Questions About Diesel Fuel

wjbender · 12-16-2014, 01:53 PM

I am picking up at PC and driving to Hilton Head for a few days, then driving back to good old New Jersey along route 95. What do I have to be cautious about when filling up with Diesel? Will it be easy to find automotive diesel that is B5 or less? Do I need to use major brands like Exxon, Shell, BP or are the off brand diesel fuels OK if ultra low sulfur and less than 5% bio??

MattBianco · 12-16-2014, 02:02 PM

Biggest cautions:

- keep disposable gloves in you car as some nozzles are dirty and smelly.
- make sure you let all the drops fall in before lifting as it does not evaporate as fast and gets your tank area dirty.

Other than those, no major difference between the major brands, other than bio content. none disclose cetane ratings in CA, but that may be different where you are (or going through).

Occasionally exceeding the 5% does not damage the engine, but prolonged use may as there is less lubrication in biofuel.

Congrats!

F15GorDe · 12-16-2014, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBianco

Biggest cautions:

- keep disposable gloves in you car as some nozzles are dirty and smelly.
- make sure you let all the drops fall in before lifting as it does not evaporate as fast and gets your tank area dirty.

Other than those, no major difference between the major brands, other than bio content. none disclose cetane ratings in CA, but that may be different where you are (or going through).

Occasionally exceeding the 5% does not damage the engine, but prolonged use may as there is less lubrication in biofuel.

Congrats!

+1

We just returned from our PCD a month ago.
No problems with finding fuel. Stick with the major brands.
We averaged over 30 mpg on the first tank!
The only thing to be cautious about are the troopers on I-95!

midlifecrisis · 12-16-2014, 04:51 PM

You shouldn't have any problem in the East. Some stations even have a disposable glove dispenser next to the diesel pump. Many of the gas stations at major highway interchanges have diesel. One note - sometimes you'll see diesel pumps with two nozzles and hoses. In many cases the nozzles are two different sizes - one for the big rigs and one that fits the receiver in our car. The bigger nozzle won't fit and fails to release the filler baffle.

jdcolombo · 12-16-2014, 08:56 PM

We've owned a diesel X5 since fall of 2010. Agree with earlier post about keeping a box of rubber gloves to use - diesel pumps tend to be dirty, because it doesn't evaporate like gasoline. You can get 'em at any drugstore - we buy them in boxes of 100.

With respect to pump nozzles: usually if diesel is at the same pump station as gasoline, the nozzle will be the correct size. Stations that have a separate diesel pumping area (e.g., truck stops) generally use the bigger nozzles that don't fit. And from time to time we've found that if the nozzle is slightly bent (even though the right size) it won't release the filler interlock. You should get a plastic adapter with your car that allows you to use the larger nozzles (or a bent nozzle) in a pinch, but remember that the automatic pump shutoff won't work in this case, so you have to be VERY careful when you fill up or you'll end up with diesel fuel everywhere.

We live in the Midwest, and have traveled all over the country - the nozzle problems we've encountered are most common out West. We just got back from a round trip from Illinois to Baltimore/DC on I-70/I-68 and had no problems whatever - diesel was everywhere, pump nozzles were correct, and even the price was great ($2.84 at a Shell in Baltimore).

It's not quite as convenient as gasoline, but we typically average 26 mpg in our 6000-pound behemoth X5 running a steady 80 mph on the interstates, and even average over 20 mpg in purely street driving. And the torque is unbelievable - our X5 is VERY quick off the line; I've surprised more than one "performance" sedan with the X5's acceleration from a stop. We've got 70,000 miles on it, and it's been the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned - nothing but regular maintenance. At this rate, we expect to see 200,000 miles on it, and our next one, whenever that may be, will be a diesel, too, if they are still available (don't get me started on how U.S. fuel tax policy with regard to diesel fuel is insane).

John C.

42pilot · 12-17-2014, 07:50 PM

I just drove 435 miles to Orlando and filled up once, and the on-board computer shows I still have 265 miles of fuel available. I paid $3.03/gal at fill-up too.

MattBianco · 12-29-2014, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wjbender

I am picking up at PC and driving to Hilton Head for a few days, then driving back to good old New Jersey along route 95. What do I have to be cautious about when filling up with Diesel? Will it be easy to find automotive diesel that is B5 or less? Do I need to use major brands like Exxon, Shell, BP or are the off brand diesel fuels OK if ultra low sulfur and less than 5% bio??

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBianco

Biggest cautions:

- keep disposable gloves in you car as some nozzles are dirty and smelly.
- make sure you let all the drops fall in before lifting as it does not evaporate as fast and gets your tank area dirty.......

Congrats!

