Made the decision and my new E350 with the 6.0L Diesel is on order. Never had much of a reason to pay attention to Diesel fuel availability or price before. Now I do, and I'm confused! I've read many postings here relative to the switch to ULSD and why diesel prices have gone up, but I'm still confused on basics. Please help!!!

1. How careful do I have to be about where I go for diesel fuel? Are some stations - Shell, BP, Sunoco, etc. better than others?
2. Can I mix ULSD with Regular, or if I run with ULSD, do I stick with ULSD?
3. How necessary are additives - ULSD vs Regular, summer vs winter? I live in Michigan and the winters are always below freezing and can get down to 0 F.
4. As this will be a new vehicle, do I need to do anything special with the fuel during break in?

Sorry for all the questions, but this is my first new vehicle in a long time and I plan on having it for awhile. THANKS!!!!!

 

As you can see I live in central Michigan (Lansing area). So I can probably help with most of the questions.

1. Go with a major brand - stay away from low volume dealers
2. All you can buy in Michigan is ULSD as far as I know. But every pump is to have a tag on it showing what fuel is being pumped during this phase in of ULSD fuel. If your truck requires ULSD then look for the tag stating it is approved for engines made in 2007+ and it will state fuel is 15ppm sulfur or less.
3. Fuel here is automatically winterized from October thru April.
4. Nothing required

As soon as you get your new wheels. Read the diesel suppliment manual from front to back. Especially the break in area. After 1000-1500 miles change the oil. After that follow the severe duty reccommendations. This will keep your motor and you happy.

One thing on fuel.... If you can find a station which has a Premium diesel use that. The 6.0 likes premium vs regualar diesel fuel. some truck stops have it. Like Don's truckstop in Diamondale (Lansing rd exit) on 96

Enjoy and welcome to the diesel club....

 

For another point of view... I also live in MI. I travel all over the US for work. I have NEVER had a fuel related problem and have only seen the water in fuel light once on my truck. I drained out about a cup of fuel from the filter & never had any kind of a problem.
By the time you get your truck all that will be available will be ULSD. It will work just fine without adding anything ever.
I have never used any additives in my truck in the last 368,000 miles & don't intend to start now.

I agree on reading the manual but not on adopting the sever duty maint. schedule.
Actually I stretch my oil changes out from what Ford recommends.
Nope... No break in needed. Just enjoy and come back with any more questions you have.

P.S. I buy my fuel at the cheapest place I can find, large or small. I do like places where I can pay at the pump better though.

 

[QUOTE=bigredtruckmi]All the more reason too use an addative. Cetane of a constant value no lower than 46 is the minimun for the 6.0 to run properly and have decent fuel economy. You will most certanily never have any water related issues when running an additive even if you do get a bad tank of fuel once in a while.

 

FOSE88,

Check out the Stanadyne products, they are the only OEM approved additives available. For winter MI use get the Performance Formula, cetane improver, winter gel protection, cleaner and lubricity all in one bottle. Summer use the Performance JR, same featues but no gel protection!! Call us if you have any questions on it.

Mark @ DPPI

 

If you want to get educated on the new ULSD fuel, go to this website for "everything you ever wanted to know about ULSD fuel"......... http://www.chevron.com/products/prod...sel/ulsd.shtml

John

 

Thanks to all for the info. The Chevron, ULSD site was very useful, and it seems that based on the 10/15/06 cut-off date, all service stations should now be selling only ULSD. Still a couple of points for clarification:

1. The article referenced above clearly states the lubricity of ULSD is less than previous fuels. Does that then mean that additives should be added to increase the lubricity to previous levels?
2. One station I observed sold "bio-diesel". Is this something to consider using or stay away from?
3. I compared prices at several stations. Diesel was anywhere from 32 cents to 57 cents more than their regular grade of gasoline. Is this large of a spread reasonable, or is there something better about the more expensive ones?

BIGREDTRUCK - I live in Novi and have 2 kids at MSU so will be sure to try your suggested station when my new vehicle arrives. Thanks.

 

"The article referenced above clearly states the lubricity of ULSD is less than previous fuels. Does that then mean that additives should be added to increase the lubricity to previous levels?"

It might be a little "less" but it is still more then enough to run new & old trucks without adding anything.

"One station I observed sold "bio-diesel". Is this something to consider using or stay away from?"

Bio-diesel has been tested & proven to be safe for use in our trucks (or any other diesel engine) . If the price is right ...go for it.


"I compared prices at several stations. Diesel was anywhere from 32 cents to 57 cents more than their regular grade of gasoline. Is this large of a spread reasonable, or is there something better about the more expensive ones?"

No... This is just plain & simple GREED. If you check futher, You'll notice as much as 20 or 30 cents difference for fuel in the same city at the same brand station.

Like I said, I use whatever is cheapest & haven't had ANY problems in over 368,000 miles.

 

As I recall from the Chevron write-up on ULSD, they add "stuff" to the fuel formulation at the refinery to achieve the level of lubricity required by the engine makers. I think it's supposed to be "backwardly compatible" for the older engines as well as, obviously, OK for the newer engines.
As mentioned either here or on the Diesel-Stop forum, it's not the reduction in sulfur that's the problem. It's what goes out with the sulfur that causes the reduction in lubricity - for which Chevron and other refiners have to make formulation adjustments.

John.