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[mdkarle]

Here is what I found out through a good source that I work with who is our Fuels Technician. I was finely able to track him down and spent the last hour on the phone with him. He got back from a major fuel producer, marketing and retail outlet meeting in Chicago a couple of months back where major representatives from the major producers such as Valero, the Federal EPA and Bush Administration talked about the short and long range goals for fuels in not just the non-obtainment areas but the entire country.

First of all I was told we can breath a sigh of relief that Valero, Exxon/Mobil and other producers are working on and introducing additives built/mixed within the new diesel fuel to cure the leaking problems. So all of us whom own the older diesel vehicles have no need to worry about the leaking issue. I was told since the additives are new and they are just being introduced, we still need to watch our vehicles closely for leaks and if any should form, we need to go ahead with replacements of the gaskets and o-rings until these additives are perfected and get into fuel supply. I was told if anyone has just replaced o-rings or gaskets, that we should be fine with no real problems of leaking expected however keep a watch on your vehicle for leaks just to be safe for the next several months. I was told you can expect a small drop in MPGs but that to should be minor however price increases will be the main issue. In my area the cost of diesel has increased from $2.84 to $3.01 per gallon in most cases just over night. As to clean air and non-obtainment areas: This new low sulpher diesel fuel, TX Lead in our case, along with the new 90% Unlead/10 Alcohol blend, is being pushed to eventually become the only fuels sold anywhere in the US. This is the Bush Administration and the EPA’s goal with the major producers backing them, simply put, not so much for cleaning up the environment but the economics driven by demand. The government and producers want the entire country using the same fuels no matter where you live. After all, the high demand, major market and volume for fuels are the non-obtainment areas. The non-obtainment areas are the center of large populations, + the largest markets + the highest demand = the driving force for dollars especially in the pocket of the producers and oil companies. In other words these markets and their millions of gallons in volume are where the most money is made for the producers thus we will all eventually have to buy the same fuels because having everyone in the US using the same fuels should help stabilize prices if not help bring down the price but most importantly line the pockets of the producers with more of our hard earned dollars. If the government and producers truly get what they are wanting, which almost they always do, the days of gourmet specialty blended fuels for different States and non-obtainment areas will go away in the near future. Think about it, what else would make the majority of this country’s government administration, environmentalist, fuel producers and etc. happy all at one time if everyone uses the exact same diesel fuel and gasoline? Pulling in the rest of the country in the obtainment/clean air areas makes sense, especially for those who stand to make money off us by increasing the millions of gallons and the producers no longer have to gear or dedicate portions of or entire plants to the current gourmet specialty blended fuels for different States and non-obtainment areas. If they can mandate and produce one fuel for all then the producers and oil companies stand to make even more millions of dollars on top of what they already make off you and I.

If bio diesel is available in your area, it is recommended you try using the bio-diesel because it may quickly become less expensive per gallon than buying the new low suplher diesel. Bio-diesel is not taxed with the federal road tax of $0.20 cents per gallon since it is a 80/20 blend by being consider a non-taxable food item.

Please do not fear major problems with leaking from having to use the new low sulpher diesels since the additives blended into the fuel should take care of the problem shortly. I know I am breathing better now that I know I don’t have to give up the old truck over the new fuel.