50 vs 500 ppm sulphur diesel

[bodhi]

I'm going to do an extended tour of the South-Eastern Free State in a Mazda Drifer 2.5D -2007 model.

I've been told only to use 50ppm sulphur diesel (available only from Sasol) however some of the rural towns will only have regular , 500ppm sulphur diesel.

What will happen if I use the 500ppm diesel during next week , and upon my return to Pretoria , the 50ppm sulphur diesel ?

Thanks :)

[TiredOfWaiting]

Actually 50ppm is available from most big service stations these days - Engen, Caltex, Sasol, etc.

The 50ppm version burns cleaner and leaves less residue on the engine parts that come into contact with it. Using 500ppm for a while will not have any major effect on your car though, it will just burn away over time. But if you only use 500ppm for years, that build-up can start to cause problems.

So go ahead and fill up with whatever you can find in the Free State and then just switch back to the good stuff when you come back.

[bodhi]

Actually 50ppm is available from most big service stations these days - Engen, Caltex, Sasol, etc.

The 50ppm version burns cleaner and leaves less residue on the engine parts that come into contact with it. Using 500ppm for a while will not have any major effect on your car though, it will just burn away over time. But if you only use 500ppm for years, that build-up can start to cause problems.

So go ahead and fill up with whatever you can find in the Free State and then just switch back to the good stuff when you come back.

many thanks - much appreciated :)

[AntiFreeze2]

You will have more money in your pocket. One week shouldn't make a difference.

[Grouter]

I'm going to do an extended tour of the South-Eastern Free State in a Mazda Drifer 2.5D -2007 model.

I've been told only to use 50ppm sulphur diesel (available only from Sasol) however some of the rural towns will only have regular , 500ppm sulphur diesel.

What will happen if I use the 500ppm diesel during next week , and upon my return to Pretoria , the 50ppm sulphur diesel ?

Thanks :)

Sulphur is a corrosive agent and will over time eat through most metals. It eats through steel with ease, and seems to like stainless steel particularly. It causes pitting on the finely machined surfaces of injection pumps and injectors, causing them to work less efficiently over time. Coupled with this is the fact that SA diesel fuels have reduced lubricity owing partly to the high sulphur content and partly to the law's requirement that a percentage of all diesel must be sasol-sourced. Diesel made from oil lubricates better than diesel made from coal. Some people swear by chucking in a bit of 2-stroke oil in with every 10th tankful of fuel, but I have never tried it. Too much and you might leave trails of smoke wherever you go. Best long-term insurance is to avoid the high sulphur diesel as much as possible and also change the oil regularly - a by-product of combustion of high sulphur content diesel is sulphuric acid, and this builds up in the oil / oil sump. I've seen it eat through a stainless steel engine sump in a little over 3 years!

Whatever - a couple of tankfuls of the cheap stuff ain't going to kill your engine.

[BCO]

Dude I did 100 000km in 2006 in a 2.5 TD Drifter. I spent the majority of the time in deep rural areas using whatever diesel I could get. No problems whatsoever.

[bodhi]

Dude I did 100 000km in 2006 in a 2.5 TD Drifter. I spent the majority of the time in deep rural areas using whatever diesel I could get. No problems whatsoever.

ta :D

[Procrates]

What are your thoughts on the honda 2.2 diesel civic, so far the only drawback is the need for clean diesel. (50ppm)
Were looking at all the small diesel hatches as a new drive.

It seems all the diesels are moving to common rail technology that as I understand it needs the clean stuff. Is this correct?

[Just_Ice]

I just asked my dad that last night and this is at a Shell here in Bloem

[JungleRumble]

BP's new 50ppm diesel is becoming more widely available.

I have been driving diesel bakkies for 8 years now - and agree that 500ppm will not do any harm. That was all we could get a few years back anyhow. The reason why most manufacturers required an "inbetween" oil service at 5000km or 7500km, was to change the oil and so assist in getting rid of the sulphuric acid.

If it will make you feel better, change the oil when you return and carry on using 50ppm.