Increased GPH for ULSD

[Chuck_Lind]

Does anyone notice an increase in GPH (Gallons Per Hour) usage with the ULSD (Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel) fuel being used in tractors?

Last year I really noticed it when using my 6' rotary mower. It seemed like I was using nearly twice the fuel on ULSD compared to the pre-ULSD.

Anyone have the same experience? It's almost llike the USLD doesn't have the "energy" the old diesel fuel had.

 

[DieselPower]

It doesn't. The reduction in sulfur has also reduced the energy content of the fuel. In OTR trucks the average is somewhere between a 2-5% decrease in fuel economy. Using double the fuel sounds really high. Is the tractor running ok, do you notice any decrease in power. Just wondering if there might be another problem there.

 

[LBrown59]

A fellow could use the red off road.

 

[Skyco]

All that gets you in many places is the red dye, it is often the same fuel except the dye is added.

 

[spruce Deere]

The big fuel depo here dies the fuel for the "NON-TAXABLE" off-road stuff.. same fuel for both died or non-died

 

[JGY]

My fuel isn't dyed at all! I buy my few gallons; the owner writes the invoice and stamps the invoice with a stamper that states the fuel was sold without dye for farm / non-road use; and, i believe it is 500ppm sulfur. He says sometimes it might be 15ppm sulfur depending on what he can buy at the time.

I can get about 10 - 12 hours out of my 5 gallons (at a time). I just don't use mine hard enough; it only runs at 2900rpms when cutting grass, and that's about as high rpms I run. Doing everything else around the "farm" it can be between 1400 and 2300 rpms.

Joe

 

[Chuck_Lind]

It doesn't. The reduction in sulfur has also reduced the energy content of the fuel. In OTR trucks the average is somewhere between a 2-5% decrease in fuel economy. Using double the fuel sounds really high. Is the tractor running ok, do you notice any decrease in power. Just wondering if there might be another problem there.

Well, not double the amount of fuel used, but it sure seems like it. It appears I have the same power as before, but then again it's hard to tell unless you have the tractor on a dyno.

 

[Jerry/MT]

Does anyone notice an increase in GPH (Gallons Per Hour) usage with the ULSD (Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel) fuel being used in tractors?

Last year I really noticed it when using my 6' rotary mower. It seemed like I was using nearly twice the fuel on ULSD compared to the pre-ULSD.

Anyone have the same experience? It's almost llike the USLD doesn't have the "energy" the old diesel fuel had.

I believe the spec lower heating value(LHV) only dropped about 0.5% so if your fuel usage doubled at the same power levels then there's something else wrong.

 

[DieselPower]

Same thing I thought, seems like there might be something else going on there. A slight decrease in fuel economy is to be expected with the ULSD but it sounds rather drastic. Even if you are only talking about 25% more fuel use that is still a excessive amount. I wouldn't expect to see more than a 5% increase in fuel usage using ULSD.

 

[LBrown59]

All that gets you in many places is the red dye, it is often the same fuel except the dye is added.

But you're paying less for it.

The big fuel depo here dies the fuel for the "NON-TAXABLE" off-road stuff.. same fuel for both died or non-died

but for less money.

My fuel isn't dyed at all! I buy my few gallons; the owner writes the invoice and stamps the invoice with a stamper that states the fuel was sold without dye for farm / non-road use; and, i believe it is 500ppm sulfur. He says sometimes it might be 15ppm sulfur depending on what he can buy at the time.

I can get about 10 - 12 hours out of my 5 gallons (at a time). I just don't use mine hard enough; it only runs at 2900rpms when cutting grass, and that's about as high rpms I run. Doing everything else around the "farm" it can be between 1400 and 2300 rpms.

Joe

At least you are paying less for it.