ULSD Lubrication Question
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Tuned
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 365
Likes: 4
From: California
It was my understanding from threads on this site that Ultra Low Sulpher diesel lost a lot of it's lunbricicity (can't spell the word). There was a lot of discussion about this. People started adding lubricants on their own.
So this is not true, correct?
So this is not true, correct?
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,585
Likes: 5,614
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
yup. when they took the sulfur out, they replace the lubricating quality of the sulfur with additives.
people started using the additives cause the people that make the additives started the rumor to increase sales, and it worked.
people started using the additives cause the people that make the additives started the rumor to increase sales, and it worked.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,096
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History repeats itself, there was a big boom in additive sales in the 90s also when they went to the 500ppm fuel.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,180
Likes: 669
From: Scio, OR
I use Opti-Lube XPD. Maybe I don't need it, but it's not that expensive. I consider it cheap insurance.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,293
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From: Parker, CO
It's not the sulfur that is the lubricant. In fact, sulfer is completely unnecessary in diesel and doesn't provide any lubricity. It's the process currently being used to remove the sulfur from the fuel that strips the lubricity right out of diesel.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,400
Likes: 319
From: Whittier, CA
I think this is an over simplification. Yes, the refiners are supposed to add lubricity to the fuel. Do you trust them to always get it right? I don't trust them for much of anything.
Second, lubricity is just one reason for an additive. Cetane is another, equally important. Your motor was designed to use fuel with a minimum cetane of 45. But you cannot buy that fuel consistently because they are only required to produce fuel with a CI of 40.
This last point is the reason why even Ford recommends you use an additive. There is plenty of evidence that an additive is worth your time and money. You may not feel immediate gratification, but your EGR valve will thank you over the long term.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,585
Likes: 5,614
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
I think this is an over simplification. Yes, the refiners are supposed to add lubricity to the fuel. Do you trust them to always get it right? I don't trust them for much of anything.
Second, lubricity is just one reason for an additive. Cetane is another, equally important. Your motor was designed to use fuel with a minimum cetane of 45. But you cannot buy that fuel consistently because they are only required to produce fuel with a CI of 40.
This last point is the reason why even Ford recommends you use an additive. There is plenty of evidence that an additive is worth your time and money. You may not feel immediate gratification, but your EGR valve will thank you over the long term.
Second, lubricity is just one reason for an additive. Cetane is another, equally important. Your motor was designed to use fuel with a minimum cetane of 45. But you cannot buy that fuel consistently because they are only required to produce fuel with a CI of 40.
This last point is the reason why even Ford recommends you use an additive. There is plenty of evidence that an additive is worth your time and money. You may not feel immediate gratification, but your EGR valve will thank you over the long term.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
From: Casey, IL
This is true - but you have also oversimplified by blaming the refiners when in fact there is a far bigger picture.
Refineries dont necessarily add lubricity before the diesel leaves there facility. Any particular refinery might also sell their diesel to another oil company - who might pay a pipeline company (possibly owned by several oil companies) to move there product - which might be comingled with diesel from several other refineries. After going through different pipelines and tank farms, the diesel will show up at a terminal (where they load the tank trucks) whose poorly paid employees take samples and test them to see whether they meet specs or not.
This isnt even all of it - but I think you can see where there is lots of places where product quality can be compromised and thus the reason for the recommendation of additives to ensure propere lubricity among other necessary diesel quality issues.
btw - I might have some experience with petroleum products.
Refineries dont necessarily add lubricity before the diesel leaves there facility. Any particular refinery might also sell their diesel to another oil company - who might pay a pipeline company (possibly owned by several oil companies) to move there product - which might be comingled with diesel from several other refineries. After going through different pipelines and tank farms, the diesel will show up at a terminal (where they load the tank trucks) whose poorly paid employees take samples and test them to see whether they meet specs or not.
This isnt even all of it - but I think you can see where there is lots of places where product quality can be compromised and thus the reason for the recommendation of additives to ensure propere lubricity among other necessary diesel quality issues.
btw - I might have some experience with petroleum products.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 90
From: SE. MA
If you ask me using an additive is cheap insurance in many ways most pump fuel is 40 cetane or LESS! Our 6.0's require a minimum of 45 to be at there best( at least that is the way they where designed) I use power service (grey/white) depending on season and I think its cheap insurance, and I definetly think I can notice the difference in the way the truck runs! just my $.02