Which gas stations do you prefer when buying diesel?

[skrebel33]

When you go to the pump for diesel, which station do you prefer to use regularly? In making your decision, is it cost or quality? None of the stations near us list the level of cetane levels in their fuels. This leaves me to wonder which station provides the best option for your dollar.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Where are you located? Here in Virginia I've never seen a diesel pump that didn't have a sticker stating the cetane rating.

[Draigflag]

Do you guys get Shell V-power diesel in the states?

[Jay2TheRescue]

Yes, its available.

[Draigflag]

A lot of people here recommend Shell V-power. Unfortunately my nearest retailer is a 50 mile round trip, but on the odd occasion I do use it, seems to run well and give a slight increase in MPG. Having said that, my car is a petrol, but the same should apply for diesels, even if the fuel in the states is far less refined than in Europe.

[ynpmoose]

I try to stay with major brands that sell a lot of volume.

[TexasJon]

All my life I've been a die-hard Exxon man for gasoline cars. I assume it's because my father was; like father like son...

However, in researching Diesel fuels on the various VW TDI forums, the consensus seems to be that Shell V-Power is the best (or at least consistently at the top) for quality, cetane, consistency, etc. After 25 years behind the wheel, I now use Shell whenever possible + Opti-Lube XPD to boost lubricity and protect my notoriously delicate HFFP.

I recently completed a 3,481 mile one-week Christmas road-trip, and except for Christmas Day in Swansboro North Carolina where I could only find a BP within my remaining fuel range, I used Shell exclusively. Sometimes that meant a little pushing of my range, but it always worked out. The most critical was a 4 AM fuel stop when I added 14.36 gal in my 14.5 gal tank. That one had me nervous...

By the way, if you happen to care, here's the stats on that trip:

3,481 Total Distance
61 MPH average speed
57:24 total ET
42.0 MPG

That was just a little over six tanks of of fuel. I left San Antonio full, and had to stop in Georgetown, just 100 miles from home, for my sixth refuel.

The vehicle is a 2012 VW Golf TDI 4-door with a 6-speed manual, two people aboard with about 150 lbs of luggage, gear, water, etc. we used the A/C with the heater because it rained 80% of the way both ways as well as the seat heaters due to the temps, so that's not bad. Cruise was set @ 82 MPH in Texas, 77 MPH most everywhere else when the limit was 70.

Shell V-Power did pretty well for us...

[Macdemon]

I normal use Esso or Sasinsbury's so I can collect nectar points.

[sperry]

I use the shell v-power whenever possable

[ParisTNDude]

I have to say that I usually use Shell V Power, but when not using that, I use Murphy's (Walmart) since it's the cheapest diesel fuel around often selling for $3.48 per gallon. To be honest, I can't find a difference between the two, but I almost never push my Cruze TD. At 6980 miles, I'm pretty sure I've floored it only twice, once to see what it would do and the second was dusting off a Nissan Sentra.