Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Adding Sulfur to Diesel?

[Bunyan]

I'm no chemist, but is it feasible to add our own sulfur to the diesel?

 

[rkressg]

It is not the sulfur that is the lubricant in Diesel fuel. Sulfur is not a lubricant in of itself, but it can combine with the nickel content in many metal alloys to form a low melting point eutectic alloy that can increase lubricity.

The process used to reduce the Sulfur also reduces the fuel's lubricating properties. 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 (ULSD) also removes naturally-occurring lubricity agents in diesel fuel. You can find much more from Chevron and Wikipedia, but just adding sulfur back into the fuel will not do anything but make it smell bad.

 

[WestTN]

Well, smell bad and increase particulate size.

 

[NoSeeUm]

I'm no chemist, but is it feasible to add our own sulfur to the diesel?

Just curious..... What is the reason you want to do this?



Jim

 

[Bunyan]

Just thinking, we could add back what has been removed. Exercising the old noggin.

 

[DPellegrin]

The reason that sulfur was removed in the first place was that sulfur in diesel fuel is the single largest fuel component that effects particulate emissions. The sulfur gets converted to H2SO4 during combusion which is an aerosol and gets measured as particulate. Diesel engines could not meet particulate standards if they did not use ultra low sulfur fuel.

 

[Bunyan]

The standard our engines had to meet were with higher sulfur content. If I want a truck to meet today standards I would buy a new one.

 

[mhenon]

Of course it's feasible to add sulfur. . just open the fuel cap and pour it in. What everyone's trying to explain is it isn't going to get you what you think.

Best bet is to add a lubricant to your fuel (plenty of options here) and forget about it. I have B10 (10% biodiesel) diesel fuel available locally and both the Dodge and Jetta run perfect on it.

Mike

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

Generally fuels containing sulfur are known for creating acid rain not particulate emissions.



Sulfur dioxide, or SO2, belongs to the family of sulfur oxide gases (SOx). These gases dissolve easily in water. Sulfur is prevalent in all raw materials, including crude oil, coal, and ore that contains common metals like aluminum, copper, zinc, lead, and iron. SOx gases are formed when fuel containing sulfur, such as coal and oil, is burned, and when gasoline is extracted from oil, or metals are extracted from ore. SO2 dissolves in water vapor to form acid, and interacts with other gases and particles in the air to form sulfates and other products that can be harmful to people and their environment.



Over 65% of SO2 released to the air, or more than 13 million tons per year, comes from electric utilities, especially those that burn coal. Other sources of SO2 are industrial facilities that derive their products from raw materials like metallic ore, coal, and crude oil, or that burn coal or oil to produce process heat. Examples are petroleum refineries, cement manufacturing, and metal processing facilities. Also, locomotives, large ships, and some non-road diesel equipment currently burn high sulfur fuel and release SO2 emissions to the air in large quantities.



SO2 causes a wide variety of health and environmental impacts because of the way it reacts with other substances in the air. Particularly sensitive groups include people with asthma who are active outdoors and children, the elderly, and people with heart or lung disease. These Impacts include:



Respiratory Effects from Gaseous SO2

Respiratory Effects from Sulfate Particles

Visibility Impairment

Acid Rain

Plant and Water Damage

Aesthetic Damage



SO2 Emissions

 

[VHolloway]

GIVE THAT VP44 WHAT IT NEEDS

SOME GOOD 2 CYCLE OIL ADDED TO THE FUEL.

WALMART ASHLESS 2 CYCLE OIL

I USE 1. OZ FOR EVERY GALLION OF DIESEL

WE TRY TO GET IT IN THE BIG BOTTLE 1 GALLION

A LITTLE OF THE RED STUFF FROM TIME TO TIME KEEPS IT HAPPY AS WELL

YOU KNOW MMO

 

[Bunyan]

GIVE THAT VP44 WHAT IT NEEDS

SOME GOOD 2 CYCLE OIL ADDED TO THE FUEL.

WALMART ASHLESS 2 CYCLE OIL

I USE 1. OZ FOR EVERY GALLION OF DIESEL

WE TRY TO GET IT IN THE BIG BOTTLE 1 GALLION

A LITTLE OF THE RED STUFF FROM TIME TO TIME KEEPS IT HAPPY AS WELL

YOU KNOW MMO

I use either 2 cycle or Lucas at every fill up. I've read about the loss of mileage, lubrication, and power since we are using ULSD. I was thinking of all three when I made the post. Thanks for thr advise.

 

[KnightR]

Kinda ups the price of fuel.

 

[WestTN]

My truck now has 153,000+ miles on it. It has NEVER had any lubricity additive or any pump or injector problems. Just straight diesel fuel, mostly from Walmart or Sams Club.