Winter diesel?

cyclonebri1

Can anyone tell me if the diesel at the pumps is formulated, ie, winterised, at this time of year?

Is it less effecient/economical than summer fuel?

Someone suggested to me that it is, and as such accounts for loss of economy in diesel cars over that normally experienced due to cold weather running.

Conor_3

Yes it is formulated for winter. Shouldn't make any difference to economy really - its main purpose is to lower the freezing point of the fuel and reduce the viscosity so it starts easier.

I'd be more inclined to think that the extra load on the alternator from the heater fan and windscreen/rear window demisters had something to do with it. If you think about it, in summer, you don't sit there idling for a couple of minutes in a morning with the fan on full as you wait for the windscreen to demist.

cyclonebri1

Ah good,thanks, I know any car, for the reasons stated is less economical in winter but I'd never heard that they winterised all diesel fuel, I'd lay odds on the fact that it is less explosive though can't imagine it would improve it. There must be a reason for not having it in use all year?