When it comes to filling up your car, it’s important to make sure you’re using the right type of fuel if you’re hoping to get more out of your vehicle in terms of performance or efficiency. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at what the rating of your fuel means, specifically when it comes to diesel.
The cetane rating of the diesel you’re putting in your car could make all the difference. Here we’ll explain what it is and why it’s important.
What is cetane rating?
Put simply, the cetane rating is a measurement of how well diesel will combust when put under pressure by the engine pistons. It’s very similar to the octane rating for petrol, in that when cetane comes under extreme compression, the pressure will cause it to ignite.
Diesel fuel typically works better when it ignites quicker, which happens when the fuel has a higher cetane number. This generally indicates a short delay period in the combustion process. When diesel takes longer to ignite, it doesn’t always work as efficiently as it could.
Types of diesel and cetane numbers
Most modern diesel cars require a cetane rating of between 45 and 55. Different types of diesel will have varying ranges of cetane rating, and they’re worth knowing.
As a general rule, regular diesel has a cetane number between 48 and 50; premium diesel is rated between 55 and 60, and biodiesel has a wider range of between 46 and 52.
What does the cetane rating mean for your engine?
Filling your tank with higher cetane rating fuel has a number of benefits for the driver and for the car.
Firstly, since the cetane number is a measurement of combustion efficiency, the higher the cetane diesel that you use in your car, the more efficiently your car can generate power to propel your car forward.
As well as leading to more power from the engine, it can also lead to better fuel economy by improving the number of miles you can expect from a single tank. This is because a higher percentage of the fuel is burning rather than being wasted.
If fuel isn’t burned correctly because it has a lower cetane rating, this can lead to more harmful byproducts and smoke being released from the exhaust or clogging up the DPF. For slightly clogged DPFs, a product like Redex DPF Cleaner can help to shift deposits while you drive.
How to improve the cetane rating
If you’re looking to improve the cetane rating of the diesel fuel you’re filling your tank with, you can opt for a product like Redex Diesel Power Booster.
The Diesel Power Booster works by increasing the cetane rating of the fuel in the tank, allowing the fuel to burn more efficiently and completely.
This is a fantastic alternative to using premium diesels because premium diesel options can be hard to come by with many retailers only selling one type of diesel. Using an additive like Redex Diesel Power Booster means that you can fill up with any diesel available but still benefit from high-cetane diesel.
It’s really simple to use. Simply pour a shot of the product directly into the fuel tank either before or after filling your car up with diesel. 1 shot will typically treat 50 litres of fuel.
Discover more help and advice across our blog, or check out our other diesel additives to take better care of your car.