Thought to post a pic of the gloves I use. These are 50 for $1.50 at Asian grocery stores. I find them in Korean stores in SF. Others places may have them, or you may want to search eBay / Amazon. They are much, much thinner than the surgical/latex gloves and produce far less waste.

Gilly1964 · 12-30-2014, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBianco

Thought to post a pic of the gloves I use.

These are freely available (as in complimentary) alongside all diesel pumps over here.

NPickles · 12-30-2014, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilly1964

These are freely available (as in complimentary) alongside all diesel pumps over here.

Nearly all diesel pumps, I have come across a few that don't have any at all and there is nothing worse than an empty dispenser

.

I bought a couple of packs off ebay for next to nothing so I have some in the car as I hate the smell of diesel on my hands and it gets everywhere.

wjbender · 12-30-2014, 08:41 AM

Thank you for all the great suggestions and tips.

greentrbo95gst · 12-30-2014, 09:47 AM

I did a PCD and drove across country. I noticed that when I filled up with diesel from less common stations the performance of the car would suffer. I also had a check engine light come on after I put 5 gallons of diesel in a shady part of New Orleans. It went away after i filled up with good Diesel from Chevron.

Full Court Press · 12-30-2014, 10:21 AM

I'm planning to place order soon on 35d. My wife did raise the question of how easy is it to find diesel stations in our area (Washington DC), as some of stations we currently use do not offer diesel. Does Nav list diesel stations? Lastly, does BMW recommend/require certain premium brands (i.e., Exxon, Shell, Sunoco, Chevron)?

Thanks.

greentrbo95gst · 12-30-2014, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Full Court Press

I'm planning to place order soon on 35d. My wife did raise the question of how easy is it to find diesel stations in our area (Washington DC), as some of stations we currently use do not offer diesel. Does Nav list diesel stations? Lastly, does BMW recommend/require certain premium brands (i.e., Exxon, Shell, Sunoco, Chevron)?

Thanks.

get an app on your phone called GasBuddy. You can search for diesel stations in your area. You should always stick with big brand stations as they acquire better quality diesel.

42pilot · 12-30-2014, 10:34 AM

And look for high volume diesel outlets. I buy mine from Kroger because they fill their tanks nearly every other day and the cost here in GA is around $2.95. If I spend $100 per month in groceries, I get an additional $0.10 off on one fill up.

greentrbo95gst · 12-30-2014, 10:36 AM

I heard a lot of good stuff about Kroger.

2014_F15 · 01-01-2015, 04:37 AM

Here's a tip about fuel nozzles. There are three sizes, unleaded (small size), diesel (larger and the same as the old leaded gas pumps), extra large (diesel for trucks). I have found a couple of gas stations (not truck stops) that inadvertently put the small unleaded nozzle on the diesel pump and the filler on the X5 is designed to block those to prevent filling with unleaded. The lesson I learned is to check the nozzle before running the credit card on the pump, because if you discover that the nozzle is the wrong size and then change pumps, your credit card will be declined at the second pump because most banks have fraud protection systems that stop multiple purchases of fuel from a single station. I got hit with this on a road trip and fortunately had another credit card to use. Now I just insert the nozzle and then run the card or move to a different pump. I've been surprised that the pumps that had this problem were all at new, name brand stations.

midlifecrisis · 01-01-2015, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2014_F15

Here's a tip about fuel nozzles. There are three sizes, unleaded (small size), diesel (larger and the same as the old leaded gas pumps), extra large (diesel for trucks). I have found a couple of gas stations (not truck stops) that inadvertently put the small unleaded nozzle on the diesel pump and the filler on the X5 is designed to block those to prevent filling with unleaded. The lesson I learned is to check the nozzle before running the credit card on the pump, because if you discover that the nozzle is the wrong size and then change pumps, your credit card will be declined at the second pump because most banks have fraud protection systems that stop multiple purchases of fuel from a single station. I got hit with this on a road trip and fortunately had another credit card to use. Now I just insert the nozzle and then run the card or move to a different pump. I've been surprised that the pumps that had this problem were all at new, name brand stations.

This is good advice. I've had the same thing happen. Sometimes the card company blocks additional purchases and sometimes the station does it. Incidentally, if your card gets blocked, just call the number on the back - a service rep will usually ask a couple of security questions and unblock it.

BillK · 01-01-2015, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Full Court Press

I'm planning to place order soon on 35d. My wife did raise the question of how easy is it to find diesel stations in our area (Washington DC), as some of stations we currently use do not offer diesel. Does Nav list diesel stations? Lastly, does BMW recommend/require certain premium brands (i.e., Exxon, Shell, Sunoco, Chevron)?

Thanks.

