After changing the oil, I read an interesting ULSD fact in the Owners manual...

[TedWhite]

Only Pemex stations at BORDER towns in Mexico sell ulsd. Everywhere else is lsd, up to 500ppm. I know because I am in Mexico and I can tell you there is NO ulsd south of the border towns. At the border towns they have ulsd in specially marked pumps - Pemex buys the ulsd from the USA for those stations. Pemex expects to have ulsd more widely available in 2009.

However, using lsd in Mexico while there for the winter will NOT produce any problems. I know because I have direct experience with a new truck fitted with a DPF and I have also come in contact with other owners of GM, Dodge and Ford down here. The truck with the most miles on it so far using lsd is a Dodge in the Baja with about 10,000 miles on high sulfur fuel.

The fact is, techs at the dealerships are only parroting what they have been told by Ford but I haven't met one yet who has actually done the scientific research to find out if it is true. It's NOT !!!!

Here are some interesting links to SCIENTIFIC REPORTS from tests done by EPA appointed labs and the vehicle manufacturers:

www.aseanenvironment.info/Abstract/41014571.pdf
for the effect of sulfur on DOCs (Diesel Oxygen Catalysts).

www.nrel.gov/docs/fy02osti/31600.pdf
for Diesel Emissions Control Sulfur Effects Project

http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels...pdfs/40015.pdf
for the Effect of Biodiesel Blends on DPF performance

http://www.osti.gov/bridge/servlets/...ive/828945.pdf
for Fuel Formulation Effects on Emission Control

www.sae.org/technical/papers/2002-01-2788
for Fuel Sulfur Effect on Membrane-Coated Diesel Particulate Filter

http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels...erim3final.pdf
for Diesel Fuel Sulfur Effects on Particulate Emissions

http://www.pecj.or.jp/japanese/divis...zuhisaMOGI.pdf
for effects of sulfur on DPF performance

The FACT is, running LSD will NOT destroy a modern DPF. All of the Government and manufacturer testing gives the same results - it takes at least 40,000 miles for lsd to begin to have a long term effect on the DPF. That's right, AT LEAST 40,000 MILES ON LSD TO EVEN REGISTER ANY CHANGES IN DPF PERFORMANCE !!!!!

As you will see from reading the above material, the reason why it is illegal to use lsd has nothing to do with preserving the DPF. It all has to do with emissions. When fuel with more than 300ppm sulfur is burned in a vehicle with a DOC and DPF the sulfur compound emissions EXCEED the reductions achieved by the DPF. At 500ppm, which is the lsd maximum, the emissions of sulfur compounds are way over the allowable limit, despite being invisible, because the DOC helps form those sulfur compounds.

The new emissions systems have been around in the field now for long enough to start registering problems if lsd was clogging DPFs - it's NOT happening, but plenty of people are using lsd, either deliberately, or inadvertently.

FORD doesn't want you to use lsd because they have to give warranty coverage on the DPF to 100,000 miles, but if you use nothing but lsd you MIGHT shorten the time before the DPF has to be physically cleaned of ash deposits. That means FORD would have to pay and there's no way for them to know that it was caused by lsd.

I'm not counselling anyone to deliberately use lsd, I'm just providing FACTS instead of opinions. If anyone can find a single scientific study which proves me wrong, please post it here and I'll happily admit I was wrong.

So PLEASE, when you see other opinions and inuendos about lsd in forums, put a link to this post so that people can read the SCIENTIFIC FACTS instead of unsupported opinions. And that includes dealerships, who are either uninformed or deliberately lying to you.

[sheepman]

Originally Posted by TedWhite

Sheepman, it's simply NOT TRUE that using lsd will plug the DPF as you were told by that technican. The fact is, techs are only parroting what they have been told by Ford but I haven't met one yet who has actually done the scientific research to find out if it is true. It's NOT !!!!

Ted, I understand they only know what they are told and told what to say. I had made that call just to see what Ford would say.

What most of us what to know is do the Mexican Dealerships get new trucks to sell with out the DOC/DPF's. So we can get are trucks retrofitted for use south of the boarder. Retrofitted by FORD as not VOID our warranties.

[TedWhite]

Based on what I've read I believe that trucks destined for the dealerships in Mexico are factory built for that market, even though a retrofit is apparently available which may involve both programming and hardware changes.

