States to Delay Diesel Lubrication Standards

[jimnance]

This information from an article in Transport Topics dated 12/13/04.



"Many states that now use ASTM International guidelines have decided to delay implementation of a ruling that would require, effective Jan 1, a minimum amount of lubricating qualities in diesel fuel "



" Many fuel terminals have said they need more time to prepare for the deadline since they originally thought refineries would be adding the lubricity compunds. Now, though, it may be that terminal operators would have to install injection equipment at each terminal "



It appears that lubricity issues associated with the reduction in sulfur in our diesel fuel from it's present levels of up to 500 PPM, but due to be reduced to 10-15 PPM by mid-2006, have not been resolved.



Trucking firms are worried about supply shortages caused by terminal operators being unprepared to add the needed lubricity additives for the ULSD being phased into production.



Unfortunately, the refining process to reduce sulfur to the U. S. mandated levels in mid-2006 will significantly reduce the lubricity in our fuels. This can cause premature injection pump failure amongst other things if additives are not added to restore the needed lubricity.



Until this issue is resolved, I'm personally comitted to putting an additive in my fuel that has lubricity components.



I realize that this may be "old news" to some, but this article surprised me as I had also "assumed" that refiners would be adding the needed additives. Apparently not.

 

[JBlock]

I remember when; it was the late 1970, when Pacific Gas and Electric convert to Indonesia crude oils from Arabian crude during the oil embargo days and gas rationing in California. The company had to replace all the fuel oil pumps to all the electric power generation boilers in Company to handle the waxy crude because it was low sulfur. An the sulfur is was the primary lubricant .



I do hope this helps;



Maybe we should save our oil changes and add a quart of recycle oil to each fill up for added lubrication.



Any thoughts on good or bad. i know some do it now, has anyone trace adding waste oil to VP44 failures.



JB

 

[JamesWard]

I was under the impression that sulfer levels have been reduced to around 4-6 PPM already, to start cleaning the excess sulfer out of existing fueling stations tanks already. Supossedly this extra refining is why diesel fuel prices are staying so high.

 

[jimnance]

I think we are in the transition stage, and the sulfur content and lubricity of fuel may vary greatly from location to location. The refiners have another year and a half to be in compliance, so they are working thier way in that direction. In some cases you may find true ULSD, but I suspect that the majority of product being sold does not meet ULSD specs - yet. Meantime, the effects of lost lubricity can take some time to become apparent. Depending on the fuel, it could take tens of thousands of miles. However, the damage is cumulative. The studies done in Sweden showed increased damage with time. Ultimately, complete failure will occur. It's a bit like using a poor quality lubricant in your engine. Buy the $1. 00/bottle super cheap stuff they sell for cars that burn a quart every hour. It will work fine in your engine for a while. However, each passing mile will result in increased wear leading to failure.

 

[jcarey]

Maybe we should save our oil changes and add a quart of recycle oil to each fill up for added lubrication.



For those thatan get it... what about adding a quart/gallon of bio-diesel? I've read that it has good lubricating properties.

 

[jimnance]

It sounds like a good idea, but I really don't want to have the thread wander and have flaming discussions over which additive is best. My only point in making the post is that for a while some kind of additive with lubricity enhancers would be a good idea.

 

[BHolm]

Based on all of this, my truck started getting a fuel additive YESTERDAY! I will also definately be running it in my old '71 MB diesel truck, pretty sure that one will respond well to some extra lubricity.

 

[Buffalo]

I was just told by Stanadyne that their Lubricity Formula has 5 times the lubricity of their Performance Formula. I was, also, told by another company that if You are running Jet Fuel in Your truck, the Lubricity Formula is the way to go because Jet Fuel is extremely dry. Not too many of us running Jet Fuel but, some airport, work trucks run it.

Another fuel injection system shop (diesel) here in town, told me He liked the Performance Formula for the added cetane. He said he thought the extra fuel mileage paid for the additive. My friend, who is running Performance Formula in a Duramax, and who very carefully monitors fuel mileage, etc. said he thinks he's only getting about 2/10ths of a mile per gal. more. Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[mhenon]

I've added a lubricity additive to my '02 from day one. You just don't know what you're buying out there and a little additive isn't going to hurt anything.

Mike