I have noticed the last few times I've filled up (in NJ) that the pump says low sulfer fuel only. I read a recent bulletin about how the new fuels may or may not have enough lubricant added to it by the oil company. So this goes without saying that the VP44 problem could escalate as these new fuels are being distributed at a wider range until all oil companies are in compliance with the low-sulfer mandates. I have been having intermittant problems with my 02, mostly when the vehicle is cold. But recently, about the time I have been pumping low-sulfer into my truck, that I have been having constant trouble and know for sure I will be replacing the VP.
Any thoughts on how this will affect 2nd gen trucks? Anyone going to add their own lubricant as a precautionary? I know I will.

 

you know what about the time my truck start to chugging problem im dealing with i drove by the fuel station and read the note and it was the same peace of paper saying the same about low sulfior fuel. The week the truck started to act funny was the first time ive ever filled up at that station.

 

Hey guys I got the inside scoop on the diesel change. I work in the petroleum industry so the info is pretty acurate. We have been currently putting S500 # 2 diesel fuel in our trucks. The government has mandated that we(petroleum companies) make our diesel 15ppm sulfur or less. When you take the sulfur out of the diesel you lose the lubrication that it gives to your engine. So to take care of the problem that that creates we are injecting a lubricity additive into the fuel as it is loaded and then delivered to the gas station you feel up at. With that said you should not have to add any lubricating additives to your fuel. I'm not to sure if the problem your having has anything to do with the new S15 diesel fuel that is being mandated now or if its just a bad batch of diesel that could just be a coincidence. Hope this helps answer your question.

 

I've came up with my own way to solve the problem, I'm using 2-stroke oil @ every fill.

 

I've started to double my additive amount at every fill. Truck actually runs better for some reason.

Might be overkill but I'm not taking any chances.

Jeff

 

So, this is a good thing for Power Service. Wouldn't be suprised if some other brands/products start to show up.

ccraver, I hear you on the additive thing, but I kinda like to know FOR SURE that I have some added lubricity in my tank. Do you think all suppliers are adding?
What is it that is added?

 

They have to add lubricity once the sulfur ppm gets below a certain amount. They also have to pull samples of additized diesel and have a lubricity test ran on them to ensure that they meet spec and that the additive injectors are injecting the proper amount of lubricity additive. I can't speak for other companies since obviously I don't work for them but I can say that I can't possibly see them selling diesel that doesn't meet quality specs. Every diesel owner would be suing the fire out of them and winning.

 

PJ, I can't remember the actual chemical name of the additive that we're using at our terminal. It's refered to industry wide as "lubricity".

 

Does it change per season and/or reigon?

 

I see you guys weren't around when low sulfur fuel or 500 ppm started. The lubricity issue came up then, too. Sulfur doesn't provide lubricity, but the compounds holding the sulfer provide lubricity. Refiners have added lubricity to meet ASTM standards for many years.
Refiners are fully aware of the new ULTRA low sulfur standards of 15 ppm and further reducing any natural lubricity.
Refiners that supply to MN easily meet it by the 2% bio mandated by state regs. It is fuel that goes to states without bio that have to be careful of getting the additives in there.

The standard that really stinks is cetane. We dip to 41 or 42 in the winter as most of the fuel supplied by the pipeline goes to heating which doesn't need cetane.
European standards are much much higher.

 

Personaly I think its hipe. back in the early 90 hear in Kalifornia there were rumors that the newer fuel was killing injector pumps hand over fist due to lack of lubricant in the fuel and that it was shrinking seals too..I have had a construction Co. and many friend in the industry with truck,heavy equipment and all kinds of diesel powered engines and we never lost pumps from fuel issues.some are still running with original pumps on them. I have 3 first gens still with original pumps on them and one I just changed with several 100K on it. I might just be real lucky but I think the addative CO. are spreddding the rumors.as for the truck running bad I can buy that part because I have experianced it.I have 2 2001 vp trucks both with 100K on the clock with Original VP44s .Lift pumps thats a diff. story MY.02

 

well the truck started to run like crap the same day i filled up on ultra low sulfur fuel. i stuck a quart of 2 cycle oil in the truck last night cause i still had half a tank of the ultra low sulfor diesel in the truck and while watching the clear prefilter on the fuel line intering the injection pump there was a physical difference in the sound of the engine and smoothness of the idle when the color of the fuel merged darker from the oil.

 

Its all in your head. Maybe doing this will help the placebo effect

 

Run B20 make the farmers happy and the oil Barrons un-happy. No need for any lube in the fuel.

 

the sign on the pump said, not for 2007 or older. why????