I was watching the ULSD as it was runing through the pipeline. With the exception of the API gravity, it looked just like the gasoline that came in after it.

Clear as water.

 

I was told by our fuel guy when he came for the last delivery, that lsd diesel that they are phasing out, will become the dyed off road stuff, and the high sulfer that is currently dyed will be gotten rid. Is this true?

 

I recently dieseled up in the NW Chicago 'burbs and the fuel was greenish. Pump was stickered LSD, but mileage is down a bit, and very little smoke at WOT. I heard that the stations are selling ULSD, but wont change the sticker till they are sure the system is purged as the EPA fines can be upwards of 30k/day!!! Any sightings of ULSD in this area so I can try for sure?

 

True for a little while. In 2010 all diesel, off and on road will become ULSD

 

Bill, how do you think that'll effect all of the ag equipment already in use?

There's zillions of us still running old diesels out on the farm; I guess ULSD can't hurt 'em worse than the LSD phase-in?

 

I think it's going to be a problem with seals, o-rings and fuel lines on pre mid '90s tractors. Probably not much in the way of parts but could get expensive labor wise and down time.
Perhaps someone will come up with an economical additive to prevent this before the law changes.

The reason these new rules were spread out over so many years is to give time for alternatives to be developed. No one can say they didn't know what was coming, the rule changes were adapted in 1994 and extend out to 2020.
Same thing is happening with pesticides right now also.

What could get expensive and make an older tractor not worth keeping is if particulate traps become required some day. California has been talking about requiring retrofitted traps on all diesel engines for quite some time. Traps are presently pretty expensive, $2-3000 and cost close to $1000 to service. They are going to required on all onroad diesels manufactured after Jan 1, that's part of the reason for ULSD.
I expect the price will come down as more are being used.

 

I sure hope the new diesel emissions regs aren't ever legislated to become retroactive!