What is the difference between diesel fuel and reefer fuel?
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Chemically, reefer fuel is similar to diesel. However, it is not the same as diesel because it can only be used on private property. It is dyed red to prevent misuse or confusion in its intended purpose. It can be used to maintain refrigeration in reefer vehicles – but not to power the truck.
Reefer fuel is a type of diesel used in reefer trailers, which carry refrigerants. The particular red-colored diesel keeps the massive refrigerated trailers cold. Because of this use, reefer fuel is illegal in on-road vehicles and trucks.
Can you put tractor diesel in a truck?
Off-road diesel should not be used in trucks used for personal use, although it can be used by any vehicles that aren’t driven on the road (for instance, construction equipment, tractors and even generators). Using off-road diesel in a vehicle that travels on roads is illegal.
How much diesel fuel does a reefer unit burn per hour?
Modern reefer units use between 0.4 and 1.1 gallons of diesel per hour of engine run time. In automatic mode, the engine runs a fraction of the time that the unit is switched on and protecting cargo, so fuel consumption per hour most likely will be at the low end of the estimate.
What is the difference between diesel fuel and reefer fuel? – Related Questions
What do reefer trailers run on?
In a reefer trailer, its compressor is driven by a small diesel engine. The compressor draws gaseous refrigerant in and compresses it. This pressure is then able to liquefy into gas. The liquefied gas then gives off heat to the body of the compressor and the air.
How do you fuel a reefer trailer?
Can you use red diesel in a reefer trailer?
Red dye diesel can also be used to run refrigeration units on trailers known as “reefers.” But the vehicle it’s attached to must use green-dyed, taxable, diesel. Just remember – stop and think before you use red-dyed diesel.
How are reefers powered?
When shipping, reefer container operation is typically run on vessel or shore power. During rail or truck shipping, a generator provides portable power to the reefers. Containers may have a built-in generator, or they may have one externally located.
How much fuel does a reefer use per day?
How Much Fuel Does a Reefer Use for a Day? At the low-end, a reefer truck will burn about . 4 gallons per hour, meaning 9.6 gallons of fuel in a regular 24-hour period. On the high-end, trucks can burn at about 1.1 gallons per hour, meaning 26.4 gallons over a day.
Reefers can maintain the desired temperature, required defrosting cycle and best humidity level for a long time. Hence, all reefers use 360/460V voltage from a three-phase network. The power consumption is 4 to 5.8 kW per hour and depends on the selected temperature scenario.
How many hours will a reefer unit run?
A common rule of thumb is a reefer trailer should last for an average of 40,000 hours of use which equates to about 8 years on the open road. These values are based on an average of 4,000 to 5,000 hours of use per year. Keeping your hours under 4,000 annually will then extend the lifespan of your trailer considerably.
What happens when reefer runs out of fuel?
If you run out of fuel for the reefer, you run out of cold, so to speak – a problem that can put cargo at risk. Additionally, restarting the refrigeration unit may be problematic, because when the tank runs dry the engine can lose its prime. That can force a costly service callout.
What pays more dry van or reefer?
The cost of operating dry vans varies depending on demand and pricing fluctuations in your industry. Shippers will pay extra for reefer, so you may charge more for using a refrigerated truck.
How long can a reefer be unplugged?
Power Outages: During and After
The refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will keep the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed.
Older reefers require routine servicing every 1,000 hours, but newer ones can go much longer. This SB series Thermo King reefer, for example, worked on here by Technicians at the CSTK dealership in Vineland, N.J., needs service only every 3,000 hours.
How long can a reefer trailer run on a full tank?
Reefer Trailers typically can run for two days without a refuel if opened only once or twice a day. Three days if you go a weekend without opening the trailer if fueled on Friday.
How often should you change the oil on a reefer unit?
The recommended inspection and service cycle for conventional units is: inspection at 750 hours, inspection plus scheduled maintenance at 1,500 hours, inspection again at 2,250 hours and inspection, scheduled maintenance and oil change at 3,000 hours, and so on.
What is the average reefer rate per mile?
Reefer Freight Rates – December 15, 2022
Reefer freight rates average $2.74 per mile, a $. 06 drop from the November average. Reefer rates are highest in the Midwest, averaging $3.27 per mile. The lowest rates are in the Southeast, with an average of $2.45 per mile.