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#1
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yesterday's journal.........
Clean Diesel Fuel
Has School Buses Out Sick With Cold By ROBERT GUY MATTHEWS February 8, 2007; Page B1 Some school districts are blaming a recent federal mandate to switch to a less-polluting diesel fuel for a spate of school-bus breakdowns that left thousands of kids stranded and shivering in the extreme cold this week. On Monday, when temperatures dipped below zero in East Allen County, Ind., 36 of the county's 155 school buses started up fine but soon conked out because the new fuel, thickening in the cold, clogged fuel filters. That same day, 30 miles outside of Pittsburgh, Hempfield area schools had the same problem with 26 of their 80 buses. Districts in Kansas and New England reported similar problems. "The problem doesn't lie with the individual schools," says Lynda Kuchler, transportation director for the East Allen County Schools. "The problem is with the fuel." Gelled diesel silenced Racine, Wis., buses Monday. In October, the Bush administration required diesel users, including buses and trucks, to begin switching to ultralow-sulfur fuel to reduce air pollution. The new diesel has 15 parts per million of sulfur, compared with about 500 parts per million for the diesel it's replacing. The problem comes during the refining process used to attain the ultralow-sulfur ratio. That affects the naturally occurring wax in diesel in such a way that it can cause the fuel to turn from liquid to gel more readily in cold temperatures. Gelled fuel clogs the fuel filters and starves the engine, causing it to stop. Environmental Protection Agency officials say there is nothing wrong with the fuel. But it may have to be treated with special additives. Or engine warmers -- equipment that keeps the engine warm, usually using electricity -- may have to be used, they said. Margo Oge, director of the EPA's office of transportation and air quality, said all diesel fuels gel in subzero temperatures. Both refiners and users have been adding kerosene or other additives to diesel fuel for decades in such weather to prevent it from thickening. "The only difference is when you add kerosene now, it must be ultralow-sulfur diesel kerosene," Ms. Oge said. The ultralow diesel rollout is the biggest change to fuel standards since the country began removing lead from gasoline in the 1970s. Ms. Oge said that while the changeover is going smoothly, part of the problem appears to be confusion over the additives. Some school authorities said they weren't clear that special additives or ultraclean kerosene had to be added. Ms. Oge also said some of the refiners may not have used the proper mix of additives or ultraclean kerosene in fuel provided to the school systems. Patrick Carnicella, transportation director for Westmoreland County schools just outside Pittsburgh, said bus problems caused schools to close Monday and Tuesday, reopening after he figured out the problem. He calculated that the additives cost about 37 cents a gallon, on top of the $1.93 a gallon the school system pays for the ultralow diesel. Write to Robert Guy Matthews at robertguy.matthews@wsj.com |
#2
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According to a site I was checking, normal ULSD diesel doesn't even begin to gel unless temps are BELOW -20F.....I doubt it was that cold in the place where that happened...and I also bet that the people running the bus system were clueless in maintaining their vehicles to deal with such extreme cold. He's blaming it on the fuel, I blame it on the people.
B20 is even rated to -15F....it makes no sense. I started my car at -10F a few days ago...fuel was flowing fine.
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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life- '15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800) '17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k) '09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k) '13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k) '01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km) '16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k) |
#3
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It's Bush's fault..... How dare he try to help reduce air pollution?
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Palangi 2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz 2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser 2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg 2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE 0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE |
#4
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Quote:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/highway-diesel/index.htm |
#5
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My thoughts exactly...
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2009 VW TDI Jetta Sportwagon 172k miles (rear-ended harder than Elton John on 8/4/13. Total loss) 1991 Volvo 240 142k miles (T-boned by a stop sign runner. Total loss) |
#6
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MB will be launching the "Bluetec Bus" later this year. End of problem
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