"Clean diesel" fuel??
 

I'm planning on buying a 2010 X5 35d. Someone mentioned to me that you cannot put just any diesel into the car - that you need to find stations that sell "clean diesel" and the availability was low (I'm live in southern CA).

This was the first I heard of different fuel. Can someone set the record straight?

It runs on standard #2 diesel, which is the regular stuff sold at the pump. It's clean because of the ad-blue that gets injected in the exhaust system, which turns the diesel exhaust into water vapor before it leaves your tailpipe.

AFAIK they are referring to the relatively new "Ultra Low Sulfur" diesel which is now readily available in all 50 states.

IIRC The availability of ultra low sulfur diesel was one of the hold ups for introducing the new 'clean diesels' (e.g. MB's BlueTec, BMWs BluePerformance, etc) because the urea systems require very low sulfur.

Funf Dreisig

Edit: corrected low sulfur to ultra low sulfur.

To be clear, you must use Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD), which is usually available. This is not to be confused with Low Sulfur Diesel (LSD) which is still available at some stations and is not supposed to be used in the X5. This will all be moot by 2010 when only ULSD will be sold, but until then, you need to make sure that what you're putting in the tank is ULSD. Stations are required by federal law to label diesel, but I've found this to be hit or miss in reality.

Correct, I use premium diesel fuel in my X5. It has a higher cetane rating. BMW wants a cetane rating of 51 or higher to be used...

Craig

You absolutely need to check the label that is supposed to be on all diesel pumps, which tells if its LSD or ULSD. Putting LSD in can damage the particulate filter, depending on how much sulfur is present.

My local walmart has a big sign up that they have the "cheapest diesel in town", but the label on the pump says its LSD.

You can actually be fined 10K for putting LSD into a 2007 or newer diesel engine. After some point next year they will all be required to sell ULSD.

According to Clean Diesel Org the only diesel you can buy for highway use in Calif has been Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel since Sept. 2006.

Funf Dreisig

Yup, as stated by everyone, ULSD is what you need to use. I live in LA and haven't had any problems finding ULSD. There are a couple stations near my house that have ULSD and the associated sticker on the pump, so I haven't had any problems finding fuel.

Good feedback everyone. I wasn't aware of the distinction before. Now I know. We're going to buy the X5 35d in early 2010. I'm in southern CA, so I'd think the ULSD issue with be fine based on your feedback. Thanks!

And I presume NO Biodiesel...

You can only use 5% bio diesel. I have a friend with a VW Jetta and he runs mostly bio diesel. He has to start and shut off his car with regular diesel. The rest of the time, he runs on vegtable oil.

Craig

Low Sulfur Diesel Duel has 500 ppm of sulfur
Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel has 15 ppm of sulfur
The use of Bio diesel fuel has caused significant problems ranging from inconvenient to vehicle immobility

I saw at the diesel pumps it says bio diesel up to 10%,that means is not safe for use in X5?

Not necessarily, but for me, it means I'll be going someplace else.

Check into Problems with & Disadvantages of Biodiesel - Problems with

ALL 4 filling stations in the closest small country town sell diesel and their pumps are clearly labeled that it is Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel. The largest has 5 islands with 3 grades of gas and ULSD at each pump.

I asked the truck driver that delivered 10yds of road base yesterday about the availability of USLD. He snorted that the ULSD crap was all you could get around here anymore. He has to use lubricating additives to each tankful to keep his old PeterBuilt dump truck runnin' right.

I wonder if the prevalence of large diesel pickups, ranch trucks/equipment etc. means that diesel is more available out in the country than in the large cities?

Funf Dreisig

> diesel is more available out in the country than in the large cities?


Probably. In June I rode my Motorcycle to Phoenix and back from Chicago and noticed that in the rural areas of Kansas and Colorado diesel pumps were quite common in the smaller towns in farm and cattle country -- I believe the diesel option is quite popular for pickup trucks in rural areas.

I read somewhere, you can only run 5% bio diesel in the X5, so I
would say it wouldn't be safe...

Craig