Shell V Power diesel for trains

[strange6]

I wonder if this stuff would make any diffrence to the train engine? I use it in my car and it pulls a lot more strongly with no signs of black smoke, even under hard acceleration. A big proportion of it is GTL (Gas to liquid) which burns in an instant with no smoke. Couple that with the cleansing properties and higher cetane and I reckon it would do the train engines some good over a prolonged period, especially the injectors!

 

[Nym]

Yes, all very nice, but trains run off 'fuel oil' or red diesel, so I don't think shell would make it for them. Also, V Power Diesel is optimised for car engines, not big truck style train engines, car diesels tend to rev a heck of a lot higher. So technically it might not make much difference either.

 

[rail-britain]

car diesels tend to rev a heck of a lot higher

Older ones do, but the latest modern ones are much lower, due to higher gearing
At 70mph mine revs at 1100rpm

Shell DERV is 51 cetane
Shell Red Diesel is 45 cetane
Shell Premium DERV (V Power) is 56 cetane

There would be a considerable cost difference, so the cost per mile benefit would not be worth it

 

[Nym]

Yeah, but our DAF XF revs to 1800rpm max, most cars do 5,000, my wagon does 3,400 max... and thats a Merc W602 Van engine.

I've known wagon/van engines max out at less than 1000rpm, and work mainly between 600 and 700...

 

[strange6]

Yes, all very nice, but trains run off 'fuel oil' or red diesel, so I don't think shell would make it for them. Also, V Power Diesel is optimised for car engines, not big truck style train engines, car diesels tend to rev a heck of a lot higher. So technically it might not make much difference either.

Red diesel is just diesel with dye and diesel is a fuel oil; you seem to think they're different which they are not. And the capacity of the diesel engine (and its maximum revs) is irrelevent when using any mass produced fuel so I don't know where you get that idea from. The main benefit would be the quicker burning and the ability to prevent carbon deposits building up on injectors and valves. I think it would make a difference and possibly prolong the engine life a bit.