Oil & Fuel Which diesel fuel should I use or does it really matter?

[speedracer2020]

Hello all. I am in the process of purchasing a used 1977 JD 2040 diesel tractor. I just realized that back in 1977 LOW SULFUR fuel was NOT the norm of the day and today it IS. I asked the service guy should I use the 'off road' diesel instead of the low. He said YES. As I drove around today I stopped at a number of gas stations and did not find any that supported/sold the off road HI sulfur diesel fuel. I will keep checking but if I have to use the low content will it do any harm to my engine? I know in aviation the older engines used LEAD gas and then when the gov't changed to low lead I had to buy lead in a can to add to the gas. IS there an additive that can be added to make the low into the older sulfur content diesel? Sorry for the questions but I am a first time tractor owner and really want to do things right the FIRST time not after I break something expensive. THANKS TO ALL for comments offered.

 

[Bearsixty7]

Buy Fuel from a reputable source that has a good amount of sales so that the fuel never sits long and is always fresh. Then use a fuel additive such as Amsoil Diesel Injector Clean ADF - AMSOIL in warm weather and Diesel All-In-One ADB - AMSOIL in cold weather.

 

[Rebeldad1]

older tractors should run the new low sulfer fuel just fine. If you are in any kind of farm area off road should be available somewhere.
Start paying attention to the fuel tanker trucks and what names are on the trucks. Call their offices and ask who supplies the fuel.
I always add diesel additives to my truck and equipment.

 

[Reb954]

On my 1971 Ford 4400 I used off highway fuel and added 1 oz. of ATF per gallon of fuel. It ran like a champ but if you idle around a lot it will start to slobber out of the exhaust pipe so back off to 1 oz. of ATF per 2 gallons of fuel. I would do the same with on highway fuel.

 

[dusty3030]

Off road or on road the only difference is the tax and dye. There is no "regular" diesel left, it's all low sulphur now. Use a good additive to add lubrication back. That subject has been beat to death but a simple one that tests good is adding 2 stroke oil to your fuel at a 1:200 2 stroke oil to diesel ratio. OptiLube tests good as well.

 

[ruffdog]

Off road or on road the only difference is the tax and dye. There is no "regular" diesel left, it's all low sulphur now. Use a good additive to add lubrication back. That subject has been beat to death but a simple one that tests good is adding 2 stroke oil to your fuel at a 1:200 2 stroke oil to diesel ratio. OptiLube tests good as well.

^^agree....all is ulsd here too.

 

[rademamj1]

Sulpher is not an additive to diesel, but rather is simply present in the original crude oil. These days, the EPA mandates low sulpher in the diesel and so its removed at the refinery. Older Diesels won't notice any variation in the sulpher content, but running a very high sulpher diesel fuel in the newer tractors with DOC/DPF emission controls maybe of concern.

 

[speedracer2020]

Thank you all for the education and the information. Greatly appreciated! Have a Great Labor Day weekend...

 

[4570Man]

Off road diesel is also ULSD. Use it to save money but the fuel is the same.

 

[deserteagle71]

I have an ancient John Deere 2020, predecessor to your 2040, that I bought 23 years ago. Been running the ULSD for years now with no ill effect on the tractor. I do add the winter version of Powerservice diesel treatment to mine because we do get very cold in the mornings and I don't want any gelling problems.

As someone above said, the only difference in the red (dyed) diesel and the stuff at the pumps at your local station is the added red dye and the taxes. Not so many years ago I used to be the one who added the dye to the bulk diesel fuel tanks to mark it as off-highway use only!