Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel III

[philip]

HOWES LUBRICATOR is a fuel additive product line that most of us have probably seen by now, usually in truck stops.

ULSD summary by Howes Lubricator

SUMMARY OF ULSD FUEL STANDARDS:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations intended to improve our air quality have gone into effect as of June 1, 2006. They require a major reduction in the sulfur content of diesel fuels and emission levels from diesel engines and vehicles. To meet the EPA standards manufacturers have developed new, highly advanced emission control systems and the petroleum industry is producing ULSD fuel, a cleaner-burning diesel fuel containing a maximum of 15 parts-per-million (ppm) sulfur.

As of June 1, 2006, 80 percent of the highway diesel sent from the refinery level has to be ULSD fuel, instead of 500 ppm Low Sulfur Diesel (LSD) fuel, also known as “the fuel you have been using since October of 1993”. By September 1st of this year the 80 percent requirement will be at the terminal level and by October 15, 2006 it will be required at the retail (truckstops, etc.) level. It will continue this way until December 1, 2010, when all highway diesel fuel offered for sale must be ULSD fuel. During this long transition period retailers may sell ULSD only, LSD only, or both. The requirement is that retail pumps are to be clearly labeled so you know which is which.

Enforcement of the 15 ppm standard will primarily be on the supply end of things. Refineries, terminals and truckstops will be randomly checked to insure their compliance. There will be a margin of error allowance for sulfur testing until October 15, 2006 of 7 ppm (for a total potential sulfur content of 22 ppm). This will be reduced to 3 ppm up until October 15, 2008 at which time it will be reduced to 2 ppm from that point forward.

Beginning with the 2007 models, diesel engines and exhausts will be equipped with advanced emissions control systems. While they will be extremely effective in reducing emissions, they are susceptible to damage from higher concentrations of sulfur. Because of this, diesel vehicles produced in 2007 or later must use ULSD only. Owners of 2006 and earlier diesel vehicles may use ULSD or LSD fuel during the transition period.

ULSD fuel costs more to produce and distribute than LSD fuel, therefore you can assume that it is going to be more expensive to purchase than LSD fuel. Initially, some experts have estimated that ULSD will cost approximately 5¢ more per gallon than LSD fuel. Guess we’ll see over the course of the next few months. It is also lower in BTU content, which will reduce your fuel economy and power by possibly 1 to 2 percent, as well as having lower lubricity. Additionally, it has higher wax content and is expected to have increased problems in cold weather.