What makes Diesel fuel foam up?

[Chris142]

I stopped to get fuel today. Cheapest place in towm $3.89. Swiped my card amd stuck the nozzle in my tank. The pump almost imediatly shut off and when it did it burped foam out.

So I tried it again but slower. Still burped foam out. Tried different angles and speed but I just ended up with foam spitting out my filler and stinking up my shoes.

Gave up and went down the street to the 76 station. I had to pay $4.19 a gallon but it went in just fine no foam at all.

Anybody know What caused this?

 

[RiceCake]

Agitation.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: RiceCake
Agitation.
Oh I was plenty Agitated if that counts.

 

[Propflux01]

Maybe Because it was 30 Cents cheaper?

 

[Chris142]

I'm in Ca and Diesel and Gas are highly regulated. Should not be any difference due to regs.

 

[antonmnster]

Diesel is normally prone to aeration. It's really not a problem, just a trait when filling up.

 

[LargeCarManX2]

They just filled the tanks at the filling station no dought!

 

[eljefino]

Did you use a big rig pump nozzle or one of the car sized ones?

 

[bullwinkle]

Sounds like my F-450-if the pump delivers fuel the least bit fast, it spews fuel & foam right back out. Probably has sharp bends in the filler hose.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Did you use a big rig pump nozzle or one of the car sized ones?
small nozzle. The big ones wont fit in my fill pipe

 

[Shannow]

It just does...there was a period locally of about 10 months where it didn't but last 20 years, diesel always foams.

 

[Lyman]

I have been a truck driver for the last 34 years. Never had a problem.

 

[Shannow]

Re ^

A farmer mate has a service station at the end of his driveway, and rang me one day to report that they had "dodgy" diesel, as he'd filled his tractor directly and it didn't "foam" like in a jerry can or when filling his ute through the filler.

I filled a yellow plastic jerry can (investing in diesel futures whenever I get 15c/l off), and could clearly see about 10% "layer" of foam that took 15 seconds or so to disperse, but was thick enough to trip the auto shut-off.

Maybe on a flat tank like a semi or the tractor, the surface are gives enough settling tht it's less apparent.