A friend told me that low sulfur diesel is designed for newer vehicles, and that it's bad for older cars (such as my '83 300DT). Is this true, and why or why not?

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1985 190D 2.2L 717.411 5-speed
1983 300D Euro OM617.950

The sulfur level isn't what is the problem, but rather the means used to remove that sulfur. It also reduces lubricity. However, additives are used to bring it back. Still, there are fewer aromatics in the resulting mix, and swollen seals just might shrink and allow (easily fixed) leaks.

If you're worried about lubricity, run at least 2% biodiesel in the mix.

In CA you've been burning it for more than 1.5 years. ASTM specs for lubricity didn't change. Non issue.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

No, its not true. Its marketing hype made to sell useless fuel additives.

Oddly enough, my friend also recommended using diesel additives. So is lubricity an issue or not, and what is this I'm hearing about leaks?

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1985 190D 2.2L 717.411 5-speed
1983 300D Euro OM617.950

No, your injection pump is lubricated by engine oil.

That does not apply to your model. The leaks are the rubber o-rings on the delivery valves of the later injection pump models (86+), your pump uses copper crush washers. The leaks on the later pumps are actually caused by normal age and heat-cycling stress. Its being blamed on ULSD because it conveniently switched into use around the same time a few people started having leaks, a scapegoat.

The fuel has minimum standards for lubricity that it must meet before it even leaves the refinery. On top of that, the stations all add their own blend of additives to the fuel as its pumped into the transport truck.

If there was actually a problem with the fuel there would be FAR more people with leaks than the few isolated reports so far.

I get injector knocking when I use ULSD, when I switched to bio injector knocking was gone. The engine is much quieter on non-ulsd/bio as well.

On ULSD I could definitely tell that my engine was on at idle, on BIO/non-ulsd I can't even tell if the engine is on, I have to keep looking at my tach to make sure. Its a HUGE difference.

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2005 SL65
1999 E300
1995 E300
1994 SL320
1988 560SL
1987 300TD
1982 300D
1955 300SL

Thanks for the info. I guess my friend was misinformed. Glad I don't have to worry! Penn & Teller ought to tackle this issue on the next episode of Bull****!

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1985 190D 2.2L 717.411 5-speed
1983 300D Euro OM617.950

That means you have an injector problem that needs to be fixed, bio is only masking your symptoms.

Possibly over 20 yrs, some parts of CA have used ULSD since 1985.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

its well documented that ULSD causes problems in older diesels (mainly non CRD type motors).

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2005 SL65
1999 E300
1995 E300
1994 SL320
1988 560SL
1987 300TD
1982 300D
1955 300SL

No it isn't. Its all been circumstantial, people blame problems on the ULSD because its a convenient excuse.

Other makes that depend on fuel to lubricate their IPs have reported instances of wear or damage from bad batches of ULSD.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

Key words there. ANY batch of bad fuel can cause problems. The fact that only a small number of vehicles have had problems means its not a problem for everyone. For every one person that reports a problem there are hundreds running trouble free.

i sold my 86 sdl to my girlfriends kid,the only fuel i ever ran in it was bio. he on the other hand would buy his fuel at wal-mart.within about a month his delivery valve seals started leaking.i told him to start running bio.but the only place here in town you need a fuel or credit card.so for the last 3 months he pays me and i use my card.within a week the leaks dried up.so i don't care what people say about ulsd not being the issue.i know it is.