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Differences between fuel stations???

merlin5577

merlin5577

Diesel > Gasoline
Messages
322
Reaction score
1
Location
Taunton, MA
The last few weeks I have been chasing a rough idle condition and finally tracked it down. Hess Fuel. For whatever reason anytime I fill up at the local Hess station the truck idles rough, smokes more under hard throttle, lower fuel economy, and sluggish acceleration. If I go to any other station for fuel, the truck has no problems at all. Needless to say I cant really figure out why there is such a huge difference with that one station. I tried the Hess station 2 towns over and no problems at all. What could it be? I've drained the water seperator at each fill up and have gotten no water out of it at all. Anyone else have any experiences like this?
 
Back in the early 90's the Flying J in the town I lived in consistently made my car run rough even to the point of dying at intersections ('91 Lumina). Took me awhile to figure out it was that one gas station. Don't know what they were doing, but I stopped going there and never had a problem afterwords.
 
There is no doubt that there is differences between stations and brands of fuel. The station you are having a problem with might no turn over much fuel so you keep getting fuel that is not fresh. Although I have not seen the same conditions as you are I see fuel mileage differences between brands. BP is better than Mobil and .20 cheaper per gallon. Good rule of thumb is visit a station that you know goes through a lot of diesel this way you have a good chance of getting better fuel.
 
When I purchase Diesel I judge the station by how many Diesel trucks or semi's I see at the particular station. If I hardly ever see no Diesel trucks or semi's purchasing Diesel than I stay the heck away.
 
I do the same as Marty...we have a Holiday station close to home that has an area for the big boys to fill up. Huge turnover in fuel, so I have no worries there.
What freaks me out is when we pull the RV to points unknown and I can't find a truck stop. Filling at the only station in town just isn't an option.
 
This may be my idling/stumbling problem too since I recently switched from Hess to 7/11 because it was about 20 cents cheaper.
 
Ozzie said:
I do the same as Marty...we have a Holiday station close to home that has an area for the big boys to fill up. Huge turnover in fuel, so I have no worries there.
What freaks me out is when we pull the RV to points unknown and I can't find a truck stop. Filling at the only station in town just isn't an option.
Click to expand...

I wish I had an RV problem!:mad2:

Unit453 said:
This may be my idling/stumbling problem too since I recently switched from Hess to 7/11 because it was about 20 cents cheaper.
Click to expand...

What the heck is Hess?
 
Sorry fellas I have never heard of anything called Hess. I have heard of this;
 

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Thank you guys for the input. I do try to get my fuel from the truck stop right off the highway, but the Hess station is the only place I drive by coming home from work that sells Diesel, so its just convienent. Whats really weird is how quick it started, I have bought fuel there before, but this months batch must have been old or something.

I am just going to have to leave earlier and hit the truck stop before heading to work.

Nick I would definately try a different station. I know from experience how aggrivating a rough idle condition is to diagnose. Thankfully, mine was an easy fix.

Hess is an oil company like Mobil or Sunoco, they're just not as big.

http://www.hess.com/index2.aspx
 
I just did my averages so far this month and each time I went to that Hess station I averaged 16.6MPG for the tank, My average is 18.1MPG when I go somewhere else.

I just thought of something, is it possible they could be selling old winter fuel? That would explain all the symptoms...... Hmmmmmm.....
 
I think the cheaper fuel has less Cetane in the fuel. A lower Cetane number means lower fuel mileage and less power. Maybe cut with a little more #1. Less BTU's.
 
I judge a station by a couple factors.

1. General cleanliness and condition of pumps, nozzles, visible filters etc.
2. How my truck runs on it after a tank or 3.
3. How many pumps are Diesel vs gas and who fills up there.
4. Price and convienance.

I like a medium sized station that is clean and has a few fleet accounts to keep turn over short ( but doesn't have to be a truck stop). A biggie is how clean the pump, nozzle, ground, hose, and any filters are. Big truck stop are good usually but most big truck company drivers are not necessarily diesel enthusiast and buy where told or is right off highway. I too have had a major truck stop right off the highway with lots of big truck customers have poor performance (mine was a Pilot). It was a drivability smoothness issue not stalling though.

The difference I believe comes from tank, filter, and distributor maintenance. Most fuel is regional but there can be a significant difference in turn over and fuel bulk tank "polishing" and maintenance. Turn over is not quite as important as filter and tank maintenance to me (within reason).

Look over at Power Service website for a little info on bulk tank maintenance additives and "polishing".

You can get a slug of crap fuel from a tank that has not been "polished" in a long time and running low with lots of disturbance from many others filling up just as easy. I have filled up at a decent sized Exxon truck stop right off the highway and picked up water (water in fuel light).

I have seen pump service techs working once or twice but haven't gotten a chance to talk to one yet but I bet they could tell you a lot.
 
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