Ultra Low Sulfur Fuel

We can't forget about the older engines and what this new fuel is doing to them. I don't know if it really makes a difference but I put a bottle of atf in my tanks every once and a while the "old" guys say it helps to replace some of the stuff they took out of the fuel.
On a separate note I worked in the oil fields in Alberta last winter running 99% new trucks ('07/'08 and I 'm pretty sure the site fuel was reg. diesel the trucks (cummins) were always flashing the light and needing manual regen.

 

Does anyone know the rating of off highway (dyed) fuel? Do things like new dozers and excavators need ulsd

 

Good question. I believe I read that your non highway industrial vehicles don't have to switch to ULSD until 2012. Maybe someone can verify that.

 

This is a great thread. Here is what I have found out for our fleet:

1. Using LSD fuel in an EPA'07 engine won't hurt the engine but it could possibly damage the coating in the after-treatment device. The way it was explained to me is that with too much sulfur in the fuel, sulfuric acid forms in the exhaust and that destroys the precious metal coatings on the DPF. It may not happen right away, but it will eventually happen.

2. If a pump says LSD then that is what it has in it unless the operator is breaking the law. I would simply drive on to another pump in that case.

3. All diesel fuel of the same variety is the same. It is refined at the same plants and shipped in the same pipeline. Once it goes into the tanks at the filling station then it could have some antimicrobial additives added. But ULSD and LSD are two different varieties...mixing the 2 would not be a good idea if you have an EPA'07 truck.

4. Just because Cummins says using LSD in your EPA'07 won't void the warranty doesn't mean it won't cause you problems. The Cummins warranty states that they are not liable for damage caused by bad or inapprorpriate fuels. So technically, LSD doesn't void the warranty...it just triggers the warranty details to be enforced if the damage is proven to be a result of bad fuel. I can't say that I blame them as there are some pretty suspicious biodiesel fuels out there that have almost zero quality control standards.

In our fleet we are testing the effects of ULSD vs LSD on fuel economy and performance. So far, it does look like there is a loss of some fuel economy from ULSD...but it's less than 2%.

 

I notice a difference with the LSD vs ULSD. I was on a pretty steady run for awhile where I could compare. I did get better mpg with the LSD vs the ULSD. It wasn't by much, but it was there. And my truck seemed to run a tad bit better, but maybe that was just in my head. It sounded a bit quieter in regards to engine noise.

2007 Volvo 780 w/ 2006 Cummins ISX 530hp

Mike

 

Any off road use diesel is dyed Red and you better nver be caught running red dye in your tractor. I've seen the tax boys come down and open tanks. They got a few. Very costly from what I've been told.

Look it's real simple here on how to get the fuel. !If you've been waiting at the time and you want fuel you can ask to see the
M mD S
drs

You find ulsd bu asking to thr MSDS sheet for that load. If you don't have then trusts the stecker on the side of the pump

 

I believe that the industrial side of the diesel market willl be undating things in 2011. Once that happens they will also be running ULSD.