I live in your area. I am near Columbia. Finding diesel is no problem whatsoever. In the summer diesel is about $.15 cheaper than the super, and right now in the winter it is about five cents more expensive. Also, the navigation does list gas stations. The gas stations with the + next to them means that they carry diesel. You will like the diesel very much in this stop and go traffic, we average about 28 or 29 miles per gallon. On the highway we get close to 35. As far as BMWs recommendation regarding gas, I have found that the BP gas stations give me the worst mileage and the worst ride. I tend to stick with Exxon and Shell which I find plenty of in my area

clemsonee · 09-06-2015, 07:09 AM

For our Diesel engines, are we supposed to use only 5% or less Bio Diesel?

Terp335 · 09-06-2015, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clemsonee

For our Diesel engines, are we supposed to use only 5% or less Bio Diesel?

Yes. We're not supposed to use more than a B5 blend.

Flying Ace · 09-06-2015, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clemsonee

For our Diesel engines, are we supposed to use only 5% or less Bio Diesel?

Correct.

Just look for Diesel #2 at name brand stations

Flying Ace · 09-07-2015, 01:31 PM

BTW, if you're in Sac, Bay area, LA or SD there's always HPR Diesel with no biodiesel.
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=864929

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/...yond-biodiesel

http://www.hybridcars.com/california...esel-hpr-fuel/

12-16-2014, 01:53 PM	#1
wjbender Captain 346 Rep 781 Posts Drives: 2022 X5 40i M Sport Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: NJ - Jersey Shore iTrader: (0)	Questions About Diesel Fuel I am picking up at PC and driving to Hilton Head for a few days, then driving back to good old New Jersey along route 95. What do I have to be cautious about when filling up with Diesel? Will it be easy to find automotive diesel that is B5 or less? Do I need to use major brands like Exxon, Shell, BP or are the off brand diesel fuels OK if ultra low sulfur and less than 5% bio??
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12-16-2014, 02:02 PM	#2
MattBianco Lieutenant Colonel 1280 Rep 1,886 Posts Drives: 2015 X5 35d msport Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Marin, California iTrader: (0)	Biggest cautions: - keep disposable gloves in you car as some nozzles are dirty and smelly. - make sure you let all the drops fall in before lifting as it does not evaporate as fast and gets your tank area dirty. Other than those, no major difference between the major brands, other than bio content. none disclose cetane ratings in CA, but that may be different where you are (or going through). Occasionally exceeding the 5% does not damage the engine, but prolonged use may as there is less lubrication in biofuel. Congrats! __________________ Amber or Red Rear Turn Signals? Vote/have your say: LINK. Post your MPGs 100L/km here: LINK X5 F15 Engines Compared LINK Take the BMW X5 F15 Survey: LINK See the Results: LINK N57 Diesel Tuning Chips Compared LINK
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12-16-2014, 04:51 PM	#4
midlifecrisis Major 807 Rep 1,209 Posts Drives: 2017 X5 35d, 2019 230i X Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	You shouldn't have any problem in the East. Some stations even have a disposable glove dispenser next to the diesel pump. Many of the gas stations at major highway interchanges have diesel. One note - sometimes you'll see diesel pumps with two nozzles and hoses. In many cases the nozzles are two different sizes - one for the big rigs and one that fits the receiver in our car. The bigger nozzle won't fit and fails to release the filler baffle. __________________ 2017 X5 35d (Performance Center delivery March 2017) 2019 230i X-drive 2022 M3 base 2000 328i sedan (UUC suspension - still the favorite), 2006 M3 slick top - Alpine White/Cinnamon SOLD! 2008 E90 M3 SOLD! 1991 325iX (both great), 2019 Miata RF - various others not as memorable but gone.
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12-16-2014, 08:56 PM	#5
jdcolombo Enlisted Member 11 Rep 30 Posts Drives: Join Date: Apr 2008 iTrader: (0)	We've owned a diesel X5 since fall of 2010. Agree with earlier post about keeping a box of rubber gloves to use - diesel pumps tend to be dirty, because it doesn't evaporate like gasoline. You can get 'em at any drugstore - we buy them in boxes of 100. With respect to pump nozzles: usually if diesel is at the same pump station as gasoline, the nozzle will be the correct size. Stations that have a separate diesel pumping area (e.g., truck stops) generally use the bigger nozzles that don't fit. And from time to time we've found that if the nozzle is slightly bent (even though the right size) it won't release the filler interlock. You should get a plastic adapter with your car that allows you to use the larger nozzles (or a bent nozzle) in a pinch, but remember that the automatic pump shutoff won't work in this case, so you have to be VERY careful when you fill up or you'll end up with diesel fuel everywhere. We live in the Midwest, and have traveled all over the country - the nozzle problems we've encountered are most common out West. We just got back from a round trip from Illinois to Baltimore/DC on I-70/I-68 and had no problems whatever - diesel was everywhere, pump nozzles were correct, and even the price was great ($2.84 at a Shell in Baltimore). It's not quite as convenient as gasoline, but we typically average 26 mpg in our 6000-pound behemoth X5 running a steady 80 mph on the interstates, and even average over 20 mpg in purely street driving. And the torque is unbelievable - our X5 is VERY quick off the line; I've surprised more than one "performance" sedan with the X5's acceleration from a stop. We've got 70,000 miles on it, and it's been the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned - nothing but regular maintenance. At this rate, we expect to see 200,000 miles on it, and our next one, whenever that may be, will be a diesel, too, if they are still available (don't get me started on how U.S. fuel tax policy with regard to diesel fuel is insane). John C.
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12-17-2014, 07:50 PM	#6
42pilot Captain 591 Rep 710 Posts Drives: 2014 X5 35d MSport Join Date: May 2014 Location: GA iTrader: (0)	I just drove 435 miles to Orlando and filled up once, and the on-board computer shows I still have 265 miles of fuel available. I paid $3.03/gal at fill-up too. __________________ Sold: 2014 X5 xDrive35d MSport
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Questions About Diesel Fuel

