New Formula Diesel in older tractors

[chriswheeler]

There is quite a bit of talk in the News about the new Federal diesel formula and how removing the sulpher will make air quality better in a few years. What I was wondering is how this will effect us folks out here with older diesels short and long term. The new diesel is reported to produce less HP than the old due to the loss of sulpher. What is more of a concern, will the reformulation eat up seals and O rings in the engines and do other long term damage??? I remember the last diesel change here on the West coast caused O rings to fail in many older diesels, fuel pump failures were the most common. Guess it would be easy to speculat on some of this, but the question is does anyone know, has there been any testing, or was the change just a air quality move.
Chris

 

[SkyPup]

There is quite a bit of talk in the News about the new Federal diesel formula and how removing the sulpher will make air quality better in a few years. What I was wondering is how this will effect us folks out here with older diesels short and long term. The new diesel is reported to produce less HP than the old due to the loss of sulpher. What is more of a concern, will the reformulation eat up seals and O rings in the engines and do other long term damage??? I remember the last diesel change here on the West coast caused O rings to fail in many older diesels, fuel pump failures were the most common. Guess it would be easy to speculat on some of this, but the question is does anyone know, has there been any testing, or was the change just a air quality move.
Chris

Nope, all of that is pure rumor and speculation. There are no problems besides the mass hysteria posts like that cause.

All of California (which uses 35% of all the diesel fuel in the USA) and Texas have been using ULSD for years without any problems, as has all of Europe.

 

[MadReferee]

I agree, pure rumor and speculation. If you want to read up on ULSD here are a few places you can look at. You can also search here on TBN as allthis has been discussed to death in the last 9 months.

Chevron Diesel

Clean Diesel Fuel Alliance

EPA diesel fuel info

 

[SkyPup]

Another difficult pill to swallow for all the High Sulfer Off Road Red Dyed fuel crowd is that they are the final dumping ground for all illegal adulterated, contaminated, substandard diesel fuel that cannot be sold in legitimate venues.

 

[cp1969]

Another difficult pill to swallow for all the High Sulfer Off Road Red Dyed fuel crowd is that they are the final dumping ground for all illegal adulterated, contaminated, substandard diesel fuel that cannot be sold in legitimate venues.

And will continue to be for the foreseeable future. They're not going to throw away fuel that doesn't meet ULSD quality standards as long as there is another category in which to sell it.

 

[SkyPup]

How right you are.

Our state (Florida) fuel inspectors condemn appox. 5% of all commerical diesel fuel shipments into the state each year (all our fuel from the refineries arrives either by ship or by barge, no pipelines or interstate trucking).

That is 1 out of every 20 gallons being condemned to the Red Dye rotgut fuel dump.

Most of the condemned fuel is contaminated due to elevated vapor pressure and too high flash point due to gasoline contamination.

So, if you are worried about frying your diesel fuel injection pump with ULSD, you should even be much MORE worried about frying it using contaminated Off Road Red Dye diesel fuel......basically you get what you pay for.

Remember, cheaper ain't better, in fact it's much more expensive in the long run!

 

[MadReferee]

Oh, the sky is falling, the sky is falling.

You make it sound like all off-road fuel is crap. Well, it just ain't so. The majority of off-road fuel is currently or will soon be ULSD. Dyed ULSD is all I can get around here.

What I would be woried about is buying the stuff that is labeled LSD (<500 ppm sulphur). This is the repository for all rejected ULSD.

Remember, ALL pumps must be labeled as to what they are pumping, it's the law (unless you live in California). A smart consumer is a wise consumer.

 

[SkyPup]

No, I primarily was talking about my particular geographical location, most of which that is populated is only 5 feet above sea level.......making underground fuel tanks a tad on the salty side.....

 

[Opti-Mist]

In the "old days" it was recommended to change engine oil more frequently where "high sulphur" fuel was used. The reduction in sulphur content will not be detrimental to older diesel engines.

 

[LBrown59]

all this has been discussed to death in the last 9 months.

Wonder How chriswheeler_A Silver Member for 2 years missed it?

Join Date: Nov 2004