[geeks] electric cars

[Phil Brutsche]

James Fogg wrote:
>> Precisely.  The high sulfur content (up to 500ppm) has been the
>> killer.
>> 
>> Incidentally that was fixed just last week ;) Fuel quality is much
>> higher with my latest tank of fuel: less smoke, pulls harder off
>> the line, etc.
> 
> Sulfur isn't a problem for diesels, it's a lubricant. The only issue
> is sulfuric acid forming in the oilpan.

Sulfur isn't a major problem for US-made diesels; Caterpillar, Cummins,
Isuzu, IH/Navistar, Detroit Diesel, etc have been dealing with high
sulfur content for decades.

It is a problem for modern foreign diesels and the emissions equipment
the EPA is starting to require.

One of the things the EPA is requiring on 2007+ diesels is a
regenerative particulate filter, and if you don't reduce the sulfur
content bad things will happen to it, the catalytic converter, and
eventually the engine.

Plus, you might be surprised how much an affect fuel has on the design
details of the engine - fuel pump, fuel injectors, etc.

-- 

Phil Brutsche
phil at tux.obix.com