500ppm vs 15ppm DIESEL FUEL CHANGE

[1995Chevy3500]

I hope im not duplicated a topic already at hand but in California and across the nation they are changing diesel fuel from 500ppm to 15ppm for a cleaner burn. I have reading that this might possibly cause problems on some diesel engines, does anyone have an imput on this matter ....maybe for or against it and why? Should I be a lil worried?

 

Thanks

[bluenote]

The change from Low Sulfur Diesel to Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel is not "supposed" to cause any problems with pre-2007 diesel engines. They are going to use additives to ensure proper lubricity for the engines designed for the current Low Sulfur Diesel. If you do have any concerns, you could always use an additive, such as Howe's, Diesel Kleen, etc...

[GetMore]

The one possible problem I have heard of is that the new fuel has lower aromatics. The aromatics cause seals to swell, so on vehicles that have been running diesel for a while there is a possibility that the seals could shrink with the new fuel, causing fuel leaks.

 

Now, ULSD has been out for a few months now in some parts of the country, so people have been running it, even if they didn't know, and I have not heard of this problem popping up yet, so it might not be an issue.

 

The good/bad news is that even if this problem occurs, once the new seals have been installed the problem will not recur. Plus, replacing the seals will not involve a complete pump rebuild, so the cost will not be too high.

 

As for anything you might have heard about sulfur being a lubricant, and the new fuel wearing out the pump, that is all wrong. Plus, as bluenote mentioned, the fuel will have proper lubricity. As a matter of fact, there is now an ASTM specification for lubricity, which fuel never had before, so all fuels will at least have to meet a minimum spec.