Low sulpher diesel

[killick]

I have been using low sulpher diesel in the 12 hp two cylinder Westerbeke engine in my boat. I have now been advised that sulpher is a lubricant. Does this means that the engine may be damaged by using this diesel? Advice will be appreciated.

 

[zambant]

I put a good shot of synthetic 2 stroke oil in my fuel - as well as biocide for the bug
I always ask if the fuel if fame free and if they cant guarantee it - I go else where.
Good article here

http://www.rya.org.uk/infoadvice/regssafety/reddiesel/Pages/FuelSupplies.aspx

 

[vyv_cox]

This link refers to USA but exactly the same applies to UK. All oil companies introduced alternative lubricity agents to replace the sulphur that was lost in ULSD. http://www.natbiogroup.com/docs/education/lubricity additive study results.pdf Many companies will try to sell you additives that are supposed to improve lubricity but the reality is that they are not needed.

Also, although bio additions in fuel are seen in a somewhat poor light by yachtsmen, it does have very good lubricity and at least to some extent makes up for the loss of sulphur.

 

[Jcorstorphine]

There was a posting some time ago on this Forum

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?278941-Low-sulphur-Diesel-what-s-the-problem

I understood that the main problem was in the injection pump with damage to the seals.

There are various additive such as Stanadyne but many folk think of those as "snake oil"

Best advice would be to talk to a local diesel fuel pump repair shop and see what they say.

 

[sailorman]

Then again those in Continental Europe have been ULSD for years, do they have problems ???? i doubt it

 

[vyv_cox]

Then again those in Continental Europe have been ULSD for years, do they have problems ???? i doubt it

That's true. My engine was installed in 2000 I think. It has never had red diesel in it, always been in Continental Europe. But it may have some measures installed predicting the ULSD fuel changes, I don't know.

 

[theoldsalt]

Whether essential or not I have been adding a little 2 stroke oil to my red diesel to aid lubrication of moving parts in the fuel system. The engine seems to run more smoothly since.

 

[duncanmack]

Then again those in Continental Europe have been ULSD for years, do they have problems ???? i doubt it

No, because they mandated that all ULSD had to have 5% Biodiesel added - perhaps they had thought that one through? ( )

 

[raven]

It's the next big trick!

From 1st January 2015 the MARPOL directive dictates that commercial vessels operating in SECA areas (Sulphur Emmission Control lAreas) have to reduce the sulphur content in fuel from 1% to below 0.1%.

The ramifications of this are enormous.

All of the North Sea, Channel and Baltic Sea areas are designated SECA regions and so any vessel operating in those areas will be subject to the MARPOL legislation.

Information is only just coming out now but in general terms it means a hike of approx. £15 per round-trip on a cross channel foot passenger journey, £25 on a cross channel car journey and £70 on a truck crossing.

That's bad enough but as you start to consider the implications for the North sea routes Harwich / Felixstowe into Rotterdam / Hook or (worse) Hull into Rotterdam then the price increases enormously.

In addition, refineries are already warning that the demand for processing low sulphur fuels will mean that the cost of producing other fuels such as road diesel will increase enormously and they are warning that diesel prices will increase substantially next year.