7-eleven diesel fuel sourced on west coast?

4/23/2024 update.

I can’t find ULSD anywhere at all of my reliable stations that always had it. Every station I went to was selling a biomass diesel blend, some were labeled at the pump and others were labeled as ULSD. I did find real ULSD at a low volume station near Santa Cruz however I suspect it’s older fuel.

You can identify renewable diesel by the lack of foam and it is crystal clear. RD also has a different smell than ULSD.

My fuel economy has dropped 2 MPGs and low end torque is lower with more downshifting. I hate this crappy green fuel it sucks and the phony hype about how great it is. If it burns cleaner, but you use 10% more fuel to do the same amount of work, how is that an improvement? It’s a carb.gov greenwashing scam.
 
4/23/2024 update.

I can’t find ULSD anywhere at all of my reliable stations that always had it. Every station I went to was selling a biomass diesel blend, some were labeled at the pump and others were labeled as ULSD. I did find real ULSD at a low volume station near Santa Cruz however I suspect it’s older fuel.

You can identify renewable diesel by the lack of foam and it is crystal clear. RD also has a different smell than ULSD.

My fuel economy has dropped 2 MPGs and low end torque is lower with more downshifting. I hate this crappy green fuel it sucks and the phony hype about how great it is. If it burns cleaner, but you use 10% more fuel to do the same amount of work, how is that an improvement? It’s a carb.gov greenwashing scam.
What's in the renewable diesel? When I've run biodiesel the only difference i notice is less injection noise. This white non foam stuff sounds like gasoline
 
Canola oil is approved as a feedstock for renewable diesel. Canola production in the Canadian western provinces is large and the pipeline infrastructure to the USA exists should it become a large exported product.

View attachment 194873
You heard it here first. Renewable diesel can be exported from Alberta where huge volumes of Canola are grown, on the TMX pipeline to Vancouver where it can be loaded on tankers and shipped to California.
 
California Diesel Update 6/2024

I found some petro diesel in agriculture areas off of major highways this month while on a trip. I knew I found the Golden Fleece when pulling up to the pump and was greeted by that long lost familiar smell at the island. Hallelujah!
 
I use diesel fuel additive in my diesels. Mostly for peace of mind but more importantly as insurance for low or lack of lubricity if there is a mix up by whoever adds the additive package after the refinery sends it down the pipeline. The cetane improvers, antigel, biocide are an added bonus. I usually use PS but sometimes use other brands, usually Howes. I have noticed from time to time a little more noise or a little lower economy on individual tanks of fuel. I have no idea what the cetane or renewable content is. IIRC, some small amount of biodiesel is allowed without labeling per US law. I will have to research that.

Just looked it up.
Up to 5% biodiediesel can be used without pump labeling.
 
Last edited:
Our fuels in the UK can have up to 7% biodiesel content.

HVO (or Renewable Diesel) is available and my Duster loves the stuff! It starts quicker from cold, is a little more responsive and seems to get better fuel economy.

Unfortunately the local station that sells it is 8 miles away and its an extra 30p/litre. I only fill up with it if I'm passing and I'm below half a tank.
 
If that is the case, someone is blending in bio or renewable at some other location which seems unlikely. The biofuel blends must come from a dedicated supplier(s) and petro diesel from others.

7-eleven diesel is so cheap it’s hard to believe they can beat Costco by such a large margin. It runs fine and gets similar MPGs, nonetheless would like to know who makes it or if the crude comes from Russia, ISIS, China or other dubious source.
According to my research California has 13 operational refineries. 10 of those produce CARB diesel which is dyed green.. I don't know about the off-road stuff like the farmers use but it's probably all the same.
 
According to my research California has 13 operational refineries. 10 of those produce CARB diesel which is dyed green.. I don't know about the off-road stuff like the farmers use but it's probably all the same.

Yep, it’s yellowish green. I fill up a graduated cylinder and check out the color when I fill up because I’m a geek.

This is an older thread. I have only found real diesel #2 in rural stations since early 2024. Every location in my urban area, including 7-eleven are all selling Renewable diesel now. Even pumps labeled as Diesel #2 are dispensing RD.

There is one station in my area that has a D2/RD blend. Not sure of the ratio, but it has the color and smell of D2 but lighter in color. This is where I’ve been filling up since discovery of this location.
 
Yep, it’s yellowish green. I fill up a graduated cylinder and check out the color when I fill up because I’m a geek.

This is an older thread. I have only found real diesel #2 in rural stations since early 2024. Every location in my urban area, including 7-eleven are all selling Renewable diesel now. Even pumps labeled as Diesel #2 are dispensing RD.

There is one station in my area that has a D2/RD blend. Not sure of the ratio, but it has the color and smell of D2 but lighter in color. This is where I’ve been filling up since discovery of this location.
I've owned a '81 Mercedes 240D for 28 years and a '90 F-250 7.3 idi for 20 years so I'm concerned about what we're being forced to use. I'm told by a trusted source that the bio mix tends to dissolve years of gunk and could clog fuel filters.
 
I've owned a '81 Mercedes 240D for 28 years and a '90 F-250 7.3 idi for 20 years so I'm concerned about what we're being forced to use. I'm told by a trusted source that the bio mix tends to dissolve years of gunk and could clog fuel filters.
I mentioned earlier in this thread that my idi hates it. Even less power than normal and smokes like a chimney.
 
I've owned a '81 Mercedes 240D for 28 years and a '90 F-250 7.3 idi for 20 years so I'm concerned about what we're being forced to use. I'm told by a trusted source that the bio mix tends to dissolve years of gunk and could clog fuel filters.

Biodiesel does clean and dissolve deposits. It also adds lubricity. I used to get B5 at Costco but it’s not practical to fill up there anymore. I would never use anything over 5% or B5 as I’ve seen many pictures of fuel system corrosion from bad biodiesel.

Renewable diesel is better than Biodiesel however it doesn’t work great in some older engines that don’t have variable injection timing and can cause fuel system leaks as it is very dry and causes rubber seals to shrink. Viton is usually the replacement for natural rubber. RD has killed many a VW TDI Bosch VE injection pump from seal shrinkage.

The RD/D2 blend is pretty good but green diesel is best if you’re fortunate enough to live in a rural area that has it.
 
Back
Top Bottom