Diesel RVs: Re: [diesel_mercedes] Re: diesel why the cost, don't blame the tree huggers...

It should also be noted that we in the U.S. started using "ultra low sulfur" diesel more than a decade after Europe did. So Mercedes and other companies had more than a decade to sort out the changes needed in machines to accommodate the cleaner fuel.

As a separate, but also important factor, what we in the U.S. call "ultra low sulfur" fuel is VASTLY higher in sulfur than what Europe calls low sulfur fuel. Adding the word "ultra" to the name doesn't change the scientific realities.

Tom

In a message dated 11/2/2011 3:30:10 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, doug.traylor@cebridge.net writes:

Here is a large part of the answer as too why Diesel Fuel is so much more expensive than gasoline,, we have small mountains of sulfur along the ship channel here in Houston area, as per the EPA, they have to refine almost all the sulfur from the Diesel fuel, too make ultra low sulfur fuels,,thats very expensive, an then someone has too store all that huge amount of sulfur, thats very expensive, too much of it, an nothing its good for either. So, NOW we pay at the pump.

Back in the good old days of cheap Diesel fuel, all that sulfur went out the tailpipe as pollution, an eventually acid rain an such,,, you guys from California should remember, an know that clean air costs us all money,, ya do remember CARB right, well its all over Texas too now, we pay about 50 cents a gallon of Diesel for cleaner air, which is rare around Houston..

My concern, being a long time Diesel Tech /Instructor, is what is the long term effect upon my darling 300d s fuel system, an pistons, maybe valves. Will my like new running engine still last forever with the ultra low sulfur or not,, thats a good question.

So bottom line, now we are having too pay a lot extra for the ultra low sulfur Diesel fuel, is it worth the cost, in cancer rate, an are we loosing part of the energy in the fuel at the same time. Our exhaust systems should last longer, without all the sulfuric acid coming thu.

   Lots of unanswered questions other than the premium cost we are having to pay at the pump. I do not think there are answers to many of the questions, but one thing for sure, our Mercedes engines were designed to run on Diesel fuel that contained mucho sulfur, a type fuel no longer available, except in maybe Mexico.

     Anyone want about a million tons of raw sulfur, Texas will sell it to you CHEAP, almost free, come get the stuff, makes an ugly mountain here in Texas. Plus it stinks like someone eating too much bean dip.

     Doug Traylor   300d daily driver, 300SD carport parts queen w/ wunderbar turbo engine.