[Fastcolts]

I noticed for the first time today a sticker on the diesel pump at my regular stop that said low-sulphur highway diesel fuel, federal law prohobits use in 2007 and later engines, may damage engines. Could someone tell me what this means for the future? Are there going to be two types of diesel sold at the pumps?

Thanks!

 

[01crewcabtg]

From what I have read, the Feds mandated that the sticker goes on the pumps. As far as I can tell, we've pretty much been running LSD for a while now. The 2007 engines have to use Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel. The refineries will be adding lubricants back into the ULSD, so our engines"should" not be affected. As for myself, I'll continue to add some Bio-D or Stanadyne for lubricity.Thats probably not the best explanation you could get, but I believe it close /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

 

[AutoJim]

Joe has the right of it. The current fuel is called "Low Sulfur Diesel" (LSD) and has <500ppm sulfur. The emissions gear required for '07 requires the use of "Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel" (ULSD), which can have no more than 35ppm sulfur (<35ppm), because higher sulfur content will "poison" the aftertreatment systems (catalyst, particulate trap) required to meet the emissions standards for '07 and beyond.

The tricky bit is that the chemical process the refiners must use to reduce the sulfur content to get to the ULSD standard has the unfortunate side-effect of reducing the lubricating properties of the fuel (pulls some of the heavier ends), which could be bad for pumps and injectors if left alone. Which they are NOT doing, but instead mixing in some additives that restore those lubricating properties.

The practical upshot of all this is that the current stickers are required to warn anyone with an '07 and newer diesel to not use that fuel. Which means anyone with an '07 right now (and I don't think anyone has one yet...) is pretty much SOL until the ULSD becomes more widely available -- which should start to happen around the time the '07 MY diesels hit the stores.

It's my understanding that our Canadian friends have been running ULSD for some time now.

You're going to see a lot of "late" 2007 introductions in the diesel world, and the fuel supply situation is one reason why.

 

[Tallavana]

thats funny, me and my friend that owns the oil company here were just talking about that saturday. There low is 200ppm and there ultra low will be 15ppm. He said that either the ULSD has to be available Sept.1 or they cant sell the regular after Sept.1, I dont remember which. But, there will be low and ultra low that will be distinquish by a sticker on the pump. All of the retro trucks will be fine, but anyone who gets an 07 will have to be sure which fuel they are buying.

 

[AutoJim]

Well, the thing about the standard is "<500ppm" means "less than 500ppm" and "<35ppm" means "less than 35ppm" so 200ppm and 15ppm fall well within that standard, yes?

"Less than" some number means that number is a do-not-exceed value, and it's quite alright to be below it.

 

[Tallavana]

I meant that it was funny that the subject was brought up when we were just discussing it. I know you were quoting the max values. I was just saying what he told me they were putting in their tanks. I wasnt questioning.

 

[01crewcabtg]

Thanks AutoJim. I knew somebody out there could cross all the T's and dot all the i's