Published at: www.railwaygazette.com
Not any downside for sulphur reduction
July 11, 2007
It has been my experience that low sulphur fuel and ultra would greatly reduce emissions. Lower sulphur fuel would in reality extends oil change interval due to less acidic environment, the lubricating qualities of sulphur are greatly exaggerated.
Major Commuter Railroad Accelerates Switch to ULSD--Additive Suppliers Will Benefit
July 10, 2007
As the US Diesel market switches to mostly ULSD, commercial users are accelerating their rollover to the lower sulfur fuel. The railroad lubricant market has historically been slow changing due to the large capital investments in locomotives and a long history of reliable operation with current technologies. The switch to ULSD will provide additional sales opportunities to the lubricant and diesel additive suppliers as they introduce additional components to compensate for the loss of intrinsic sulfur's fuel lubricity.
July 10, 2007
ULSD in off-road operations has the same pro’s and con’s as seen in on-road, but mostly technical and operational issues. Putting actual numbers to benefits is tough, as the numbers depend on what they are compared to originally - including actual engines, fuels, oils, additives, etc. Locomotives operating in Northern climates may use a heavier mix of No.1 diesel, similar to Jet fuel, so that confuses the issues.
Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel Fuel is proven effective and safe
July 9, 2007
The use of Low and Ultra-Low Sulphur Diesel fuel has been proven safe and effective in real world field use in passenger vehicles and heavy duty trucks. There are some known issues with fuel system lubricity, especially in older engines, but proper maintenance protocol will minimize any impact on fleet operations. Transit fleet locomotives are centrally maintained making compliance with scheduled service specs much easier.