Gasoline effect on performance?

[RadoTD]

I know some people run a small percentage (I've heard up to around 10%) of gasoline in their diesel during the winter to keep the fuel from gelling.
Has anyone played around with it or know if it has any effect on performance?

The reason I'm wondering this is that a customer came into my work today and we were talking about diesel. He's got a duramax that's pushing over 600hp/900ftlbs, and once while he was out camping (pulling a large trailer), the gas attendant put gasoline in his truck. He said his truck had tons of power, until he pulled over and shut then engine off and couldn't start it again.

Diesel has a higher energy density than gasoline, but I'm wondering if the gas might burn at a lower AFR? It also burns quicker, so could that lead to better power?

[Quantum TD]

I can't speak to power, but when mixed with diesel, it sure stinks like hell. But, it keeps my fuel from gelling. 

[RabbitJockey]

i used to put some kerosene in to ease cold starts, my dad put way too much kerosene in before and it knocked really bad, i would imagine gasoline has a similar effect

[R.O.R-2.0]

kerosene is one of those weird fuels that will run in a gasoline engine or a diesel..

[RadoTD]

my dad put way too much kerosene in before and it knocked really bad, i would imagine gasoline has a similar effect

That's one thing I was worried about... the gasoline burning quicker might be like advancing timing, but too many timings are not good!
Probably best to stick to diesel in my tank I suppose! haha

[vanbcguy]

The other BIG thing with either Gasoline or Kerosene is they have very low lubricity.  Almost all diesel injection pumps rely on lubrication from the fuel, and in our case we have a pump that was designed for old-school diesel, not the thin 15ppm stuff we have today.

That said, modern 15ppm fuel doesn't gel until it gets REALLY cold - I think somewhere around 20 below.  You can test your fuel out by putting a jar in the freezer and seeing what happens - that will give you a good indication if your particular fuel source is anything to worry about or not.  Pretty much everywhere these days formulates their fuel for the seasons too.

[RabbitJockey]

most fuels today have additives in the winter, it gets pretty cold in pa, not really cold like anyone north of us, but i have never ever had issues with gelling or know of anyone locally who has told me they have.  except for one trucker but he was out west in a blizzard

[Henchman]

most fuels today have additives in the winter, it gets pretty cold in pa, not really cold like anyone north of us, but i have never ever had issues with gelling or know of anyone locally who has told me they have.  except for one trucker but he was out west in a blizzard

In theory...  Last week it got down to -7c or so around here (20 something f) and I had fuel gelling that I had just purchased the week before.  Had to add 2 small bottles of anti gel.  Same thing happened last year, but we had a -20c cold snap, so that is not so surprising.  When it gets that cold I add my own antigel with fillup.  FYI I live in Eastern Ontario on the NY border, so it`s not like I`m in polar bear country, but winter diesel is the norm around here.

As for gas in the fuel, the manual for my Passat AAZ said that up to 40% (IIRC) was OK, but anymore and the tank should be drained.  I run everything from BIO, used motor oil, veg oil, stale gas, varsol, turpentine, kerosene, power steering fluid, tranny fluid, but all with majority diesel (except bio, which I`ve run up to 99% in the summer)

Ian
Ian

[mtrans]

Been there,samething you can do:
-change  supply hose to 3/8" or 1/2" for eazy suck
-preheat
-Mix fuel
If you have Winter diesel which is usually #1 diesel which is the same as kerosene plus motor fuel lubricity
additives. JetA is the same kerosene base stock with additives specifically for turbine aircraft engines. Stove oil is kerosene with no additives.You SHOULD add cetane enhancers/lubricant if you use gasoline or kerosene + 0.3-0.5% acetone medical 99%.
   I have no doubt in my mind that the addition of a small amount of gasoline (3-5% is OK same go to 20% I don`t) also helps combustion.I have formed the opinion that the less gasoline you can add to the fuel and get decent starts when cold, the better.Too much gasoline lowers the cetane of a blend compared to using D2 in your blend. Low cetane causes symptoms such as poor fuel economy, excessive smoke and engine noise, excessive emissions, misfiring, rough running and hard starting     Another hypothetical on why gasoline blends act as so good is because of a dual flame (disel+gasoline)front during combustion in the cylinder.
   If you use only disel ad same 2% 2stroke oil and I use el.pump to mix min 30 min.

[rodpaslow]

MY $.02 is it depends where you live.  Fuel is mixed I'm pretty sure more by where it's going.  I'm a canuk in Saskatoon, Sk and it has been down to -35°c already this winter with no problems with the fuel gelling.  I've driven a diesel the last 4 years as a DD and it's been -40°c at times and had no problem with gel.  I would think there are more additives, here, added to the fuel than other areas that might only get to -20.  I haven't had to add gas or anything else to it to ensure no gel. 

[mtrans]

MY $.02 is it depends where you live. 

I agre I am in Europe,mostly max-10c

[fatmobile]

Low octane, equals high cetane right?

 Soo gas explodes quicker,.. might work better at high RPMs.

[smutts]

kerosene is one of those weird fuels that will run in a gasoline engine or a diesel..

in the UK paraffin (kerosene) has an octane of about zero, so it has a great cetane rating, pity the injection pump will rip it's guts out trying to pump it. I've used it in emergencies with a good quarter of engine oil or vegetable oil for lubricity, but with fingers crossed.

If you have ever tried kerosene in a petrol engine and not heard a hailstorm of hammers hitting the engine block, then you must be driving a Series Land Rover. Or VERY deaf.

[mtrans]

Low octane, equals high cetane right?

 Soo gas explodes quicker,.. might work better at high RPMs.

Yes.
Somehow in my case not so,aka OK untill high RPMs but not often,I think that is much heat in fuel,but I like drive on low RPMs 2000, so I change to open return and than is OK.

[mtrans]

in the UK paraffin (kerosene) has an octane of about zero, so it has a great cetane rating

Here paraffin  I think is not kerosene.By paraffin I mean CANDELE WAX but in liquid form-OIL(as I use 3.5e here),only in summer time and one veery smart man tell this paraffin CANDELE OIL you can drive almost 90%.
Cetane rating good(I think 50 by memory) but looking for more,parhaps you can help
I think fatmobile can verify this.
I haven`t  ever tried kerosene in a petrol engine,so I can`t speak.