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Ultra low sulfur diesel is in.....

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Old Oct 17, 2006 | 06:27 AM
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Ultra low sulfur diesel is in.....

....and my mileage stinks! The new fuel went in my dealer's tank since my last fill-up, and I'm seeing a -2 mpg difference in economy. This is before the winter blend goes into effect in November and it goes downs further. So, they reduce the sulfur to cut pollution, but we're all going to burn more fuel with each fill-up.
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 10:16 AM
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Question Heard rumor this fuel will not be compatible with older diesels?

Total newbie here, heard unsubstantiated rumor that this new fuel will not be compatible with older model diesels. I'm in the market for a diesel truck and looking at used vs. new. When someone told me this, I really wanted to find a place to get that confirmed. Based on the above post, it just sounds like the mileage will stink? Which also isn't good. Anybody more educated on this subject who can elaborate a bit more for me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Tracey
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 10:20 AM
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False rumor. The old fuel is not compatible with newer 2007 models with particulate trap.
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 10:39 AM
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Originally Posted by 2ndwindranch
Total newbie here, heard unsubstantiated rumor that this new fuel will not be compatible with older model diesels. I'm in the market for a diesel truck and looking at used vs. new. When someone told me this, I really wanted to find a place to get that confirmed. Based on the above post, it just sounds like the mileage will stink? Which also isn't good. Anybody more educated on this subject who can elaborate a bit more for me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Tracey
The new fuel has less lubricity in it so things like our older injection pumps might suffer a bit. Most people are just adding a fuel conditioner like Stanadyne, Power Sevice, Howes... ect to boost the lubing qualities back up a bit.

I have heard that those responsible for the new low sulfer fuel claim it won't be a problem, but for piece of mind I think I will just keep using my Power Service.
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 10:43 AM
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Originally Posted by Lary Ellis (Top)
I have heard that those responsible for the new low sulfer fuel claim it won't be a problem, but for piece of mind I think I will just keep using my Power Service.
I hope you are right. Ethenol was suppose to be harmless, but it seems it ain't so. I know it's playing havoc on the wifes '95 Windstar's fuel milage, and the long term effects could be even worse.
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 10:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Lary Ellis (Top)
The new fuel has less lubricity in it so things like our older injection pumps might suffer a bit. Most people are just adding a fuel conditioner like Stanadyne, Power Sevice, Howes... ect to boost the lubing qualities back up a bit.

I have heard that those responsible for the new low sulfer fuel claim it won't be a problem, but for piece of mind I think I will just keep using my Power Service.

Power service is good stuff. A lot of guys like to use hombrew stuff, but power service has always served me well.
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 10:54 AM
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Originally Posted by Commatoze
....and my mileage stinks! The new fuel went in my dealer's tank since my last fill-up, and I'm seeing a -2 mpg difference in economy. This is before the winter blend goes into effect in November and it goes downs further. So, they reduce the sulfur to cut pollution, but we're all going to burn more fuel with each fill-up.
Does anyone have FACTUAL comparisons on the ULSD and the stuff we have been running? Is it directly proportinal to such things as BTUs/unit and Cetane, or are their other factors involved? I am asking strictly on the basis of mileage, and will just throw a bit more lubricity in to be safe.
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 11:34 AM
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Originally Posted by HaulinBut
Does anyone have FACTUAL comparisons on the ULSD and the stuff we have been running? Is it directly proportinal to such things as BTUs/unit and Cetane, or are their other factors involved? I am asking strictly on the basis of mileage, and will just throw a bit more lubricity in to be safe.
This should answer everything http://www.chevron.com/products/prod...ulsd.shtml#A13

Lubricity:
Lubricity is a measure of the fuel's ability to lubricate and protect the various parts of the engine's fuel injection system from wear.The processing required to reduce sulfur to 15 ppm also removes naturally-occurring lubricity agents in diesel fuel. To manage this change the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) adopted the lubricity specification defined in ASTM D975 for all diesel fuels and this standard went into effect January 1, 2005.
The D975 specification is based on the High Frequency Reciprocating Rig (HFRR) test (D 6079) and requires a wear scar no larger than 520 microns.

Energy Content:
In general, the processing required to reduce sulfur to 15 ppm also reduces the aromatics content and density of diesel fuel, resulting in a reduction in energy content (BTU/gal).
The expected reduction in energy content is on the order of 1% and may affect fuel mileage.

Cetane Number:
In general, the processing required to reduce sulfur to 15ppm also reduces the aromatics content resulting in an increase to the cetane number.
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 11:59 AM
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Originally Posted by infidel
Infidel,

Thanks. Their statement on lubricity is way over my head, but like I said, I will just dose it a bit more.
IF (make that IF) what they say is true, the fuel mileage should only drop from say 18mpg to 17.82mpg.
Who can tell us why that should happen when the Cetane # is actually increasing? I am fairly clueless on diesel, but I associated a higer Cetane # with being like a higher octane # in gasoline........hmmm, now that I see it in writing, I remember that the higher octane gas actually contains LESS BTUs. Is That it?
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 12:19 PM
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I've been running ULSD for the last 3 or 4 tanks and my milage has gone from 14mpg (I miss my smarty) to 12mpg running the exact same routes at the exact same speeds driving the exact same way with the exact same tire pressure with the exact same amount of fuel in the tank and the exact same weight in the truck. I'm running lucas in my tank right now cause it's always given me 1mpg increase and it's to early to tell but it may be working.
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 12:25 PM
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So you (BIGBLUE) are basically saying everythings the same, except the ULSD right?

I have a question on the topic at hand though, Many people in my neck of the woods keep saying the "new Fuel" is killing fuel filters. Just curious as to what your opinions on this could be. One guy even said he was changing fuel filters once a week. I asked how many miles he drove and week and his reply was about 250 . I just can't see this being the case.

I have not got to run the ULSD in my truck yet as it is still out of commision. So I have no idea what to expect.
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 01:22 PM
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BigBlue - don't you think that your slipping tranny would decrease your mileage?
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 01:23 PM
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[QUOTE=Kemble;1181030]So you (BIGBLUE) One guy even said he was changing fuel filters once a week. I asked how many miles he drove and week and his reply was about 250 . I just can't see this being the case.
QUOTE]

Hmm - I'd say it would be more like
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 01:30 PM
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XLR8R, thats what I was going to ask BIGBLUE, thats why I questioned if everything was basically the same except for the ULSD.

I was waiting for him to reply so I could see if that may be part of the reason.
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 01:37 PM
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I've lost upwards of 3mpg and nothing has changed for me.

Using regular #2 I'm down from 16mpg city to just over 13.

I'm going back to B20 this weekend and will watch it for a while. it's .21c a gallon more though.
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