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Ultra-Low
Sulfur
Diesel Fuel
On June 1, 2006, new EPA fuel standards went into effect requiring that 80 percent of the highway diesel fuel produced or imported be ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel (ULSD) fuel. ULSD fuel is expected to be available at most retail locations by October 15, 2006.
Other than the sulfur content, ultra-low sulfur diesel meets the same specifications as regular on-highway diesel.
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The cleaner ULSD fuel enables the use of advanced pollution-control technologies on new engines, such as new 2007 model year heavy-duty diesel engines, and on older retrofitted engines.
Through the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency’s Diesel Solutions program and a consortium of partners, ULSD fuel became available in western Washington years ahead of the federal rule, enabling a wide range of public and private fleets to retrofit diesel engines and run on cleaner fuel.
Less sulfur, cleaner air
As mentioned above, ULSD diesel fuel is a specially refined diesel fuel that has dramatically lower sulfur content than the previous standard of on-highway diesel, called low sulfur diesel. The sulfur content in ULSD averages 15 parts per million (ppm). Low sulfur diesel has a maximum of 500 ppm of sulfur. Non-road diesel has an average of 3,400 ppm sulfur.1
In addition to the recent fuel standard change for highway diesel, EPA fuel standards for non-road diesel engines and equipment – such as farm and construction equipment, locomotive and marine engines – will also take effect over the next several years.
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In 2007, diesel fuel intended for locomotive, marine and non-road diesel engines must meet the low sulfur diesel fuel maximum specification of 500 ppm.
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By June 2010, the ULSD fuel standard of 15 ppm sulfur will apply to diesel fuel used by non-road engines, such as construction and agricultural equipment.
