Ulsdf

[Featherman]

Are there any dangers with the ULSDF on our "old" trucks? Do we have to lube them now!!!!

 

[Rebel Ram]

You may think I'm joking but here goes. In the summer I run 100% SVO and when it cools down I run at 50/50 Corn/#2. Thats in the first gens. I run 10% in the 01. I also use Diesel Kleen at each fillup. Corn oil is way good for lube. Try some good store brand 100% corn oil and put it in the tank. Or not. Just something to think about.

 

[Me808garam]

How bout the 02s any feedback on those???Will it hurt anything just being careful. Aloha Ron

 

[rlyons]

The problem with the new fuel is not lubrication, it is the lack of sulpher in the new fuel. It causes oring failure which is now occuring from what I have seen as in the orings on the injection heads. Mine went out and a few others I have seen and heard of. So far there is no additive to cure this.

 

[benhall]

Would O-rings made out of a different substance work



Ben

 

[jimnance]

The problem with the new fuel is not lubrication, it is the lack of sulpher in the new fuel. It causes oring failure which is now occuring from what I have seen as in the orings on the injection heads. Mine went out and a few others I have seen and heard of. So far there is no additive to cure this.

This is not true. It is the refining process that removes the sulfur that causes the problem. It scrubbs out some of the aromatic components in diesel. In older trucks they used a seal material that would swell from the aromatics and helped keep things sealed. When the aromatics are removed the seal begins to shrink and leaks result.



I don't know the exact time that the seal material was changed in fuel pumps, but I believe it was in the late '80's. It's possible that some of the very early 1st gens may have this problem, but I'm not certain.



Also, the lubricity of the fuel is affected as well. Most pumps require the lubricating properties of "wet" or pre-ULSDF fuel. The new ULSDF is very dry and requires additives to restore the lubrication properties of the fuel. They are supposed to be adding these lubricants at the rack when the fuel is loaded on the truck for delivery. The question is if they are doing this, is it being done consistantly, and are they adding enough additive.



Fuel pump wear caused by lack of proper lubrication can take many thousands of miles before the damage is realized.



I recommend using the Cummins additive or something similar until we can be certain that our fuel is being properly treated.

 

[cerberusiam]

The problem with the new fuel is not lubrication, it is the lack of sulpher in the new fuel. It causes oring failure which is now occuring from what I have seen as in the orings on the injection heads. Mine went out and a few others I have seen and heard of. So far there is no additive to cure this.

The sulphur, or lack of it, has nothing to do with seal failure or lubrication. It is the lack of aromatics in the fuel caused by the process to remove the sulphur that may have a negative impact on seals or lubrication.



The seals and o-rings in most rebuild kits should now be Viton not rubber or older compounds that need the aromatics to maintain elasticity and size. Most of these seal compounds were changed in the early 90's when the LSD fuel was introduced and are compatible with the new fuel.



Will the new fuel cause seal failure? Maybe. Maybe not. A lot may depend on the type and consistency of fuel you have been using previously. The effect of the new fuel will probably be like adding methanol in gasoline or running biodiesel. There will be certain amount of "cleaning" going on in lines and tanks and that could lead some rather nasty compounds being run thru IP's and LP's.



About all we can do is use it and deal with the problems if any arise. Seal kits are relatively cheap and shopping around can usually get you a decent deal on a reseal if one is not inclined to tackle it. It may be time to put off that over due maintenance.

 

[Featherman]

Confusing

There are a lot of opinions flying around on this post and others regarding the "new fuel"; some are calling additives snake oil, some are recommending additives... ... ... ... ... how do we know for sure what we are supposed to do to keep our beasts on the road?????

 

[rlyons]

Who knows, but whatever you can be sure that when our great goverment gods try to do things to protect us from ourselves we are the ones that get the shaft from it and you can bet it will cost us money. :--)

 

[JLEONARD]

how do we know for sure what we are supposed to do to keep our beasts on the road

IMO the safest thing you can do is use an additive on your own. If the fuel has it already, so what? Worst case you'd be doubling the lubricity and that won't hurt anything.

You can always go to an "generic" type of lubricant such as Marvel Mystery Oil , or used engine oil.

 

[dpuckett]

I would recommend an additive that has a lubricity additive. Seems like every company has its own special name. 2 stroke oil may work, havent tried it, or had any tests done on it. I wouldnt reccomend used engine oil due to the ash content- not sure what that'd do to your old pump, but it is cheap. The main thing is to make sure you have enough lubricity for our pumps that were designed something like 30 years ago.



Daniel

 

[1stgen4evr]

Definitely unschooled on this subject. Jays' comments resonate as well as Daniels with regard to adding lubricity.



On this subject but a bit off the wall; some years ago I read that Mercedes had a formula (long before most trucks used diesel when you could be totally stranded as far as buying diesel) for 'emergency' diesel that was gas and oil mixed. I don't remember the ratios. Last year, for the second time, I put about 16 gallons of gasoline in my 93. About a mile down the road, I knew by the sound what I had done (remember this is the second time for this fubar). It would run and I knew that if I didn't let off on it, I could get to a station. Which I did and there added oil to the tank. Drew out some and eventually put four gallons of new oil in the tank which ran ok at that ratio. I won't detail the gyrations required to mix the oil. I burned out that mix and filled with diesel and have not experienced a problem 20k miles later.



Now the really off the wall question. What about mixing gasoline and used oil for a cost of about 1. 25 per gallon (. 05+ cent oil and 2. 00+ gas)



Anybody?



James

 

[JLEONARD]

I had an 81 VW diesel... yes with the VE pump. In the operators manual it said you could mix gas in with the diesel for winter operation so the diesel wouldn't gel.

I forget the exact ratio they recommended... . I'm thinking it was 5 gallons to 15... . 1/3 gas to diesel.

Of course it was naturally aspirated, but it had 23:1 compression ratio.