By this fall, most of the diesel fuel available in truck stops will be ultra-low-sulfur diesel, or ULSD, with sulfur content of less than 15 parts per million. Currently available low-sulfur diesel contains up to 500 ppm sulfur, 33 times more than the new federal standard.
The super-refined fuel is designed not only to curb emissions but to prevent sulfur damage to the diesel particulate filters used on 2007 trucks.
The DPF’s( diesel particulate filters)biggest downside is the need to clean it of ash every 150,000 to 300,000 miles, depending on application. The ash is a consequence of the oil additives that protect the engine from sulfuric acid.
Drivers of pre-2007 trucks shouldn’t be overly concerned about the effects of the new fuel, Leonardi-Cattolica says. The transition to 500 ppm sulfur back in 1993 changed the fuel chemistry to a much greater degree than the upcoming introduction of ULSD, she says. ULSD will neither smell nor appear any different from any other diesel fuel.
What is happening is very similar to what happened when Unleaded gasoline replaced all leaded gasolines back in the 1970's. learn more read the article at ..
http://www.etrucker.com/apps/news/article.asp?id=54137
