Three years into ULSD..
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,127
Likes: 6
Take a good look at this doc and you will see where there are huge differences in fuel quality --- of approved, normal diesel:
The gorilla in the room is cetane -- which manufacturers have been pressing refiners to boost slowly from 40 to 47 since 2001.
In fact, there is a lot of 40 cetane fuel out there still.
For biodiesel, here are the standards:
The question is always --- what percentage of fuel sold actually can be routinely tested and validated to meet these standards?
I am not even going to get into the issue of fuel that meet standards that do not perform.
Here are the specs:
ASTM D6751 -09a Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock (B100) for Middle Distillate Fuels
At the present time, accreditation of biodiesel suppliers mean they accredit a process, but not the actual batches of fuel made.
(i) Cetane. Using ASTM D 613, ULSD fuel should have a minimum cetane number
of 43. Although ASTM D975 currently requires a minimum cetane number of 40, EMA has asked ASTM to revise the standard to require a minimum cetane number of 43. EMA and its
members believe such an increase will improve the sociability aspects of diesel fuel performance, such as white smoke, engine starting and engine combustion noise.
(ii) Lubricity. Regardless of the fuel sulfur level, ASTM D975 currently requires lubricity specified as a maximum wear scar diameter of 520 micrometers using the HFRR test
method (ASTM D6079) at a temperature of 60°C. Based on testing conducted on ULSD fuels, however, fuel injection equipment manufacturers have required that ULSD fuels have a maximum wear scar diameter of 460 micrometers. EMA recommends that the lubricity
specification be consistent with the fuel injection equipment manufacturers’ recommendation.
(iii) Thermal Stability. ASTM D975 does not include a specification for thermal stability; however, the standard does include thermal stability guidelines for normal and severe use. For severe use, the guideline indicates that fuel should have a minimum of 80% reflectance
after aging for 180 minutes at a temperature of 150°C when tested per ASTM D6468. EMA recommends that this severe use guideline for thermal stability apply to all diesel fuels. The
requirement is particularly important with respect to ULSD fuels, however, inasmuch as the natural thermal stability of diesel fuel is expected to decrease as sulfur is removed during the refining process used to produce these fuels.
(iv) Oxidation Stability. ASTM D975 does not include a specification for oxidation
stability. EMA recommends that all diesel fuel, regardless of sulfur level, provide a maximum of 10 g/m
3
sediment level when tested per ASTM D2274. It is particularly important that ULSD fuels meet the requirement inasmuch as the natural anti-oxidation properties of diesel fuel are expected to decrease as sulfur is removed during the refining process.
of 43. Although ASTM D975 currently requires a minimum cetane number of 40, EMA has asked ASTM to revise the standard to require a minimum cetane number of 43. EMA and its
members believe such an increase will improve the sociability aspects of diesel fuel performance, such as white smoke, engine starting and engine combustion noise.
(ii) Lubricity. Regardless of the fuel sulfur level, ASTM D975 currently requires lubricity specified as a maximum wear scar diameter of 520 micrometers using the HFRR test
method (ASTM D6079) at a temperature of 60°C. Based on testing conducted on ULSD fuels, however, fuel injection equipment manufacturers have required that ULSD fuels have a maximum wear scar diameter of 460 micrometers. EMA recommends that the lubricity
specification be consistent with the fuel injection equipment manufacturers’ recommendation.
(iii) Thermal Stability. ASTM D975 does not include a specification for thermal stability; however, the standard does include thermal stability guidelines for normal and severe use. For severe use, the guideline indicates that fuel should have a minimum of 80% reflectance
after aging for 180 minutes at a temperature of 150°C when tested per ASTM D6468. EMA recommends that this severe use guideline for thermal stability apply to all diesel fuels. The
requirement is particularly important with respect to ULSD fuels, however, inasmuch as the natural thermal stability of diesel fuel is expected to decrease as sulfur is removed during the refining process used to produce these fuels.
