New Low Sulpher Fuel?

[JohnMC]

I've done a little reading and the new gov't mandated low sulpher fuel can damage the rubber seals in your injection pump & create leaks at the throttle shaft. I need to do a lot more research but am concerned about this since I just topped off my tank in my 4210 with 5 gal. Has anyone any experience with the low sulphur fuels & just how will it effect performance of the injector pump & engine? John Deere says the pump will not be covered by warranty because of the fuel. Any thoughts out there?

 

[MadReferee]

On-road ULSD is all you can buy now. It's also all you can buy on- or off-road in California. Details on the fuel, along with links to industry information have been posted and discussed here at length.

I have been using ULSD in my Kubota and my 43 year old IH TD6 bulldozer since August with no problems.

The sky is NOT falling. It is estimated that more than 99% of users will have no problems at all.

ULSD is here to stay. There is no turning back.

The following was taken from the Chevron Diesel FAQ:

Will S15 (ULSD) affect my fuel system seals?

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The "Clean Diesel Fuel Alliance," an industry group consisting of oil and gas producers, engine manufacturers, the American Petroleum Institute (API) and others, states that "engine and vehicle manufacturers are not anticipating that existing [diesel engine] owners will have to make changes to their equipment to operate [on] the new fuel. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A small number of vehicles may require preventative maintenance in the form of upgrading certain engine and fuel system seals that may not perform well in the transition to the new fuel and could leak. Studies of test fleets have indicated that fuel system leaks are not exclusive to a particular engine type, fuel type or geographic region. It is anticipated that only a small fraction of the vehicles will be affected."

A leak in your fuel system can be dangerous, potentially causing fires to occur if diesel fuel comes in contact with hot engine parts. It is recommended that you consult with your vehicle manufacturer for advice about maintaining or replacing the fuel system seals in your vehicle.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Please refer to our technical bulletin Fuel Links from Seals of Vehicles using Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel for additional information.[/FONT]

 

[MikePA]

I've done a little reading and the new gov't mandated low sulpher fuel can damage the rubber seals in your injection pump & create leaks at the throttle shaft. I need to do a lot more research but am concerned about this since I just topped off my tank in my 4210 with 5 gal. Has anyone any experience with the low sulphur fuels & just how will it effect performance of the injector pump & engine? John Deere says the pump will not be covered by warranty because of the fuel. Any thoughts out there?

Click Here for a 5 page discussion about this very topic.

 

[JoeL4330]

If you haven't seen it, you may be interested in John Deere's take on ULSD:

"What is ULSD?
ULSD (Ultra-Low-Sulfur Diesel) is diesel fuel with a maximum of 15 ppm sulfur content.

"How will its use affect us?
"The good news is we will have cleaner air. The not so good news is that the introduction of ULSD fuel to older vehicles may adversely affect fuel system components (mainly seals) and/or loosen deposits in fuel tanks. As part of a good maintenance program, owners and operators of existing diesel equipment are encouraged to monitor their diesel-powered vehicles closely for potential fuel system leaks or premature fuel filter plugging during the change-over to ULSD fuel.

"Depending on how long the unit has run on higher sulfur fuel it may take several filter changes before system is purged. For system leaks new seals should alleviate the problem if they occur. The new seals will take the desired set compatible with the low sulfur fuel.

"Also, lab results indicate a slight increase (1-2%) in fuel consumption over higher sulfur fuel."

 

[MadReferee]

That's no different than what the industry in general is telling everyone regarding use of ULSD in older engines. I have been using ULSD in my Kubota and 43 year old IH TD6 bulldozer since late august and have no issues.

The following quote from the Clean Diesel Fuel Alliance sums it up nicely.

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The "Clean Diesel Fuel Alliance," an industry group consisting of oil and gas producers, engine manufacturers, the American Petroleum Institute (API) and others, states that "engine and vehicle manufacturers are not anticipating that existing [diesel engine] owners will have to make changes to their equipment to operate [on] the new fuel. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A small number of vehicles may require preventative maintenance in the form of upgrading certain engine and fuel system seals that may not perform well in the transition to the new fuel and could leak. Studies of test fleets have indicated that fuel system leaks are not exclusive to a particular engine type, fuel type or geographic region. It is anticipated that only a small fraction of the vehicles will be affected."[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Bold emphasis is mine.
[/FONT]

 

[SkyPup]

Any North American diesel Fuel Injection Equipment made in 1993 or later already has the proper Nitrile seals integrated in it.

If you have diesel fuel injection equipment older than that and you have not been using On-Road 500ppm Low Sulfur Diesel fuel since 1993, then yes, you could have a problem with your seals, but if you have not had a problem with your seals in the last 14 years, then you will not be having any problems now using ULSD.....

 

[bill177]

I'm from the government and I'm here to help you!

Now let's see - No older equipment should be effected by the new ultra low sulphur content fuel.

Define "old equipment" as modern usable, that defined as no more than five (5) years age. Hence, anything older than that is considered obselete.

Now for a show of hands - how many of us are running obselete equipment???

Kind of like the 100LL Av Gas problem involving older airplanes. Expensive modifications required to keep them flying. And - it will get worse.

 

[MadReferee]

Now let's see - No older equipment should be effected by the new ultra low sulphur content fuel.

Nobody anywhere is saying that. In fact if you do a little research you will find that in some cases brand fairly equipment will have problems. The industry is aware that ramdom problems will happen.

Define "old equipment" as modern usable, that defined as no more than five (5) years age. Hence, anything older than that is considered obselete.

He did. Anything older than 1993 when the last go around of lessening sulphur in diesel was implemented.

The sky is NOT falling although you seen to think so.

 

[bill177]

The sky is NOT falling although you seen to think so.

Of course the sky isn't falling - the government has told us it will stay up. So, no fears!

 

[KICK]

I've done a little reading and the new gov't mandated low sulpher fuel can damage the rubber seals in your injection pump & create leaks at the throttle shaft.

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.

I remember when they made the changeover to the current ( not 07) fuel and we saw some fuel leaks on a percentage of our equipment, was probably in th 5 -10 percent range.

that was about ten years ago , now the new ultra low will be coming out and I would suspect the more modern diesel engines will not have any issues digesting the stuff but I'd be willing to bet some of the old stuff might go thru some changes.

its one of those things were you need to take a wait and see attitude, if you develop a problem you fix it, no problem and you just keep on keeping on.