A bigger problem than we think, low sulphur diesel.

If this is the case, perhaps one way around it is to add additives to your fuel e.g. Redline Diesel Fuel Additives which have the properties of lubricating fuel injection systems.

Australia previously had about the highest available sulphur content in diesel worldwide. Many engines used in Europe cannot be used in Australia because of our "dirty" diesel. The new regs bring us into line worldwide and will enable more high performance diesels to be used in Australia.

The main reason petrol refiners do not want to change is the cost of upgrading their refinery to meet the new fuel regs. Australia is amongst the last place to regulate for low sulphur and its just a case of the multinationals not wanting to spend their profits giving us cleaner air (less sulphur pollution)

Advantages of low sulphur diesel, apart from cleaner exhaust emmissions, include reduced corrosion on pistons/rings/bore, reduced contamination of oil and improved storage life of diesel. Note that sulphur is not a lubricant.

The corrosion improvement occurs as previously the sulphur reacted with the water (combustion by-product) and produced sulhuric acid. This acid aggressively attacks metals as well as contaminating the oil.

The seal problem is supposedly related to "Buna-N" rubber material seals and is potentially a problem for rotary injection pumps. In-line injection pumps are not affected as they do not have rubber seals in contact with the fuel.

Apparently the sulphur in diesel causes the seals to swell and switching to low sulphur causes the seal to shrink, cracking it. Buna-N seals that have always used low sulphur fuel apparently are not affected.

Western Australia has had low sulphur diesel since 1/1/2000, when it dropped from 1300ppm to 500ppm. While its a significant (~60%) drop, sulphur is NOT totally removed from the fuel.

I believe most manufacturers no longer use Buna-N rubber seals, but will stand corrected if they still do. If there is a problem, I believe it is likely to only affect older rotary diesel pumps with the Buna-N type seals. But whether a 60% drop is enough to cause a problem is very debatable. Remember, operational wear will cause the seal to deteriorate over time anyway.

What one may "lose" by using low sulphur fuel on a rotary pump will, long term, probably be more than saved by the reduced corrision effects of the lower sulphur.

Cheers

Mark

Mark thank you for the feed back, good reading wiil keep my fingers crossed and hopemine does not start leaking.
Regards Bruce.

I thought I would have heaps of trouble with the trucks with low sulfer fuel but so far no problems with the pumps as i was told their would be (knock on wood ) I heard Shell was also going to shut down production in OZ but I dont think it is true as they are currently doing heaps of upgrades at Rosehill, must have changed their minds as mobil is closing ,less compertition

Oh No Willem, not the G60! Will it be set in concrete in some park for us all to ponder????
Seriously, my 1991 Triton diesel has a rotary pump & must have had a few litres
of low sulphur thru it. No leaks or other problems yet & it seems to be going harder than ever at 220,000kms.
Doesnt seem to have made the exhaust any cleaner as it still blows muck at take off or full throttle.
I recently adjusted the notched wheel in the pump by a few clicks & it seems a bit cleaner. Has probably been incorrectly set since new. Will report later if kms/litre are any betterthan before. It is easy to do in the rotary pump & yet to see what effect it has but the truck is very lively at 1500 - 3500 rpm.

Mark,

Excellent post - great information and clears up a lot of questions.

As an aside, the last time I looked at a fuel pump on a 1HZ they were an inline
not rotary.

Cheers.....

Sorry people,

Re my last post - the fuel pump on a 1HZ is a rotary, must be blind as well
as stupid.....