New low sulfur fuels

[Strongman]

I was talking with a semi-truck driver and how others are now putting additives in with their fuel (some putting in transmission fluid) for engines made prior to 2006 since the new low sulfur diesel fuel doesn't have the same lubrication quality as the high sulfur fuel and are wearing out rings and gaskets. Has anyone heard of this issue? I'm a little concerned about my 2004 Branson 3820. Obviously the number of hours on my Branson is a fraction of a semi, but I would still like to get Branson's opinion on this. Thanks!

 

[thatguy]

we visited a 'major' terminal in the Richmond VA area for work and they had a 'lubricity additive' they were adding to the ultra low sulphur diesel.. Im sure that all terminals are doing the same before it leaves for the retail stations.. So there is a problem with lubricity, but it is being addressed.

I always add power service and will continue to do so, and we dont have ULSD in our area yet..

 

[texasjohn]

Web sites that discuss this:

EPA

DIESEL FORUM

Biodiesel Wikipedia

Kubota has approved B5 for some models... I'm trying to find out which models of their tractors.

 

[jbrumberg]

Strongman:

There have been quite a few posts in the Oil, Fuel, and Lubricants Forum this year. I have been adding a "double shot" of Power Service (White Bottle) to help with gelling challenges this Winter and will keep adding Power Service to my ULSD fuel for lubricity during the warmer months if they ever come. I suggest you follow the threads by DieselPower. He is quite informative. Jay

 

[DieselPower]

The new ULSD does have higher sulvent effect than the LSD and even more that HSD. When the LSD came out there were some pump o-ring and hose problems and since the new ULSD came out there have been even more. In older engines it deteriorates the natural rubber compounds used in older o-rings and hoses. Newer engines and replacement hoses and o-rings are made of newer rubber compounds that are resistant to this deterioration.

Adding ATF to the fuel, not in one of my engines. It "may" help with lubricity but it will also be more prone to causing deposit problems with injectors and combustion cylinders. The new ULSD fuel does have a lower lubricity level than LSD did. The process that removes sulfur from the fuel also removes other properties that add to the lubricity. Bulk fuel suppliers are adding lubricity additives at the distribution points to help offset this lower level of lubricity. I myself use a fuel additive year round that adds to the lubricity level just for some extra insurance.

 

[Jimbrown]

I tried not to do this but the devil and the klingons made me. It's 1965 and the sky is falling all of our engines are going to go belly up because the government is making us buy unleaded gas. I actually think my ford F250 runs better with the new ultra low diesel.

 

[DieselPower]

Your F250 may run better on the new ULSD, I don't doubt it. The problem isn't it's performance characteristics, it's effect on long term wear characteristics on injectors and injection pumps is the concern.

 

[texasjohn]

Two specific questions:

1) Which specific Kubota models does Kubota say are OK for the B5 fuel?

2) Does anybody see anything wrong with using B5 in a Kubota 5030 HSTC for its additional lubricity characteristics above that of ULSD?

Thanks.

 

[SkyPup]

I've been waiting for all our Kubota's to croak on ULSD since last October when they began feeding on a constant diet of it, so far no problems after a couple of hundred hours of hardcore useage......

How long do we have to wait for the sky to fall?

 

[TrippleT]

I talked to my supplier and he said that the manufacturer puts the lubrication into the diesel fuel so that you will have the needed lubricity. The foreman at my dealer told me to put a little motor oil into the fuel, if I was concerned about it. So far I have used Power Service and that is all. I would suggest talking to one's dealer about fuels, oil etc.
I use the red offroad diesel in my NH tractor.

 

[LWB]

I was flat out told to use off road fuel or an additive the day I picked up my Deere 4720. My salesman specializes in CUT's/lawn/garden equipment (as opposed to agricultural sales) so I considered him fairly well schooled on them. I also talked to a Cummins mechanic who said he always recommends Sea Foam additive. Maybe it's just one of those "feel good" ideas, but there really isn't much extra effort involved.

 

[LMTC]

It's always been my understanding that "off road" diesel differed from road diesel only in that it has a dye added to distinguish it, since it is exempt from road use taxes.

 

[LWB]

I used to think the same thing. But now we're told that lower sulpher means lower lubricity and off road fuels are currently exempt.

 

[DieselPower]

In my area both are ULSD, the on road and the red dyed off road. Has been for a while now. The only difference between the two is the dye and how much it hurts the backside.

 

[gemini5362]

I have a 2006 duramax when I had it serviced last time I asked the dealer about it and they gave me a copy of the GM service bulletin on it. GM says there is no need at all to add any kind of additive to the ULSD they say it is ok if you add it as long as you get an additive that does not have Alcohol in it ( I dont have the bulletin in front of me now but I believe it said alcohol).
But they do not reccomend adding it.

 

[patrick_g]

There are so many totally stupid ideas floating around about home brew or commercial snake oil additives to diesel fuel that it is comical. If the maker says don't do it, DON'T DO IT no matter what someone with grease under their fingernails says.

