US Diesel ?

[Bobb Todd]

I am the new owner of an '06 Passion [with the diesel engine].

I gather ONE [of the many] reasons they switched to a gas engine when the car was introduced into the US is that the diesel fuel is different in the US.

Limited reading showed me that US diesel is higher in sulphur content and not suitable for the newer auto engines.

I know that here in Canada I've been advised to use Sunoco Gold Diesel as it meets the higher standard.

Am I going to have a problem in the US [a place I travel to frequently] ?

[Padawan]

You shouldn't have any issues travelling to the US, as almost all of the on-road diesel fuel sold here is now of the ULSD (ultra-low sulphur diesel) variety, which aligns with Canadian and European standards.

[Old smart]

The issue would be the lubricity of the fuel in the injector pump and injectors, not the sulphur or lack of it per se. The '06 Suprex diesel was built to use Euro D50 "City Diesel" (<50 parts per million sulphur compounds). The current U.S. diesel since 2007 is ULSD at <15PPM, not too much of a difference compared to our pre-'07 D200+ LSD. The refining that removes the sulphur also removes compounds that account for lubricity. If you have any concerns, you could bring a little diesel lubricity additive like Stanadyne, but you should be OK.

The new Euro EU5 standard reduces sulphur to <10ppm.

[rfernatt]

Originally Posted by Old smart

The new Euro EU5 standard reduces sulphur to <10ppm.

Hey, old smart! How does EU5 compare to current US EPA/CARB standards? The 2010 smart diesel meets EU5 and I was wondering if that would make it a candidate for US distribution so far as emissions were concerned anyway.

As always, thanks for your insight.

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by rfernatt

Hey, old smart! How does EU5 compare to current US EPA/CARB standards? The 2010 smart diesel meets EU5 and I was wondering if that would make it a candidate for US distribution so far as emissions were concerned anyway.

As always, thanks for your insight.

The standards and goals of the EC and EPA are different and the two standards are not in chronological synch - they get independantly ratched-up in a sort of alternating fashion. The last time I looked at the numbers, a 2010 EU5 diesel would make EPA, but only for a year until EPA went to their next scheduled step. The EC has an EU6 in the works.

Things are always too much in flux to make sense for smart to try to conform to both moving targets at the same time. BTW, international agreements with Canada now pretty much have them in lockstep with us.

[BigWarpGuy]

I have noticed that some gas stations sell diesel fuel for the about the same price as regular unleaded gas. A Smart diesel would go far for less.

[Padawan]

Originally Posted by BigWarpGuy

I have noticed that some gas stations sell diesel fuel for the about the same price as regular unleaded gas. A Smart diesel would go far for less.

It sure would! Plus, the latest cdi has been increased to 54 hp and generates over 40% more torque than our current gasoline engine. Sign me up.

Oh, and some other interesting items on the 2010 European-spec option sheet:

"The 2010 model year car will also get some new optional equipment, like a folding armrest, hands-free system, and a color multimedia display."

[Bobb Todd]

Originally Posted by Old smart

The issue would be the lubricity of the fuel in the injector pump and injectors, not the sulphur or lack of it per se. The '06 Suprex diesel was built to use Euro D50 "City Diesel" (<50 parts per million sulphur compounds). The current U.S. diesel since 2007 is ULSD at <15PPM, not too much of a difference compared to our pre-'07 D200+ LSD. The refining that removes the sulphur also removes compounds that account for lubricity. If you have any concerns, you could bring a little diesel lubricity additive like Stanadyne, but you should be OK.

The new Euro EU5 standard reduces sulphur to <10ppm.

...................
Any particular brand I should look for or avoid, or do I just stop when I want on the Interstate ?

[forestacademy]

Originally Posted by Padawan

"The 2010 model year car will also get some new optional equipment, like a folding armrest, hands-free system, and a color multimedia display."

The Display has a T-Mobile logo on it, and she has an I phone?

That thing on the center console must be the controler for that multimedia display. The Silver thing between the shifter and the travel mug.

Oh and I see a Big old Mic up by the Visor

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by Bobb Todd

...................
Any particular brand I should look for or avoid, or do I just stop when I want on the Interstate ?

You will likely have to take what is available, where available. Some brands claim to add additives that may contain lubricity boosters, but there are no binding regulations that they do so or to what extent like there are for gasoline detergent minimums. With ULSD, any additives can only be mixed at the distribution terminals which are generally independant operations serving a multitude of retailers.

Because there are onerous U.S. fines** for the possession diesel fuel for the intent to sell that exceeds 15 PPM, most ULSD is refined to about 8 PPM, therefore, at point-of-sale the fuel (and its commensurate lubricity or lack of it) could be anywhere between 8 and 15 PPM.

** US$32,500 per day per "incident," 25-day minimum!