New Low Sulpher Fuel?

[MadReferee]

I'm working on memory here, but the current fuel we use is low sulfur fuel, the red stuff is the good old fashioned high sulfur stuff.

Not really.

Prior to October 2006 the off-road (dyed) fuel and the on-road fuel had the same sulphur content (<500ppm). In some areas of the country dyed fuel was the same as home heating oil. Today, unless home heating oil is being used as the off-road fuel, just about all you will find is the new ULSD that has been dyed. This is because the larger refineries cannot make any more of the old stuff, and the smaller refineries can only have up to 20% of their production being the dyed <500 ppm variety.

Of course none of this applies to California where ALL diesel, on- or off-road, must be ULSD.

There have been plenty of posts with links to various sources for industry information on the new ULSD.

 

[KICK]

Mad Ref, read on.

Background

EPA issued rules in January 2001 (66 FR 5063, 1/18/01) that require refiners to reduce sulfur content in highway diesel fuel by 97% to a level no greater than 15 ppm by June 2006. In addition, the rules allow refiners to produce up to 20% of their highway diesel fuel at the 500 ppm level until June 2010, at which time 100% of the fuel must meet the 15 ppm standards. Between 2006 and 2010, both ULSD and LSD will be available for the highway diesel market. The fuel controls are coupled with the required installation of advanced control technologies on new heavy-duty diesel vehicles in 2007.

EPA issued rules in June 2004 (69 FR 38958; 6/29/04) that require refiners to reduce the sulfur content in nonroad diesel in steps. First, a 500 ppm sulfur cap is effective in June 2007. Second, a 15 ppm sulfur cap is effective in June 2010 for nonroad diesel other than locomotive and marine. (This step is not applicable to small refiners.) Third, a 15 ppm sulfur cap is effective in June 2012 for locomotive and marine diesel. (This step is not applicable to small refiners.) Fourth, a 15 ppm sulfur cap is effective in June 2014 for all small-refiner nonroad diesel.

 

[Doc_Bob]

Mad Ref, read on.

Between 2006 and 2010, both ULSD and LSD will be available for the highway diesel market. The fuel controls are coupled with the required installation of advanced control technologies on new heavy-duty diesel vehicles in 2007.

So, will the pump indicate LSD vs ULSD? And won't the presence of LSD fuel until 2010 destroy (poison) any diesel that requires ULSD to keep the new pollution control devices working?
Bob

 

[KICK]

and even more info on the law if you really want to know about low sulfur, ultra low sulfur and off road fuel. look at page 9 of this pdf, you will see off road was up to 5000 ppm.

http://earth1.epa.gov/air/caaac/mstrs/nrwg_api.pdf

 

[KICK]

So, will the pump indicate LSD vs ULSD? And won't the presence of LSD fuel until 2010 destroy (poison) any diesel that requires ULSD to keep the new pollution control devices working?
Bob

they are starting to label them around here right now. but they have until January to make the changeover.

since the 07 on road machinery is going to have exhaust aftertreatment, you have to use the ulsd or you will most likely plug the exhaust.

it doesn't apply to off road yet.

 

[Doc_Bob]

they are starting to label them around here right now. but they have until January to make the changeover.

So, ULSD will be labeled ULSD and LSD will be labled LSD until 2010 when all must be ULSD?
Bob

 

[KICK]

Doc, if I read the rules correctly, on road diesel fuel will be below 15 ppm sulfur effective Jan 07 and is required in all 07 vehicles, it sounds like they can still sell the LSD (less than 500 ppm) until 2010 .

contrary to what some say, the off road red dye fuel had an allowable sulfur content up to 5000 ppm and it is being lowered to 500, I am unclear on the exact date but it sounds like its effective sometime next year..

 

[MadReferee]

I have read all the information that is available most everywhere on the net. I don't know when your info was dated or where it came from but as per the current EPA regulations, ULSD is all that is available for on-road use as of mid-October 2006 (September 1, 2006 in California). Off-road (dyed) fuel must be all <500 ppm by June 2007 (except California where it is January 1, 2007).

However, the reality of it all is that regardless of the cutoff dates for HSD (>500 ppm), LSD (<500 ppm) or ULSD (<15 ppm), off-road (dyed) ULSD is going to be all that is commonly available almost immediately. This is because the refineries are not going to be making LSD (<500ppm sulphur) in any kind of volume (if at all even though the smaller refineries are allowed to make 20% or their volume) and most of the LSD that will be available will be ULSD reject fuel that did not meet ULSD specifications. LSD and HSD can still be sold in certain of-road and marine/locomotive applications until 2010 if the fuel is even available for sale.

California is the exception to the rule in that ALL fuel, no matter if it is dyed or not, must be ULSD by January 1, 2007.

Pumps, except in California, must be labeled as to what they are pumping. This rule has already taken effect.

Furthermore, here in the Northeast, ULSD is all you can now get, either on or off road, unless the dealer is selling home heating oil as off-road fuel.

Since you haven't updated your profile to let us know where you are located, all I can say is that if you got a diesel pickup truck you are already using ULSD and if you are buying off-road for your tractor it is either LSD, home heating oil or ULSD. The pump label will tell you.

I have already posted several reference sites that are up to date with their info.

 

[MadReferee]

One more thing. HSD (>500 ppm sulphur fuel) was/is almost exclusively a marine and locomotive fuel. It is/was rarely available as general off-road fuel anywhere in the USA. For the last 15 or so years what everyone has been calling high sulphur was in fact LSD (<500 ppm sulphur). However, since pump labeling was not required, only the bulk distributor knows for sure what he was selling and probably would not give you a straight answer even if asked.

 

[cp1969]

Mad, that may be a regional thing. Magellan (the closest distribution terminal to me) list high sulfur fuel as still available.

http://www.magellanlp.com/docs/X5-Grade High Sulfur Diesel Fuel Oil.pdf