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Hi all,

New to the site so not sure if I'm in the right place. I have a newer diesel that requires ULSD, ultra low sulfer diesel, diesel fuel. I've found sites saying ULSD is available in northern Baja but not Baja Sur. The posts I've seen say El Rosaria is the farthest south ULSD is available but these posts are from 2010.

Does anyone here now the real or most current answer about the availability of ULSD in both north and south Baja? Thanks in advance.

John

This is what I posted on your other thread:

I am often asked that questioned and after questioning several Pemex stations it seems that diesel here in Baja at least as far south as El Rosario is delivered as ULSD. Gasoline and diesel here in northern Baja comes from the US, not mainland Mexico.

You may want to ask others but that is what I was told by several sources...

Only as far south as El Rosario (possibly Jesus Maria)....not in Guerrero Negro or south of the BC/BCS state line, according to the owner (Antonio) of the PEMEX station in El Rosario.

True, ULSD is not available south of El Rosario. The first stop where diesel is available south of El Rosario is Jesus Maria. From that station south, you will be buying Low Sulfer Diesel. I did a lot of research on this subject before buying my truck (2008 Chevy Duramax diesel) as I live in Baja Sur. The higher sulfur will not damage your engine, in fact sulfer is a lubricant and the motor actually runs better. The problem is that the sulfur produces more particulate matter that, over a very long time, will cause premature failure of the DPF, and only after many years of using the fuel with a higher sulfur concentration.

So far my truck has been in Baja Sur for three years running on the higher sulfur fuel without any problems.

Here's an article from an engineer I found some time ago on a Chevrolet diesel bulletin board:

If you search my posts back into 2007 you will see that I have contributed extensive information about the effects, or lack thereof, of lsd on the emissions system and/or engine.

In order to avoid posting pages and pages of data all over again, the bottom line is, the reason using lsd in our trucks is illegal is because using lsd produces unacceptable levels of sulfur particulate emissions. It has ALMOST NOTHING to do with whether or not the engine and DPF/DOC will be able to handle the higher sulfur fuel.

Again, if you search my posts, you will find the links to scientific testing done by the manufacturers which show that there has to be continuous use of lsd fuel for more than 40,000 miles before any measurable drop in performance of the emissions system occurs. You would have to use it for more than 100,000 continuous miles to reduce the effective life of the DPF.

I have been keeping track of more than a dozen 2007.5 and newer trucks in Mexico since mid 2007, some of which return to the USA and Canada each summer, and some of which stay in Mexico, where the fuel is still mostly lsd. Not a single truck has had a day of problems due to fuel, and I have yet to find a single failure of a DPF reported on this forum

In other words, if you happen to be using lsd fuel occasionally, it is NOT going to cause problems for the engine or emissions system. However, if you use it continuously, you can expect white smoke emissions during regeneration as sulfur compound are burned out of the DPF.

Also...


If you plan to be in Mexico long enough to need an oil change, I'd bring enough oil and a filter. It's nearly impossible to find API CJ4 oil in Baja Sur. The most popular is Quaker State CI4, which won't work in the newer diesel engines.

If you plan a long or short trip, bring an extra air filter. You won't find a replacement here. They fill up fast on dusty roads.

Thanks Big Wooo.

Wooo - do you know if that holds true for the newer Dodge and Ford diesels???

Originally Posted by BajaGringo

Wooo - do you know if that holds true for the newer Dodge and Ford diesels???

i can't say for sure, but I would imagine it still holds true. The problem with sulfur has never been an issue with the engine, it affects the DPF (particulate filter).

My only advice is to bring along spare fuel filters. Other than that you should be fine.

I drive a newer Dodge diesel truck and have had no issues filling up with Pemex diesel all the way down to La Paz. I agree with carrying an extra 20L container of diesel south of El Rosario and a fuel filter just in case.

Originally Posted by beachbum

My only advice is to bring along spare fuel filters. Other than that you should be fine.

Beach bum is correct, bring an extra filter.

I have a secondary filter installed: http://www.lubricationspecialist.com...l-fuel-filter/

I've found that in the last 4 or 5 years, for some reason, there doesn't seem to be as much (in fact very little) algae in the filters when I change them. Years ago, the filters would be packed with brown algae.

About 90% of my driving is in Baja Sur.

Originally Posted by BigWooo

I've found that in the last 4 or 5 years, for some reason, there doesn't seem to be as much (in fact very little) algae in the filters when I change them. Years ago, the filters would be packed with brown algae.

Many moons ago when I was involved in lab testing we noticed a bad problem with clogging of fuel filters on diesel plants running low sulfur fuel. The filters were typically coated with slimy brown solids that when analyzed proved to be mainly iron (ferric) hydroxide, which forms in the presence of metal and water in a low to oxygen free environment, such as in the bottom of diesel fuel tanks. The chemistry of the low sulfur diesel gave the fuel a much higher affinity for absorbing water through the storage tank vents - greater in high humidity areas.

Although I have been out of that loop for awhile I heard that the water problem in low sulfur diesel has lessened as of late, not sure if due to a change in the low sulfur chemistry of the fuel itself or a change in the storage procedures of diesel to minimize the introduction of water.

Either way I agree that having a second in-line fuel filter is a very smart idea...

Having owned a 18wheel diesel for Quite a while Fuel Filter Clogging is not much of a issue It's usually Water in the fuel . many times in the past I had to stop and take the filter off and drain it then put it back on. and usually it would work well for many more miles.
Since they replaced most of the storage tanks in the U.S. with Glass ones it's not as big of a problem as it was once was

I think that the idea behind changing the tank lining was to eliminate the ferrous hydroxide problem. Until they can figure out how to reduce the diesel's affinity to absorbing water that issue will continue until somebody invents a better mechanism (trap/filter) to rid the water from diesel fuel tanks.

Originally Posted by BajaGringo

Many moons ago when I was involved in lab testing we noticed a bad problem with clogging of fuel filters on diesel plants running low sulfur fuel. The filters were typically coated with slimy brown solids that when analyzed proved to be mainly iron (ferric) hydroxide

I always thought that stuff was a form of algae. It would completely fill the first filter after about 2500 miles. Haven't ever had a problem with water in the fuel though.

The solids will feel that way, probably from the the hydrocarbons they absorb. The solids however, were mostly inorganic.

Somebody sent me this link awhile back.

FuPro Diesel Fuel Filtration System

Originally Posted by beachbum

Somebody sent me this link awhile back.

FuPro Diesel Fuel Filtration System

Is that what you are talking about BigWooo???

Originally Posted by BajaGringo

Is that what you are talking about BigWooo???

Similar, but mine is not quite as elaborate. I just have a second fuel filter/water separator that goes in-line with the stock filter. It doesn't have any gauges or anything. I just change it when I change the main filter. Years ago when the fuel was dirtier, I'd change it at about 1/3 the recommended life of the stock filter. It kept all the gunk out of the stock filter

http://www.lubricationspecialist.com...l-fuel-filter/

Now that you are jarring my memory banks I seem to recall reading a post somewhere describing a diesel fuel line setup with two filters in parallel; where you could bypass into the other filter if a problem arose, avoiding have to stop and replace the filter while on the road...