12-30-2014, 08:41 AM	#10
wjbender Captain 346 Rep 781 Posts Drives: 2022 X5 40i M Sport Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: NJ - Jersey Shore iTrader: (0)	Thank you for all the great suggestions and tips.
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12-30-2014, 09:47 AM	#11
greentrbo95gst Brigadier General 1231 Rep 4,106 Posts Drives: 21 M5 Comp Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Orange County iTrader: (6)	I did a PCD and drove across country. I noticed that when I filled up with diesel from less common stations the performance of the car would suffer. I also had a check engine light come on after I put 5 gallons of diesel in a shady part of New Orleans. It went away after i filled up with good Diesel from Chevron. __________________ Current: 21 M5 Comp, 17 X5M, 06 M3, 14 Ferrari FF, Tesla Model S Performance.
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12-30-2014, 10:21 AM	#12
Full Court Press Private 12 Rep 82 Posts Drives: 2020 M340 Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	I'm planning to place order soon on 35d. My wife did raise the question of how easy is it to find diesel stations in our area (Washington DC), as some of stations we currently use do not offer diesel. Does Nav list diesel stations? Lastly, does BMW recommend/require certain premium brands (i.e., Exxon, Shell, Sunoco, Chevron)? Thanks.
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12-30-2014, 10:34 AM	#14
42pilot Captain 591 Rep 710 Posts Drives: 2014 X5 35d MSport Join Date: May 2014 Location: GA iTrader: (0)	And look for high volume diesel outlets. I buy mine from Kroger because they fill their tanks nearly every other day and the cost here in GA is around $2.95. If I spend $100 per month in groceries, I get an additional $0.10 off on one fill up.
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12-30-2014, 10:36 AM	#15
greentrbo95gst Brigadier General 1231 Rep 4,106 Posts Drives: 21 M5 Comp Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Orange County iTrader: (6)	I heard a lot of good stuff about Kroger. __________________ Current: 21 M5 Comp, 17 X5M, 06 M3, 14 Ferrari FF, Tesla Model S Performance.
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01-01-2015, 04:37 AM	#16
2014_F15 Private 26 Rep 69 Posts Drives: 2014 X15 35d Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: S.F. iTrader: (0)	Here's a tip about fuel nozzles. There are three sizes, unleaded (small size), diesel (larger and the same as the old leaded gas pumps), extra large (diesel for trucks). I have found a couple of gas stations (not truck stops) that inadvertently put the small unleaded nozzle on the diesel pump and the filler on the X5 is designed to block those to prevent filling with unleaded. The lesson I learned is to check the nozzle before running the credit card on the pump, because if you discover that the nozzle is the wrong size and then change pumps, your credit card will be declined at the second pump because most banks have fraud protection systems that stop multiple purchases of fuel from a single station. I got hit with this on a road trip and fortunately had another credit card to use. Now I just insert the nozzle and then run the card or move to a different pump. I've been surprised that the pumps that had this problem were all at new, name brand stations.
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09-06-2015, 07:09 AM	#19
clemsonee Private 42 Rep 67 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW X35d Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Charleston, SC iTrader: (0)	For our Diesel engines, are we supposed to use only 5% or less Bio Diesel?
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09-07-2015, 01:31 PM	#22
Flying Ace Lieutenant General 4985 Rep 11,891 Posts Drives: G05 45e, 997.1 & 991.1 GT3s Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: SF, CA iTrader: (5)	BTW, if you're in Sac, Bay area, LA or SD there's always HPR Diesel with no biodiesel. http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=864929 http://www.greencarreports.com/news/...yond-biodiesel http://www.hybridcars.com/california...esel-hpr-fuel/ Last edited by Flying Ace; 09-07-2015 at 01:39 PM..
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