Guide To Winter And Summer Graded Red Diesel

Red diesel, gas oil, 35-second oil, tractor diesel, can differ in grade depending on the season. A winter and a summer blend is used to prevent problems with machinery during colder weather.

Why Two Different Grades?

Two different grades mean that red diesel can be used throughout the year. Summer diesel is certified for use during summer due to its limited resistance to cold weather and winter diesel for winter which is more resistant to the cold.

Winter diesel can be used all-year-round however, this is would not be cost-effective When refining crude oil, you get much less winter-grade diesel than summer grade diesel. The energy content of fossil winter diesel is lower than summer grades and using it all year round could lead to availability problems.

What Happens If You Use The Wrong Grade?

If summer grade gas oil is used during the winter or if some still remains in your tank, this can lead to problems starting the engine and equipment can fail. This can occur from wax crystals and condensation forming in the fuel which can then cause blocked fuel lines and filters.

Parrafin

All diesel fuel contains paraffin. The paraffin content gives diesel the high cetane number that makes for efficient combustion.

Parrafin is normally dissolved in the fuel however when exposed to cold temperatures it can begin to crystalize. You can tell if paraffin has crystallised in your gas oil by its appearance. It might look milky, or there could be a reddish deposit on the bottom of your tank or on the surface of the fuel filter.

When the temperature is low for several days these problems are likely to occur however, winterised gas oil includes additives in which lowers the temperature that crystals are formed.

Things To Note When Buying Summer/Winter Grade Diesel

• Ensure no leftover summer grade fuel is left in your tank – it can take away the cold weather characteristics of winter fuel

• Buy your red diesel ahead of the wintertime

• Protect your tank from cold weather by storing in a shed or garage

• Check your fuel regularly for wax crystals

• Use winter-appropriate lubricants to avoid wax build-up (antiwax)

HOW DO YOU BUY WINTER GRADE RED DIESEL?

The blend of red diesel is automatically changed during November to winter-grade to improve the cold-weather performance of the fuel and to ensure everyone gets the most out of their equipment, vehicles and machinery. It is then automatically switched back to summer grade during March.

We automatically adjust the quality of gas oil at no extra cost ensuring we supply you with the correct fuel all year round. If you have any questions or would like to place an order for red diesel give us a phone on 01360 660264 or receive a quote below.