- Location
- The Village of Kay
Couple of answers on Diesel Fuel.
Short answers, Diesel Fuel changed significantly in 2006, and yes, it will still jell when temps are cold.
Long answers:
Diesel changed from Low Sulfur Diesel (500 ppm sulfur) to Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (15 ppm sulfur) in 2006. Most issues due to the fuel change happened in 2006-2008 as the new fuel was found to cause issues with older engines and fuel systems. The sulfur was a lubricant to the system, and by taking it out, there were some initial issues that have since been resolved with additive at the refineries and terminals. ULSD is now additized with a lubricity additive, and anti-static additive to make it stable and compatible with older systems. Some people still may over additize their fuel if they choose to be safe, but I think you will get as many opinions as you want by asking.
Diesel can still jell in the winter. It is a function of the wax inherent in the crude oil. Jelling occurs in cold temps as the wax crystals clump together and thicken the fuel to the point it won't flow through a filter (95% of the jelling issues), but can make the fuel turn solid if temps are low enough and wax content is high enough.
Most refineries in UT use waxy crude from the Uintah Basin (much higher wax content and wax compound). Unless the refinery has a de-waxing unit in their production process (3 local refineries now have them, 1 more likely installing soon), the fuel will not respond to additives and usually will be blended with #1 ULSD to get to the winter properties needed to get performance in cold temps. #1 ULSD (Kerosene, Heating Oil) has less energy in it, so you loose some performance in winter with high blends of #1 & #2.
My best advise is to buy from a good, reputable station or truck stop in the winter to get good quality fuel. There is some sub par ULSD in the market, but if you go to reputable stations, you can avoid it. Also, Don't buy a stock pile of ULSD in the summer months with the expectation of running it all winter without additive because the formula changes. Refineries don't make winter spec all year because production is reduced to get the winter specs, and winter specs are largely unnecessary in the summer.
I am happy to discuss more offline, but that is a crash course on the 2 main questions so far.
Short answers, Diesel Fuel changed significantly in 2006, and yes, it will still jell when temps are cold.
Long answers:
Diesel changed from Low Sulfur Diesel (500 ppm sulfur) to Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (15 ppm sulfur) in 2006. Most issues due to the fuel change happened in 2006-2008 as the new fuel was found to cause issues with older engines and fuel systems. The sulfur was a lubricant to the system, and by taking it out, there were some initial issues that have since been resolved with additive at the refineries and terminals. ULSD is now additized with a lubricity additive, and anti-static additive to make it stable and compatible with older systems. Some people still may over additize their fuel if they choose to be safe, but I think you will get as many opinions as you want by asking.
Diesel can still jell in the winter. It is a function of the wax inherent in the crude oil. Jelling occurs in cold temps as the wax crystals clump together and thicken the fuel to the point it won't flow through a filter (95% of the jelling issues), but can make the fuel turn solid if temps are low enough and wax content is high enough.
Most refineries in UT use waxy crude from the Uintah Basin (much higher wax content and wax compound). Unless the refinery has a de-waxing unit in their production process (3 local refineries now have them, 1 more likely installing soon), the fuel will not respond to additives and usually will be blended with #1 ULSD to get to the winter properties needed to get performance in cold temps. #1 ULSD (Kerosene, Heating Oil) has less energy in it, so you loose some performance in winter with high blends of #1 & #2.
My best advise is to buy from a good, reputable station or truck stop in the winter to get good quality fuel. There is some sub par ULSD in the market, but if you go to reputable stations, you can avoid it. Also, Don't buy a stock pile of ULSD in the summer months with the expectation of running it all winter without additive because the formula changes. Refineries don't make winter spec all year because production is reduced to get the winter specs, and winter specs are largely unnecessary in the summer.
I am happy to discuss more offline, but that is a crash course on the 2 main questions so far.
