Fuel issues at the TA. Take a look.

[preacherboy24]

Been having trouble keeping filters on my engine. I opened them up and this is what I found. The white one is the filter on the engine and the black one is the one on my AirDog.
The fuel goes through the AirDog before it gets to the other filter. Last week I changed them out and fueled at a TA that doesnt have biodiesel. I got over 7mpg. After I fueled at the TA in Greencastle PA I got 5.3 and my AirDog light started telling me I had restriction.
I fueled at the TA in Russell, IL then went to bed with my espar bunk heater. Woke up and started the truck with the AirDog flipping between red and green......also it sounded like my injectors were out of time because the engine was really knocking like I had just replaced the actuators. After the engine warmed up it was fine and I got a little over 6mpg on the way home.
This morning I go over to fire the truck up just to see what it does and the AirDog is flashing red (needs filters....NOW) and the engine runs fine but began to knock again. I buy filters and prime them with HOWES then spin them on. AirDog is solid green again and the knocking goes away.

I took the filters to the shop and cut them up to see what was in them. This is what the filter media looks like. The engine filter was clean but the AirDog filter was black (I dont know what the Fleet Guard media looks like in those new) and had a lot of grit in it. You can see some on my finger along with the black fuel. I put some anti alga treatment in the tanks along with two containers of HOWES (one and an half to prime the filters) so lets see what happens next week.

The manager at the TA in Canton said they dont have biodiesel but the others are switching to it. I ran their fuel last week and got 7mpg.....I am wondering if anyone else is having this trouble?

[bazdan902]

Fuel seems pretty rough this winter! I haven't gone as far as you to cut any filters open but I know I've had some pretty wild fluctuations this winter and noticeable differences in how smooth and peppy the truck runs. Maybe in my head but judging by your filters maybe not!

[Waterloo]

Preacher, I have gone as far as interviewing the owners or managers at the places I get fuel. I can do that as I don't go anywhere. I have gotten some real crap fuel in the past few months. I will not put any blended fuel in my truck, like that crap Pilot and many Flying J's sell. Won't do it. Standards are slipping fast out here... Few if any of these truck stops give a shi#t anymore.

[preacherboy24]

Just seems weird that TA is having issues. I try to stay at the TA but I'm sure all the others get their fuel off the same rack. I run a consistant area so we will see what happens next week. I ordered a case of filters and will be getting aspaltene treatment tomorrow.

[jan0272]

(02-05-2017 )Waterloo Wrote:  Preacher, I have gone as far as interviewing the owners or managers at the places I get fuel. I can do that as I don't go anywhere. I have gotten some real crap fuel in the past few months. I will not put any blended fuel in my truck, like that crap Pilot and many Flying J's sell. Won't do it. Standards are slipping fast out here... Few if any of these truck stops give a shi#t anymore.

Not being a smartass but I'm curious why you feel that way about pilot and others fuel?
Guess it's safe to assume you won't fuel at any no name low price places like Indian casinos?
How about QT convience stores

[Waterloo]

(02-11-2017 )jan0272 Wrote:  

(02-05-2017 )Waterloo Wrote:  Preacher, I have gone as far as interviewing the owners or managers at the places I get fuel. I can do that as I don't go anywhere. I have gotten some real crap fuel in the past few months. I will not put any blended fuel in my truck, like that crap Pilot and many Flying J's sell. Won't do it. Standards are slipping fast out here... Few if any of these truck stops give a shi#t anymore.

Not being a smartass but I'm curious why you feel that way about pilot and others fuel?
Guess it's safe to assume you won't fuel at any no name low price places like Indian casinos?
How about QT convience stores

First, I rarely leave the state of Michigan, and if I do, it is normally just a short trip into Ohio or Indiana and back to Michigan. I normally fuel at one of three Mom and Pops, but have other favorites too...

Pilot and Flying J cut their fuel with bio or that ethanol crap, which is loaded with water. In the winter, this can lead to icing of your filters, been there, and even worse fuel mileage than just the normal winter blend fuels. And that poor fuel mileage is the same in the warmer months, water does that. Also, the bio blends will get you ALGAE in your tanks, fuel lines and filters. They don't sell algae killer additives for nothing. I try to avoid fueling there at all costs, unless they sell straight diesel, like they do at the old Detroiter Truck Stop, which is now a Flying J in Woodhaven MI off of I-75. They sell straight diesel and I will fuel there on occasion as that is where our office is located, but they are not cheap. I normally get enough to get me to one of my favorite fuel stops which are at times up to .40 a gallon cheaper. That .40 a gallon savings will buy a few showers and still save you money.

