Fuel & Nikasil: Solutions

[rwindleyme02]

I've decided to enlist the gas companies' help in helping my Nikasil last as long as it can until I sell it. Since the problem is supposedly in the fuel and not the engine, one would think that by making sure that at every fill-up I put only the lowest sulfur fuel in, it should last as designed - At least that's the plan.

So, I thinought I'd post the results of my inquiries to the gas companies. I've heard back from BP/Amoco & Cheveron. In summary, so far BP/Amoco can guarantee "California standard" fuel in Atlanta b/c of our high air pollution levels. In Atlanta and 40 other cities, Amoco Ultimate is less than 30 ppm sulfur. Cheveron could only guarantee 1000 ppm! If you don't happen to live in an Amoco "clean" city the sulfur content is around 300 ppm.

Enjoy! :D

[rwindleyme02]

I like the reference to Nikasil in the end of the letter ;)

Mr. Windley,

Thank you for your inquiry. It has been forwarded to us here at Chevron Fuels Technical Service.

We can tell you that in the United States, the level of sulfur in all grades has a maximum of 0.10 Mass (weight) Percent. That is the same as 1000 parts per million (ppm). This sulfur specification which is followed by the entire United States (US) gasoline marketing industry is set forth by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) in the specification D 4814, entitled, "Standard Specification for Automotive Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel". It is the specification maximum sulfur content in all US states. It would be safe to say you should not encounter gasoline with sulfur at higher limits than 1000 ppm in the US. This is the maximum level of sulfur in the southeast area states you ask about.

Some states, like California, have stricter regulations on sulfur than the federal standard. The California limit is more stringent at a maximum of 80 parts per million (0.008 weight percent). Chevron expects that the government mandated sulfur levels will continue to go down in the future and Chevron will be in compliance all along the way.

A federal sulfur limit of 30 ppm refinery average becomes effective in 2005 with a 300 ppm cap. An 80 ppm cap comes into effect in 2006. We are uncertain as to whether the reduction will occur any faster than these time lines.

Just because there is a maximum limit on sulfur does not mean that the "real-life" numbers can't be significantly lower. It is just that the lower values cannot be guaranteed - only the maximum level can be guaranteed. You may be interested in some country-wide surveys done over a recent five-year period by the Southwest Research Institute (SWRI) in San Antonio, TX. The survey showed Chevron had an average of 325 ppm sulfur in the regular grade and 84 ppm sulfur in the supreme grade.

In the year 2000 in the United States, Chevron was just under 150 ppm
(average) in the regular grade and 80 ppm (average) for the supreme grade.

In California, Chevron is able to reduce typical sulfur levels to 30-40 ppm. Typicals are mere averages. Any one batch could vary.

We would hope that a car manufacturer who markets their cars for the United States market would be aware of the sulfur specifications and produce a product that would be able to handle them. You may need to also contact them for advice on this topic. We would hope they would consider the sulfur levels in Chevron gasoline adequately "low".

The BMW problem with sulfur is discussed in http://www.lestac.co.uk/bmw/nikasil.htm

You may also like to read some publications Chevron has developed that are available to the public. Especially see the publication entitled, "Motor Gasolines Technical Review". Just click on the title. Go to the following site:

www.chevron.com/prodserv/fuels/

[rwindleyme02]

Amoco Ultimate... Good stuff!

Dear Ryan,

Thank you for contacting BP with your question about our fuel.

The good news is that Greater Atlanta is one of BP's "Clean Cities" where we have voluntarily lowered the sulfur content of Amoco Ultimate gasoline to
less than 30 ppm (parts per million) sulfur. We did this in the year 2000
or 2001, well before it became a popular thing to do. As you may know, all retailers must be at 90 ppm or less sulfur - BP fought to have it lowered to 30 ppm, but our efforts were repealed by other interests who pushed for the current 90 ppm cap.

Our ultra low sulfur Ultimate is available at any BP or Amoco station in the Greater Atlanta area. There are now over 40 US Citiee that are in our Clean Cities program. Another clean city that is close to you is Asheville, NC.

In non Clean Cities, BP or Amoco gasolines average around 300 ppm sulfur or less.

I hope this answers you question. If you need more information or would like to discuss the matter in more detail, please feel free to contact our toll-free Fuels Hotline at (800) 841-5255.

Sincerely,

Rick Chapman
Sr. Engineering Specialist, Fuels
BP

[MaloventEvil]

wow they are really badass. i wonder if all premium gas is above 91 octane, or is that on average.

-Aurash
:redspot

[CTE34]

Wow Good info, I must say, a a very smart idea as well :)