Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) Good or bad?
 

ULSD could trigger other problems besides lubricity.
Evidence is emerging that (ULSD) fuel properties also could be affect, including cold-flow, corrosion resistance, oxidation tendency and conductivity, according to some leading diesel additives makers.

A potential corrosion problem with ULSD may seem paradoxical, given that hydro-treating diesel fuel tends to destroy organic acids that could -- if present in high-enough amounts -- cause corrosion in fuel delivery systems, as Chevron pointed out in its 1998 manual, "Diesel Fuels Technical Review."

Anyone else notice the increase of truck breakdowns?
Is Biodiesel any better or worse?

Re: Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) Good or bad?
 

Of course they're going to say that. They want to sell you snake oil. It's been proven time and time again, you do NOT need this stuff. The lubricity has been replaced by additives.

So you're saying that ULSD should actually be less corrosive? If anything was corrosive, we'd see a change of diesel fuel color.

I just don't see it happening.

Biodiesel is very lubricious. I've seen a test where 2% biodiesel blew away every single aftermarket additive for lubricity.

What a shame.

Biodiesel has a bad side that you won't see until you have to really do some engine work. My company was running it and the problem we eventually ran into, the trucks that sat for 2 months or more would not start up. The Biodiesel turned into something that smells like varnish that you stain wood with. Ended up changing out the fuel filter twice on each truck, draining the tanks and putting in new glow plugs and a few other things to get them going again. It gums everything up on the fuel side. We have stopped running it and have no problems.

ULSD lubricity problems was not the low sulfur content, it was the way that the sulfur was extracted from the fuel. The older process that reduced the sulfur stripped the fuel of it's lubricity. The petroleum companies have changed their refining processes and now the fuel is fine.

As for Biodiesel, it all depends on the manufacturing process. Right now there are no real standards for BD production and you can get ahold of some real crap.

There is three req. for "ULSD" low sulfer, 40 octane and made from crude oil.

There is 26 standerds for Biodiesel and growing everyday.