Diesel Quality and ULSD Availability in the USA — A Field Report
This article provides a quick overview for international overlanders traveling with Diesel vehicles.
Last updated: March 2024
Diesel quality and availability
All Diesel in the USA is ULSD (Ultra-low-sulfur diesel) with a maximum sulfur content of 15 ppm. Diesel availability and quality are generally very good. Compared to Canada, Diesel in the USA has a lower cetane value.
Not all gas stations sell Diesel, particularly in cities. It is best to get Diesel along the highway.
Depending on the state, Diesel in the USA comes in different flavors and things can easily get confusing.
Regular Diesel is typically sold as “Diesel” or in some states as “Diesel #2”. This is regular diesel obtained by refining crude oil. In case you are wondering about Diesel #1, as far as my research shows, you can’t easily buy Diesel #1 anywhere.
Be careful with Diesel sold as B20. This type of diesel contains 20% biodiesel. Some engines might accept only up to 7% biodiesel in Diesel (B7). Check your owner’s manual.
More recently, particularly in California and Oregon, a new type of Diesel was introduced: Renewable Diesel.
Renewable Diesel is a fully refined product made out of soybeans and canola. It has a higher cetane rating but its chemical composition is very similar to the one of Diesel obtained from petroleum products. So it is designed to be a 1:1 replacement for traditional Diesel. However, check our owner’s manual or consult with your vehicle manufacturer if this is acceptable for your vehicle.
Don’t confuse Biodiesel with Renewable Diesel. Renewable Diesel typically does not contain Biodiesel but sometimes mixtures are possible. Closely check the information on the pump.
AdBlue/DEF availability
AdBlue/DEF availability is widely available at gas stations or auto parts stores like AutoZone.
Peak Blue DEF is probably the most popular DEF brand and conforms with the ISO 22241–1 certification.
Gas stations that cater toward trucks (such as Flying J, MAVERIK, Loves, and many others) typically have pumps for DEF. Filling up at the pump is cheaper, much quicker, and better for the environment as you don’t need to deal with the plastic package.
Going further south?
Check out the following field reports for these countries:
Conclusion
I hope this article helped you get an idea of the Diesel situation in the USA. Leave a comment in the section below if you have any questions or would like to share your own experience. I would love to hear from you!
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