I'm presently in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, and the Ford dealership here does not sell diesels. However, I'll be in Cancun sometime in the next 3 weeks so I'll go to the dealership there and look at the trucks, talk to the dealership (if I can find someone with good English) and I'll report back. I'll specifically ask about retrofits.

[George C]

Originally Posted by Ford_Turbo_Diesel

I don't know that they do that in Florida George. We have no inspections and I 've never been asked to show anything regarding emissions while registering a vehicle.

John,
The title that you present the DMV will show it's origin. If it is an out of Country purchase, it will have to be accompanied by a certificate of emissions certification.
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong..

[dirtyharry]

Please keep us informed on what the mexican ford dealer says. I am curious.
Rob

[TedWhite]

I'm going up to Cancun on Friday morning so I should be able to report back over the weekend.

[Gerry40]

Originally Posted by George C

John,
The title that you present the DMV will show it's origin. If it is an out of Country purchase, it will have to be accompanied by a certificate of emissions certification.
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong..

I have personally experienced this issue myself with my '91 Honda Civic that I tried to bring with me when I moved from Canada to NY. They wanted me to make the car meet CA emissions when I was living in NY. They said it had to meet CA emissions because if I sold the car it could end up in CA. I loved that car so I looked into it but the the cost to change it from Canadian emissions to CA emissions was going to $1500-$2000. It wasn't worth it so I sold the car just before I moved.

Gerry

***BTW... This was back in '92 so the rules may have changed a little but I bet they're worse now.

[TedWhite]

So I've been to Cancun and have visited the Ford, Dodge, and Chevy dealerships. NONE of them are selling diesel powered pickups this year.

I'm guessing that the big 3 decided that the market in Mexico was too small to run special models that would have required removal of the emissions stuff, a reprogrammed engine, separate training for techs, separate service manuals, and some unique parts, etc.

A salesman at the Ford dealership told me I would have to buy a diesel pickup in the USA along with the Ford retrofit kit to adapt it for Mexico's higher sulfur fuel.

The Dodge showroom had pickups which looked exactly like the RAM 3500 but were labelled as RAM 4000 and had a gasoline engine. No diesels available and no official Dodge retrofit kits available if buying in the USA.

Not even any gas pickups at the Chevy dealer. Salesman told me he wished they had some.

[sheepman]

Originally Posted by TedWhite

A salesman at the Ford dealership told me I would have to buy a diesel pickup in the USA along with the Ford retrofit kit to adapt it for Mexico's higher sulfur fuel.

Great Work Ted!!! Thank you for finding this out. I've got to make a few more phone calls now that you found this out for us.


Just need to find what that kit cost and how to get a hold of one.
I know ford has retro fitted military trucks for over seas so there has got to be something.

[TedWhite]

There's a guy a few spaces along from me here at the RV park in Playa Del Carmen who used to be in engine development with Ford. He retired only a short time ago. At ****tails a few nights ago he confirmed the existence of the conversion kit for the 2007/08 but I never did ask him about pricing, availability, etc. Give me a few days to see if I can get some useful information how to obtain the kit.

[Blue Water Runner]

The Ford parts catalog list a pipe that replaces the DPF and cat. That part is not available here in the US. A Mexican Ford dealer could sell it to you though.

[TedWhite]

My understanding is that the official Ford conversion kit is comprised of replacement exhaust PLUS some programming changes for the engine. I'll get more detail as soon as I can.

[sheepman]

Originally Posted by TedWhite

There's a guy a few spaces along from me here at the RV park in Playa Del Carmen who used to be in engine development with Ford. He retired only a short time ago. At ****tails a few nights ago he confirmed the existence of the conversion kit for the 2007/08 but I never did ask him about pricing, availability, etc. Give me a few days to see if I can get some useful information how to obtain the kit.

Great! Thanks for all you've done.

[SDdriver]

Originally Posted by George C

There's no such thing as LSD around here. Well, maybe, but not in pump diesel fuel....
ULSD was introduced over a year ago, and that's all they make, unless it is for farm purposes.

This is just not true. On my recent trip from GA to CT, I had a devil of time finding ULSD in certain areas. I drove in and out of at least half a dozen stations that only had LSD. I also wouldn't consider the North east out in the boonies to not have ULSD.

[Blue Water Runner]

There is plenty LSD still being sold out there. The local Walmart here sells it.