Oil & Fuel Diesel fuel sulfer contnent?

Hillstone · Dec 13, 2007

I can get diesel fuel with a sulfer content of 500 ppm. I can go to another gas station and get fuel with a sulfer content of 15 ppm.The first one has a sticker on the pump stating it is prohibited to use this fuel for model 2007 vehicles and older and may cause engine damage. The second gas station has has a sticker on the pump stating it is recommended for 2007 and older vehicles. The way it is stated on the first pump you should not use this fuel unless you have a 2008 truck. Does it matter?

The manual on my 2520 recommends fuel with a sulfer content less than 500ppm. Is less(15ppm) better than more (500ppm)?

jd110 · Dec 13, 2007

The sulphur content is less for newer vehicles for emissions reasons. Higher sulphur is actually preferred for the lubricating properties of the sulphur. For trucks and cars, iit is illegal to use high sulphur fuels. For off-road vehicles such as your tractor, it is preferred. If you use ultra-low sulphur in an engine that was not designed for it, you should use an additive to provide the extra lubrication that is required.

Toolguy · Dec 13, 2007

I believe the sticker on the pump that has 500 PPM says not to use it in 2007 vehicles or newer, not older. The older vehicles could use higher sulpher fuel without damage. The 2007 and newer vehicles have particulate filters in the exhaust that require Ultra Low Sulper content. That is why the new fuel has only 15 PPM sulpher. You can use either in your tractor and it will be fine. Sulpher is a natural ingredient in Diesel fuel and it is also a polutant. The ULSD is required for On-Road vehicles only. It has a lubricant added to make up for the lower sulpher content. You don't need to add anything. It won't be long before 500 PPM diesel is no longer produced anyway. If it was me, I would use the cheaper of the two and save some money. It won't hurt anything and your 2520 isn't going to make a dent in the polution of the atmosphere no matter what you put in it. Good luck.

briwhit · Dec 13, 2007

Check out some problems that I posted in "lube" forums about ultra low sulfer diesel.

Ramairfreak98ss · Dec 30, 2007

briwhit said:
Check out some problems that I posted in "lube" forums about ultra low sulfer diesel.

yeah use 500ppm if possible, ULSD sucks unless you HAVE to use it say in 08+ diesel trucks. Even my simplicity tractor and 06 Ford F350 lack power unless i add the Power Service brand additive per fillup. Does Deere or any other manufacturers recommend using additive to their tractor diesel engines yet?

KennedyDiesel · Jan 3, 2008

Don't sweat it. A good additive or 2% bio diesel will take care of the lube issues. Myself, I run Amoco Premier fuel and FPPF Total Power additive.

sd624 · Jan 4, 2008

John Deere allows the use of 15 ppm Ultra-Low-Sulfur diesel fuel (more commonly known as ULSD or S15 Diesel Fuels) in all Engine Models as long as the diesel fuel used meets the latest ASTM D-975 diesel fuel lubricity specification which allows up to a 520-micron maximum wear scar diameter measured on a High Frequency Reciprocating Test Rig (HFRR). This new ASTM lubricity standard was introduced on 01 January 2005, and applies to both on-road and off-road diesel fuels.

Additives for lubricity should not be necessary. Like Low Sulfur Diesel fuel, ULSD fuel requires good lubricity and corrosion inhibitors to prevent unacceptable engine wear. Additives to increase lubricity and to inhibit corrosion will be added to ULSD fuel prior to its retail sale. With these additives, ULSD fuel is expected to perform as well as Low Sulfur Diesel fuel.

Generally speaking, the same oil refinery process used to reduce Sulfur content also removes Oxygen, Nitrogen, aromatic compounds, and other key characteristics in diesel fuel, which are considered to be natural fuel lubricity agents. Sulfur content by itself has little to do with fuel lubricity. Many oil refineries are now adding back in other fuel lubricity agents to prevent the former diesel fuel lubricity and rubber seal deterioration fiasco experienced back in 1993 and 1994. Reducing the sulfur content of diesel fuel from 500 ppm to 15 ppm will have no significant effect on engine fuel economy, fuel density, fuel heating value, or fuel lubricity.