This was posted by "AMPS" Nov. 17 as a reply he got from Cummins Engine Co. regarding the ULSD. I did not write them, "AMPS' did.
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My question was: Here in Canada I use Petro Canada as my fuel supplier and their web site says that I DO NOT NEED to add anything to their fuel as it meets all engine requirements. Are they correct or do I need additives/booster?: Following is Cummins reply.
Summary: ULSD
Solution:
Thanks for your Email message.
Petro is correct; The fuel needs no additives.
There are many rumors circulating about the effects of sulfur being in
diesel fuel or sulfur being taken out of diesel fuel. Diesel fuel
without sulfur is just as good, in all respects except one, when compared
with today's fuels with sulfur.
Diesel fuel, in the United States, must meet a lubricity standard. The
producers adjust the lubricity before they distribute the fuel. No
further additives are needed to ensure proper fuel system lubrication.
The only negative effect of taking sulfur out of fuel is that the fuel
becomes more expensive, somewhat negating the inherent cost advantage
of running diesel engines when compared to other fuels. As we are
certain you know, sulfur doesn't jump out of the fuel on command. It has to
be removed using specialized equipment and chemical processes that add
to the expense of producing the fuel.
We have seen a very few instances where the reduced aromatic content of
the fuel has resulted in slight leaks from fuel systems. This is not
expected to be an issue with many engines.
Basically the change to new fuel should be pretty easy for folks with
the engines built prior to 2007 and for customers with the engines built
in 2007 it will be necessary, for the short time it takes fuel stations
to consume the remainder of the old fuel (maybe a month or two), to be
certain they are not fueling with the older fuel.
There is an effect on diesel engines from the use of low or no sulfur
fuel which we expect to be positive. The blowby gasses that normally
pass through the engine crankcase will contain less or none of the
chemically reactive sulfur and its compounds. This will tend to keep the
engine oil cleaner during operation and allow important engine components
like bushings, bearings and piston rings to live longer.
Diesel fuels containing sulfur or no sulfur each have the same specific
heat, about 20,000 BTUs per pound. For that reason they give the same
amounts of work for the same amount of fuel. That means the fuel
economy per gallon will not be affected.
Over the years we have seen fuel economy decrease, somewhat, as diesel
engine designs have been modified to meet the lower NOX limits imposed
by government. This has been totally unrelated to sulfur in the fuel.
With lower sulfur fuels it is possible that some exhaust after
treatment devices (catalytic converters) may be used to better effect, making
it possible to further decrease harmful exhaust emissions.
If you use diesel fuel that does not meet the new federal low sulfur
requirements that are going into effect for 2007, in a 2007 vehicle that
requires the new fuel, it will produce particulate matter that will
cause rapid plugging of the exhaust particulate trap. We don't anticipate
producing engines for such vehicles until 2007.
We thank you for your interest in Cummins products. If we have
misunderstood your question and not answered it, please reply with further
inquiry.
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The forgoing was posted by "AMPS" on Nov. 17th. Of course it only pertains to Cummins engines. Your Rice Burners and Corn Cob grinders may well require either some sake or grain alcohol.
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