Put a little gasoline, add some kerosene, add some alcohol, add some ATF add some freaking pixie dust if you want but it isn't a good idea. Too bad that CarFax can't report the use of weird additives or the IQ of the previous owner.

Anyone know where I can get a good used Marvel Mystery Oil inverse vacuum oil dispenser?

There are usually additives approved by the maker. It is safer to stick to those. Cummins approves some additives. Ford approves an anti gel agent and a cetane booster. Ford prohibits using over 5% biodiesel (2008 F-250 manual.)

It is very humorous to see what they think they have to tell a new owner. They explicitly warn against adding used crankcase oil to the diesel fuel. Would they do that if there were not a significant number of idiots out there doing it?

Here is one for the true believer whose mind is made up and doesn't want to be confused by the facts...

When your child looses a deciduous (baby) tooth take the tooth before giving it to the tooth fairy and soak it in an imperial (not American) quart of diesel fuel overnight (didn't say anything about a full moon but it couldn't hurt) then use that "enhanced" fuel as a diesel fuel conditioner. For extra power do the soaking under a pyramid made of Q@#$ %@!$#.

If you don't pass this tip on to at least 10 diesel owners within 10 hours your injectors will clog!

Pat

 

[gemini5362]

There are so many totally stupid ideas floating around about home brew or commercial snake oil additives to diesel fuel that it is comical. If the maker says don't do it, DON'T DO IT no matter what someone with grease under their fingernails says.

Put a little gasoline, add some kerosene, add some alcohol, add some ATF add some freaking pixie dust if you want but it isn't a good idea. Too bad that CarFax can't report the use of weird additives or the IQ of the previous owner.

Anyone know where I can get a good used Marvel Mystery Oil inverse vacuum oil dispenser?

There are usually additives approved by the maker. It is safer to stick to those. Cummins approves some additives. Ford approves an anti gel agent and a cetane booster. Ford prohibits using over 5% biodiesel (2008 F-250 manual.)

It is very humorous to see what they think they have to tell a new owner. They explicitly warn against adding used crankcase oil to the diesel fuel. Would they do that if there were not a significant number of idiots out there doing it?

Here is one for the true believer whose mind is made up and doesn't want to be confused by the facts...

When your child looses a deciduous (baby) tooth take the tooth before giving it to the tooth fairy and soak it in an imperial (not American) quart of diesel fuel overnight (didn't say anything about a full moon but it couldn't hurt) then use that "enhanced" fuel as a diesel fuel conditioner. For extra power do the soaking under a pyramid made of Q@#$ %@!$#.

If you don't pass this tip on to at least 10 diesel owners within 10 hours your injectors will clog!

Pat

I agree with you pat. Chevrolet does approve some additives under the if you feel you have to do this then these should not hurt your engine clause. But to me if they say dont do it I am not going to especially if during that first 100k miles they are going to fix anything that goes wrong. If I add an additive and something goes wrong then I am going to have to prove it was not the additive possibly. When I wanted to switch to synthetic oil even though I did not feel that it would hurt anything I had the dealer do it that way I have some protection against them saying I should not have do to that if the question arises.

 

[patrick_g]

When I wanted to switch to synthetic oil even though I did not feel that it would hurt anything I had the dealer do it that way I have some protection against them saying I should not have do to that if the question arises.

I know how you feel. Just recently I got an aux tranny (Gear Vendors OverUnder drive) replaced under warranty and they quizzed the tranny shop I used about my use of my truck. Was it a commercial truck, were there painted signs on the doors, did I tow heavy loads, and on and on.

Their unit had less than 2000 miles on it and it totally disintegrated while I was towing an empty 18 ft util trailer. When it went it blew my after market super HD auto tranny. I'm out $4000 because of their unit failing and they are scrambling around trying to find an excuse not to swap me a unit under warranty.

Isn't it just terrible that everyone is a liability lawyer nowadays. Read what passes for an instruction manual for something from Harbor Freight and it is 90% weasel wording to dodge liability issues and 10% mediocre assy instructions and a few poorly constructed sentences of use directions. If there were a Harbor Freight brand of canned sodas I'm sure it would come with a poorly worded disclaimer about wearing safety glasses, not opening the can while tired and having a licensed professional actually open the can and remove the contents.

I have bought exactly one new Dodge (or any non Ford truck in my life) and it is likely to stay at just one. I have been to several Dodge dealers with warranty problems and all but one sucked really badly. The one was average.

Anyway if you use fuel above 15 PPM sulfur you void the Ford waranty.

Pat

 

[Egon]

My stock 1996 auto transmission manage to pull 20K loads for over 20K miles and has spent the rest of it's life pulling about 15K loads.

Its plain standard 185 HP and doesn't go very fast but is still going. ??? Have I missed something?

 

[gemini5362]

My stock 1996 auto transmission manage to pull 20K loads for over 20K miles and has spent the rest of it's life pulling about 15K loads.

Its plain standard 185 HP and doesn't go very fast but is still going. ??? Have I missed something?

stock 1/2ton, 3/4 ton , gas, diesel, dodge, ford, chevy ?