Hey all,
I am on my third tank of ulsd fuel in my 86 300sdl. Tell me I am crazy but these are the things I have noticed.

1. Smoother idle. I used to have a shaky idle, like one injector was dirty. Very smooth now
2. Quieter idle. Less nailing.
3. one more mpg: now 26 versus 25mpg
4. exhaust smells a little stronger of diesel fumes
5. Just off idle I hear a light rattle ( like pre-ignition in a gasser ). Perhaps it has laways been there but my car is quieter now, so now I hear it.
6. No leaks yet.

Can anyone concur with this? How about your experiences with it?

John
86 300sdl 95,000 miles

If you're only on your third tank, you've been buying fuel in Mexico. The US road fuels have been pretty much all ULSD for almost a year now.

The difference might be summer blend fuel, higher BTU (power & mileage) and higher cetane (less knock).

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Actually, I live in NE Louisiana and my local Shell station changed to it 2 months ago. With 550 miles per tank and I drive about 25 miles per day it takes me a while to use up my diesel.

John

I'm betting that they just changed the label two months ago, they've been selling the same fuel as the rest of the country.

And that's one low-mile SDL, nice.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

In reality, it's probably been more like 2 years as the refineries transfered to ULSD. A few weeks ago I saw a pump (in eastern CO) with both a LSD sticker (do not use in 2007 engines) and a ULSD sticker (required for 2007 engines). Don't take the stickers too seriously.

The standard expectation is that since June '06, if it isn't red, it's probably ULSD.
I thnk Timothy Leary had something to do with it.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

I can honestly say, mostly I've experienced the opposite outcome.

1. + 2. Idle was louder, over time, and started to lose power. A quick purge remedied that.
3. MPG dropped for a time....Still is off perhaps a mpg or so.
4. My exhaust does smell stronger of diesel fumes, but it could be possible that the timing is advanced a little too far.
5. Pre-ignition? Sounds like a sticky injector not getting the proper spray pattern.
6. So many leaks I've nearly replaced every brass fuel line. Just had another one fail yesterday (#5). Not to mention the weeping fuel lines on the return and supply sides from the tank itself (PITA).

This is what I've noticed so far from my 350SD.

Wow, I will definitely keep an eye on things under the hood. I replaced all my rubber fuel lines last year and my return lines at the same time. I did look under the fuel tank and all is dry there also. I performed a diesel purge last June and will perform another one this year when I change my fuel filters.
My car is a daily driver but not many miles per day. I only wish that my interior vinyl and plastic parts would look as good as it does under the hood of my car. Hot,Humid Louisiana does a real number on the vinyl and plastic although my seats ( leather) still look great.

JOhn

I think ULSD has made our 617's more cranky. They need more italian tune-ups to keep them happy or they will idle rough/shake. I can't wait till it gets warm out and I can run a Bio blend or Veg oil mix. Runs sooo much nicer.

__________________
-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)

my pickup seems to run quieter with the ulsd,but all my diesels have a more noticeable smell to em.

Agreed on the exhaust smell too, its sharper, and very noticeable. Yet another reason I want veg oil....

__________________
-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)