Posted 2007-01-05 9:03 AM (#53327) Subject: Diesel fuel
Regular
Posts: 90 Location: louisiana
I can't believe you guys are evening discussing the old sulfer fuel vs the new Ultra Low Sulfer Fuel issue. We are all running the ULSD now. It will be very difficult to even find the Low Sulfer diesel at a pump. Every station dispensing fuel HAS to be selling it. So unless they offer two diesel fuel types, they are now selling the ULSD. I don't any stations that put in a new tank to dispense a second diesel fuel type that will be totally gone by 2010.
Every station DOES NOT HAVE to be selling it. I am in Louisiana and we see both kinds down here. La law says they must label pumps if it is ULSD to warn of possible engine harm but as long as lsd is available a smaller independent station owner can purchase. Family works at Motiva and Texaco which supplies diesel and there is no plans to quit making LSD. It is my understanding that you will always be able to find the low sulphur 500ppm at truck stops because I was told the big rigs cannot use the ULSD. I have a 1996 chevy and a 2002 ford and will continue to run the 500ppm because that is what my engine is adjusted to. I also dont want to spend money adding additives for lubrication(which is what the sulphur is for) that I feel should be in the fuel anyway. I feel that would be like getting food at a restaurant but having to buy the silverware to eat it with. Ridiculous... Anyway I am also understanding that if you do not add lubriction additives to the ULSD that your seals and gaskets will fail over time in the older vehicles. I think it is all a ploy to make everyone get rid of the older vehicles.
Posted 2007-01-05 11:39 AM (#53335 - in reply to #53327) Subject: RE: Diesel fuel
Member
Posts: 36 Location: Greasewood Springs, AZ
This chart shows the implementation
Effective Dates for Highway ULSD Fuel
Who
What
U.S.
California
Refiners & Importers
Import/produce at least 80% ULSD for on highway use
6/01/06
Import/produce at least 100% ULSD for on highway use
6/01/10
6/01/06
Downstream from Refineries through Fuel Terminals
Facilities that choose to carry ULSD must meet 15 ppm sulfur specification
9/01/06
All highway diesel must be ULSD
10/01/10
7/15/06
Retail Outlets
Facilities that choose to carry ULSD must meet 15 ppm sulfur specification
10/15/06
All highway diesel must be ULSD
12/01/10
9/01/06
Although ULSD fuel will be the dominant highway diesel fuel produced, EPA does not require service stations and truck stops to sell ULSD fuel. Therefore, it is possible that ULSD fuel might not be available initially at every service station or truck stop and that a diesel retailer may choose to sell Low Sulfur Diesel fuel instead of ULSD fuel. The industries involved in the transition are doing all they can to minimize potential inconveniences during the conversion to the new diesel fuel.
Personally, I hope that red diesel (off road diesel) is always around...my trucks, tractor and boiler run just fine on it.
Posted 2007-01-06 9:23 AM (#53392 - in reply to #53373) Subject: RE: Diesel fuel
Member
Posts: 36 Location: Greasewood Springs, AZ
Heating the house and it has a coil system that heats hot water...put it in about 21 years ago and it is nice constant heat...ofcourse that is back when fuel oil (diesel) was really really cheap but no one wanted a boiler because they wanted forced air for the combined A/C package.
Posted 2007-01-06 12:11 PM (#53408 - in reply to #53327) Subject: RE: Diesel fuel
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 316 Location: Illinois
I haven't seen any fuel stations with low sulfur, only the new ultra low sulfer in the Chicago area. Perhaps some of the commercial fuel stations still have the low sulfer, but everywhere else seems to have gone ultra low. It does seem my fuel economy isn't quite the same as it was, but as long as my truck keeps running I'm not going to worry about it too much. Just wish the diesel prices would drop to where they should be instead of the continual price gouging
Posted 2007-01-06 4:23 PM (#53421 - in reply to #53408) Subject: RE: Diesel fuel
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
Its not price gouging thats making diesel higher its the new EPA standards. That ultra low fuel is costly to refine. remember, diesel was so cheap becuase it was the by product of gasoline refining. But now, diesel refining costs are alot higher. So until there is some sort of change in either EPA standards or a big big drop in demand, get used to it.
Posted 2007-01-06 4:55 PM (#53423 - in reply to #53327) Subject: RE: Diesel fuel
Location: Texas
Our bulk distributor (Chevron) has only been able to supply the ULSD since last fall. They say they cannot afford to handle both. They add something to help lubrication and also help knock out the additional water they say is in the ULSD. It adds about 2 cents/gal. Since we started burning the ULSD, we have seen about an 8-10% increase in fuel consumption in the tractors and dozers. I only notice a small increase in the trucks, but I don't keep good mileage records. We do have to drain the water separating filters more often, and we have been changing fuel filters more often also, but no other problems with seals, injector pumps, etc. yet. We are a long way from nowhere, so our options on suppliers are limited. Just for what it is worth.
Posted 2007-01-06 7:23 PM (#53427 - in reply to #53423) Subject: RE: Diesel fuel
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
I talked to a neighbor who is the president of an major oil pipeline. He said his company spent over 300 million converting their refineries to ULSD. This did not increase their production capacity one gallon. Only meet the new EPA requirements. They also spent another $165 million converting their asphalt refinery to a diesel fuel refinery to increase production capacity.
They expect diesel prices to remain high into the summer of 2007 as a way for companies to recoup their expenditures. He said, Not only their company but every refinery in the West converted their asphalt plants to diesel. ( all asphalt is now shipped into the Western United States and our asphalt prices have skyrocketed) Along with the reconstruction of the refineries near New Orleans being rebuilt and coming back online will increase production.. The industry is forecasting a surplus in diesel capacity by summer and that should help to reduce prices.
I hope his analyst are rights, I could stand to see fuel prices drop. It's hard to pay more for diesel than I do for Premium gasoline
Posted 2007-01-09 8:19 PM (#53627 - in reply to #53327) Subject: RE: Diesel fuel
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 309 Location: MO
I sure hope that the analysts are correct. Like Painted, we pay entirely too much of a premium for diesel in the midwest. And I'm sure it's worse in the west.
Diesel fuel
, but everywhere else seems to have gone ultra low. It does seem my fuel economy isn't quite the same as it was, but as long as my truck keeps running I'm not going to worry about it too much. Just wish the diesel prices would drop to where they should be instead of the continual price gouging 