(iv) Oxidation Stability. ASTM D975 does not include a specification for oxidation
stability. EMA recommends that all diesel fuel, regardless of sulfur level, provide a maximum of 10 g/m
3
sediment level when tested per ASTM D2274. It is particularly important that ULSD fuels meet the requirement inasmuch as the natural anti-oxidation properties of diesel fuel are expected to decrease as sulfur is removed during the refining process.
The gorilla in the room is cetane -- which manufacturers have been pressing refiners to boost slowly from 40 to 47 since 2001.
In fact, there is a lot of 40 cetane fuel out there still.
For biodiesel, here are the standards:
B100 biodiesel standard (ASTM D6751) and the petroleum diesel standard (ASTM D975) allowing for the inclusion of up to 5-percent biodiesel (B5) in the regular diesel fuel pool. It also includes a new standard, ASTM D7467, for blends using between 6 percent biodiesel (B6) and 20 percent biodiesel (B20).
The question is always --- what percentage of fuel sold actually can be routinely tested and validated to meet these standards?
I am not even going to get into the issue of fuel that meet standards that do not perform.
Here are the specs:
This specification covers biodiesel fuel blend stock, B100, in Grades S15 and S500 for use as a blend component with middle distillate fuels. This specification prescribes the required properties of diesel fuels at the time and place of delivery. The requirements stated here may be applied at other points in the production and distribution system when provided by agreement between the purchaser and the supplier.
The biodiesel specified shall be mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils and animal fats.
The product shall undergo chemical analysis for flash point, methanol, water and sediment, kinematic viscosity, sulfated ash, oxidation stability, sulfur, copper strip corrosion, cetane number, cloud point, acid number, carbon residue, total and free glycerin, phosphorus, reduce pressure distillation temperature, atmospheric equivalent temperature, combined calcium and magnesium, and combined sodium and magnesium.
The biodiesel specified shall be mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils and animal fats.
The product shall undergo chemical analysis for flash point, methanol, water and sediment, kinematic viscosity, sulfated ash, oxidation stability, sulfur, copper strip corrosion, cetane number, cloud point, acid number, carbon residue, total and free glycerin, phosphorus, reduce pressure distillation temperature, atmospheric equivalent temperature, combined calcium and magnesium, and combined sodium and magnesium.
ASTM D6751 -09a Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock (B100) for Middle Distillate Fuels
At the present time, accreditation of biodiesel suppliers mean they accredit a process, but not the actual batches of fuel made.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 27,893
Likes: 3,611
one thing that has improved egr valve longevity is improved programming, along with usld. the first couple of years of the 6.0 almost everyone had egr problems, i had an 04. after a couple of programming updates, along with ulsd the problems have almost vanished. my 07 at 113,000 mi. has never had the egr valve removed, on my 04 by 50,000mi. it had been replaced twice
Also, I add bio to every tank (also use stanadyne) - to get to a B2 solution. Have done it for years. I have had no issues (although one local biodiesel supplier shutdown because their fuel was not of adequate quality - it went solid at ambient temps).
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
From: Castalian Springs tn
Pardon me boys, I'm just the Mrs doing the dishes from breakfast and I have to listen to the Mr read this to me and I was just wondering about the BP station by our house that was sited about 50 times that I know of for watering down the fuel and some of my neighbors that their engins seized up and the station had to repair them and you would think that after a few times of having to pay fines and being charged for stealing credit card numbers and fixing car engins that they would be shut down ???? But still in business and customers still get gas there but not the people in our neighborhood just the folks that doesn't know any better , but I am only a woman and I don't understand what all the arguing is about lets face it our country is full of non Americans that want to destroy us and with all the arguing and fighting going on with we the people , the bad guys are going to win . Remember the old saying ? " Just sit back and do nothing and they will all kill each other off and we will have to do nothing ". So please you boys play nice or you can't play in the same sandbox any more , my husband wouldn't get into this mess, but who am I ? Thanks for letting me say a few words. THE MRS
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