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Which diesel fuel to use

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BobMeyers
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 15 Southwest Pennsylvania
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2007-08-14          144678


Why can't I use "auto diesel" that I get from the local gas station on any of my diesel tractors all the time???. I see about red dye, green dye, above 10 degrees, below 10 degrees, sulpher, no sulpher. I don't want to become a chemist and won't do anything illegal.
I've been running auto diesel in a 20 year old Mitsubishi and a JD 310 with no problems. Now my "newer" Kubota info gets into above or below 10 degrees. Anybody got a logical, simple answer?




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candoarms
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1932 North Dakota
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2007-08-14          144680


BobMeyers,

This is all because of your government, and mine, dabbling in things that our Founders gave it no power over. I'm speaking of the UNCONSTITUTIONAL EPA......the Environmental Protection Agency.

The EPA has set legal limits on the amount of sulfur that our fuels may contain. Newer fuels are low in sulfur, in an effort to reduce acid rain....sulphuric acid fallout.

Acid rain will destroy the monuments we've built to honor our kings, you know.....such as Mount Rushmore. hehehe.

There are additives you can place in your fuel tank when using the government approved diesel fuel. These additives will help your engine perform better, and reduce down time.



OK.....that about covers the low sulfur issue........now onto the temperature issues.



The Federal Government has nothing whatever to do with creating cold weather. hehehe.

Diesel fuel is a heavy oil. It doesn't flow well below 10 degrees F. At temps below this level, diesel fuel begins to gel.....or turn into a semi-solid state. At temps below 10F., it is necessary to use a lighter fuel.....one that won't gel up on you.

There are two ratings given to diesel fuel. Number 2 diesel is most common. It is used in most every diesel engine on the planet. Number 1 diesel is much lighter, and is designed to be used in colder climates, or cold conditions.

If you wish to use diesel fuel in extremely cold climates, it is necessary to add anti-gel additives to the Number 1 fuel oil. In temperatures around -30 degrees F., even these additives will fail. It then becomes necessary to install heaters to your fuel tank and fuel lines, in order to prevent gelling.



Joel ....


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greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1816 Western Kentucky
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2007-08-14          144682


I was with ya, up until that above/below 10 degrees business. That part aside, there's Low Sulphur Diesel (500ppm ) and Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (15ppm). On-road diesel engines made after 1 Jan 2007 must use ULSD, or risk fouling their pollution control devices.

It's a repeat of 1974, when the lead content was removed from gasoline. Folks with pre-catalytic converter cars put lead substitute in their tank. Now in 2007, folks with pre-2007 diesels can exercise the option to put sulphur substitute in their tanks.

This isn't an endorsement, but I personally use Power Service products; Agri-Power in the summer, DFS (with anti-gel) in the winter. The Kubota thing about below 10 degrees, probably refers to an anti-gel additive.

//greg// ....


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kleinchris
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 269 Westminster, Texas
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2007-08-14          144684


Here in Texas, you can fill out an application which once approved, will allow you to purchase red died diesel with no taxes added on. Must demonstrate that the fuel is for off road use only. This saves me about 50 cent per gallon. Oh, if youre caugt with this stuff in your truck on road, you go to jail for the night. ....


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Chief
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4297 Southwest MiddleTennessee
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2007-08-14          144689


Bob,

To answer your question; yes you can use auto diesel in your tractors year round. Diesel is refined and blended for the area and season it is sold. To be on the safe side, I would strongly recommend using a good quality fuel additive such as Stanadyne Performance Formula, Power Service, or Howes and I like to use Lucas Diesel Fuel additive for its lubrication properties. If you cannot find Lucas, good old Walmart 2 stroke oil in the gallon jug works good too. Bare in mind that even though ULSD is supposed to be blended with the required lubricity and other additives; it does NOT have the lubrication properties of #2 diesel of 20 or more years ago. Adding some lubrication and other additives are CHEAP insurance.

I like to burn off road diesel as this is MUCH cheaper and it is the same diesel fuel you buy at the auto diesel pump but with red dye added. If you live in an area that off road diesel is not offered you can use the auto diesel with confidence. ....


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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2007-08-15          144701


In addition to the above info., if coloured fuel is not available or convenient in your area, you can buy diesel from your local service station and keep all the receipts, then every so often submit them along with the proper form to your State tax people who will mail you a cheque for the tax rebate for the fuel used off-road.

The reference to 10° is because 'Bota tell you to use plain # 2 diesel fuel, which is higher in paraffin and such, so it will gel at that point. I believe they also say (at least they used to) to add kerosene to # 2 for use below 10°.

As a point of clarification, the sulphur in diesel fuel is catalyzed when it's burned, it turns into dioxide sulphur (IV) oxide, SO2, which is alleged (not proven) to be a part of the acid rain problem. What is known however is that by going to ULSD (Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel) in the US alone
nitrogen oxide emissions will be reduced by 2.6 million tons each year and soot or particulate matter will be reduced by 110,000 tons a year.

Best of luck. ....


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BobMeyers
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 15 Southwest Pennsylvania
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster

2007-08-15          144711


Thanks for the replies Guys! I appreciate your taking the time to respond and share info.

Bob ....


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bluesatoh
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 7 Glasgow KY 42141
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2008-01-23          150640


Hi Bob

Don't the road tractors and cars run in the temp. The dye I thought was to keep farmers from useing diesel that was tax exempt for tax on farm uses. You might want to get an additive to keep it from gelling. When I drove on the road we used it because all terminals might not add it. ....


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