Low Sulphur fuel (can of worms)

[Ralph L. Fullenwider]

ASTM D-975 is now the standard lubricity mandate by the EPA.

We all know that the low sulphur (15ppm) fuels are here to stay. In
producing this low sulphur diesel, some of the lubricity is also removed,
not by design but by the process to attain Low sulphur fuels to meet the
new EPA standards.

The above lubricity mandate for diesel fuel is being met by the various
manufacturers of our diesel fuels to combat the removal of lubricants that
go with the low sulphur diesel, which adds additives back into the #1 and #
2 diesel which we all use, to meet the ASTM D-975 standard.

In talking with a chemist from one of the major refineries of gas and
diesel, I was told that the lubricity of the low sulphur diesel fuel will
"not" be changed by adding ATF to our tank when we fuel at a truck stop. In
short, adding ATF when we fuel will not help the lubricity of diesel fuel.

Yes, there will be a small percentage of diesel engines that will show wear
on seals and liners and on the fuel injection pumps and injectors from
their design, but the over the road engines we have in our Coaches will not
be affected because of the mandate by the EPA to bring the lubricity
additives back that is lost in the process. The engines that will show the
wear will be in the bracket of diesels used in cars, pick up trucks, that
were hybrid engines such as the early diesel units in pick up trucks, and
so forth.

I should imagine this will re open a can of worms, but I was one of the
people that was going to add ATF to my tank, and upon doing some reading
and talking with those who ran the tests in the labs, I will not be adding
ATF to my Kitty CAT as it is already done for me by the Refineries to the
new Federal standard.

One thing that will help more than anything else is dedication to oil
changes and increasing the amount of times we change engine oils and filters.

I am no chemist by any stretch and have concluded this change of thought
about adding ATF by what I have read and have been told by those in the
"know." So $1.55 and this e-amil will get you a cup of coffee in most
places.

Safe travels,

Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
84FC35
Duncan, Oklahoma ( feeling much better this morning)