Nov 2012 18:06
Winter diesel - madf

I understood it's not evaporation, but expansion. As it's sold by volume, petrol in particular can change noticeably according to temperature. So the best time to buy is when the storage tanks are at their lowest temperature. The problem is knowing when that is!

SImplest:

cold frosty mornings.. Before or after lorry fillups don't matter: perhaps best after as the fuel in the tanker will be chilled by the journay whilst fuel underground is partially insulated by the ground.

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Sat 3 Nov 2012 19:36
Winter diesel - RT

I understood it's not evaporation, but expansion. As it's sold by volume, petrol in particular can change noticeably according to temperature. So the best time to buy is when the storage tanks are at their lowest temperature. The problem is knowing when that is!

First thing in the morning !!

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Sun 4 Nov 2012 01:15
Winter diesel - unthrottled

So the best time to buy is when the storage tanks are at their lowest temperature.

The storage tanks are underground. Once you get a few feet bewlow ground, the temperature is essentially constant all day and doesn't vary much all year round.

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Mon 5 Nov 2012 17:46
Winter diesel - mss1tw

Has the UK switched over to winter diesel yet?

It changes on 16th November.

Designation CFPP value time frame Cloud Point Summer Fuel -5 °C 16.03. - 15.11. 3 °C Winter Fuel -15 °C 16.11. - 15.03. -5 °C

Hmmm, maybe it's just longer warm ups, the cold spell did arrive fairly quickly.

Thank you

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