gordongl450

I have a question for everyone. A Chevron station/convenience store that I sometimes go to, has their diesel fuel hose located in the same pump unit as the fuel hoses for the regular, mid grade and the premium gasoline.

Above the diesel hose is the standard green sticker that explains that it is ultra low sulfur diesel.

Below the diesel hose and below each of the three gasoline hoses is another sticker that says "Up to 10% Ethanol."

At first I thought it was just a mistake under the diesel hose; the guy who was supposed to put the ethanol stickers on the pumps just mistakenly put one under the diesel hose? Because I have never heard of ethanol being added to diesel.

However, today I used that gas station and that ethanol sticker got me thinking so did some research on the internet and I learned that 10% ethanol has been tried in diesel, but as far as I could tell it is not mainstream or the standard. I thought about asking the question at the station when I was there, but I figured the person at the register of the convenience store would not have a clue about it, so I didn't bother.

So my questions are:

1. Is Chevron really selling diesel with up to 10% ethanol?
2. If so, should I avoid it for the GL320?

Thanks,

Gordon

Brocktoon

sticker dude was wrong, 'cus adding 10% ethanol would but the fuel out of spec, and it would no longer be diesel.

StevethePilot

The answers are:

1. No.
2. Yes. (See Brocktoon's answer for "why")

gordongl450

Brocktoon,

I agree with you that in this situation, I "think" the sticker was put under the diesel hose as an error. BUT, there is information on the internet about trials of putting ethanol in diesel. So it is not unheard of.

The GL manual does not make any mention of using ethanol in diesel fuel. It only says to use ultra low sulfur diesel and it warns not to mix gasoline or kerosene with the diesel.

As I said, I beleive that the people who work at the convenience store won't know the answer. I guess I will try to email Chevron and/or find out who the local fuel supplier/distributor is for that station and email them.

I think I will post my question on the diesel forum alos.

Thanks for responding.

Brocktoon

Would you put vodka in your chip frying fat and expect some form of improvement? It's a label error, there would be no benefit to the blend, and all sorts of detriments from cetane rating to lubricity.

Also, beware of anything put out by the ethanol industry, they are trying to confuse and befuddle their way into everything, like High Fructose Corn Syrup. Same guys...