Off Road diesel over store pump diesel

[Gary Fowler]

I wonder where folks are getting high sulfur content diesel/fuel oil. Since early 1990's refineries have been required to reduce sulfur content with California leading the pack in early date to complete this work. I have worked in many refineries from 1990 in California to Texas in late 90's building sulfur extraction units for meeting the government mandated requirement for low sulfur fuels. Crude oil runs thru these units prior to being subjected to Catalytic Cracking units where it is separated into all the different products we get from it. Therefore all the products made from Propane to asphalt are low sulfur or ULS.
Those folks still allowed to use high sulfur must be getting it from reserve storage units because all the refineries product now is ULS products.

 

[Capricious]

"..Therefore all the products made from Propane to asphalt are low sulfur or ULS...."


That is pretty much my understanding. Perhaps some are using imported refined products? Or maybe people are being told one thing, and sold another.

 

[Raspy]

Can sulfur be added back in for special cases?

 

[Capricious]

Can sulfur be added back in for special cases?

Not legally for on road use; probably not practical for off-road. A simpler solution would be one of the various additives that are sold for the purpose of improving lubricity in ULSD. Or use biodiesel.



Another issue with high sulphur #2 is transportation. It would have to move by truck/rail/barge as the pipelines are not going to be keen on dealing with multiple grades of #2. Most of the pipelines are operating at or near capacity and eliminating small shipments of odd products speeds things up

 

[Capricious]

Apparently high-sulphur heating oil is (or was) still available in the northeast- I am assuming it was mostly imported:

"..ULSD was 90% of total U.S. refinery net production of distillate in 2013..."


...but it looks like high sulphur's days are limited:

This Week In Petroleum

 

[CobyRupert]

So....
1. Other than the red "off-road" dye, is there any difference in the #2 diesel you buy at the pump versus the #2 fuel oil (heating oil) you have delivered to your furnace tank?
That is: Do they ad a lube agent and/ or cetane booster to diesel but not heating oil? I assume they're the same other than the dye.

2. When someone has fuel oil (heating oil) delivered, do they give you a different product if your tank is in the basement, versus if your tank is outside? Or will you automatically receive a #1 & #2 blend that wont gel (freeze)? Or do they just assume your tank is in warm basement?

 

[Capricious]

1. Other than the red "off-road" dye, is there any difference in the #2 diesel you buy at the pump versus the #2 fuel oil (heating oil) you have delivered to your furnace tank? That is: Do they ad a lube agent and/ or cetane booster to diesel but not heating oil? I assume they're the same other than the dye.




*IF* the heating oil supplier is supplying ULSD, then the only difference is the dye. As stated in my post above, in the northeast apparently there WAS still some high sulphur heating oil available, but this winter it will not be do to changes in states' laws.







2. When someone has fuel oil (heating oil) delivered, do they give you a different product if your tank is in the basement, versus if your tank is outside? Or will you automatically receive a #1 & #2 blend that wont gel (freeze)? Or do they just assume your tank is in warm basement

Oil Tank Replacements | Oil Tank Installation | Above Ground Fuel



EDITED TO ADD: This, perhaps, better answers question #2:

"..If your oil tank is located outdoors or in a poorly insulated location like your garage, it is very important that you enroll in our Anti-Gel additive program for the winter..."

Special Additives | Special Oil Additive | Standard Oil

 

[ruffdog]

I contacted my local fuel distributer about the diesel fuel and hope I get a response. They sell OTR and off road diesel and NO ethanol gasoline at the local location.

 

[chopped]

Just when I thought I had the fuel thing figured out, no, not so much.

Yes I have that trouble as well use the road taxed as heating fuel ..thus the 50 cent a gallon difference.I to am confused from it all. (but then im cunfused in nature)lol
I guess I'll just go along blissfully ignorant, 'cause even if I do figure it all out, it won't make any difference as long as the fuel police don't dip my tank and find red dye, or some other heinous crime. But then, what if I pay road tax and burn the fuel in the house boiler? OMG.

Yes I have that trouble as well use the road taxed as heating fuel ..thus the 50 cent a gallon difference.I to am confused from it all. (but then im cunfused in nature)lol

 

[Raspy]

Not legally for on road use; probably not practical for off-road. A simpler solution would be one of the various additives that are sold for the purpose of improving lubricity in ULSD. Or use biodiesel.

I'm not referring to lubrication. That is easily handled with 2 stroke oil. But it seems higher sulfur fuel is available and I'm wondering how that can be if ALL fuel is ULSD.