As far as TA, I will fuel there as a last resort, they are normally .20 - .40 a gallon higher than the mom and pops I use, but most of them do not cut their fuel, they sell straight diesel. The TA by me, Dexter MI off I-94 Exit 167, is filthy at the fuel island, and it is hit or miss if the pumps will even work. That has happened to me more times than I can recall, well over a dozen times which is a pain in the ass, as it takes time to straighten out. Also, at my local TA, I suspect they have the "water in the tanks" problem there, as I get crap fuel mileage when I have fueled there. If I do fuel there, I try to purchase the minimum I think I will need until I can get to one of my Mom and Pops.

Indian Casinos! Yes, I will fuel at an Indian casino! And have! Love their pricing! The ones I have fueled at, I have had no known issues with their fuel that I can recall. They sell straight diesel, and were generally well kept businesses. The last one I fueled at was down In Oklahoma a few years ago, on the Texas line. I think off of I-35. The Indian Casinos in my area do not cater to truck drivers like they do in other states. Unless you get up North in Michigan.

QT, YES, love the prices and have never gotten bad fuel there that I can recall. They sell straight diesel and the few I have been in, mainly in MO, have been nice places and very clean. No issues with QT and make it a point to buy my fuel there if I am ever in MO.

The three main Mom and Pops I use are one Marathon in Whitmore Lake MI US 23 N.Territorial Rd exit, around the 45-50mm south of I-96 and North of I-94, owned by a retired NFL player. All new pumps and tanks, very very clean. A Mobil in Eagle MI off of I-96 near Lansing MI and the Mobil in Birch Run MI off of I-75. Both of which are run by family owned local oil companies. Really good fuel and fantastic prices, all are very very clean and well kept businesses, normally .30+ a gallon cheaper than the TA/FJ up the road. You can tell they care about the customer, always great service and very clean facilities.

There is also a Sunoco in Toledo, off I-280 Exit 2 and OH Turnpike Exit 71, Millbury OH, the place is filthy, but they are slowly cleaning it up, it is routinely up to .30 a gallon cheaper when compared to the TA, Pilot, Loves, FJ and such down at the next exit. Sunoco in Ottawa Lake MI at the MI OH state line off US 23, Exit 5, good fuel there too, .15 a gallon cheaper than the Pilot across the street. Oh, and they have very clean showers at the Sunoco, Big Daddy's TS, $5 for a shower if you do not fuel. You can smell the bleach they use to clean with, I like that.

Speedway is another place I will fuel, BUT, you have to be cautious with some of them. If they are the older smaller stores, with one or two Diesel fuel pumps, odds are you will get water in the fuel and lousy mileage. Stick with the newer stores if at all possible with the larger fuel islands. You can at times save up to .30 + a gallon compared to the big chains in the area and are getting straight diesel.

Fuel Man, I have used them in Ohio, I avoid them now, I have gotten lousy mileage the few times I have fueled at several of their stores. Shame too, because it is hard to beat their price. There coffee is not that good either, and they don't sell Camel Non Filters.

There is my run down! And yes, I have talked to the managers at a few of these locations. The ones at the top of my novel here...

One thing is price, if you fuel at the big boys, you are paying extra for the privilege of free showers and free coffee points. I have figured it out, I can save up to $50 to well over $100 a week by purchasing fuel at the smaller chains and Mom and Pops. That will buy allot of showers and coffee. I am just picky about what I put in my tanks. I will by pass a lower priced fuel stop if I know I am taking chances on fuel quality. Paying .01 - .03 more a gallon up at the next exit for quality fuel is worth it to me.

I hope this answered your question?

[Rawze]

Thanks for the nice article Waterloo. I am always impressed when someone takes the time to detail and explain their views and findings.

[Brock]

I'm curious how you know they blend their diesel? Where do you get this information?

Up in Canada in my neck of the woods we have flying j (shell), Petro Canada, Husky and Co-op.

I've always wondered who (if any) have better fuel but can't really find anything.

[Waterloo]

(02-11-2017 )Brock Wrote:  I'm curious how you know they blend their diesel? Where do you get this information?

Up in Canada in my neck of the woods we have flying j (shell), Petro Canada, Husky and Co-op.

I've always wondered who (if any) have better fuel but can't really find anything.

By law in the states they have to put stickers on the pumps stating fuel quality and blend. And, the Pilots and FJ's have that separate batch of tanks, usually up by the entrance opposite of the actual diesel fuel tanks, that is where they put the water... I mean bio blend/ethanol, whatever it is. I hear that TA and Petro are going to start blending their fuel too... But, that will entail tearing up many a parking lot to install tanks to hold the stuff... So far just a rumor.

I am sure one of the fuel haulers here will chime in and sort this stuff out, those guys have a good handle on what goes on at the truck stops and the fuel we purchase.