Cetane Number

The cetane number relates to how well fuel ignites. Diesel fuels have a short time delay in the cylinder before igniting. Diesel engines are compression ignition engines. Diesel is ignited by heat and pressure in the combustion chamber. When compared to lower cetane number fuels, diesel fuels with a higher cetane number have a shorter time delay from when the diesel is injected into the combustion chamber to the point when it ignites. Cetane numbers of 40 to 50 are the most common.