Those of you that know about the 08 6.4L Diesel Engines.

Is it true that you can't run red diesel in these engines? We were about to buy an 08 Reg Cab, to use as a welding truck on the farm, but don't want to get it if we can't use red diesel.

Is this true or just a scare tactic?

And if you can't, why?

 

You can run red-dot diesel only if it is the low sulpher stuff for low emissions... or also known as ag-diesel... but I know that works in the older IDI and the 7.3l TD and the 6.0l TD...

Not too sure about running red-dot in a 6.4l TTD.

It might work... but not totally sure... I dare not try it for on-road use...

But here's a tidbit:
Not all diesel fuels have the same destination. Home heating oil, for example, is designated to be pumped into above-ground storage tanks and used as a source of heat. The diesel fuel in a home heating unit is atomized and then ignited to provide warmth. Diesel fuel for automobiles contains more sulfur than home heating oil, and is designed strictly for use in diesel engines. Automotive diesel fuel is also subject to taxes not levied on home heating oil. In order to tell the two fuels apart, a special red dye is added to home heating oil to create red diesel.

Red diesel fuel is only slightly different chemically from regular automotive diesel fuel, but there can be a significant difference in cost. The cheaper red diesel fuel could conceivably work in place of the more expensive automotive diesel fuel, but that would defeat the purpose of a fuel tax. In order to ensure that home heating oil, which is minimally taxed, is not used as diesel fuel, which can be heavily taxed, revenue agents require home heating oil to receive a special red dye. This liquid red dye can be detected in even the smallest samples taken for examination.

Using red diesel for reasons other than home heating is generally considered a criminal act, since the buyer did not pay the proper tax for regular diesel fuel. If there is reasonable cause to inspect a vehicle's fuel tank or storage tank, inspectors can quickly and conclusively identify the presence of red diesel and take appropriate action against the offender. Without the creation of red diesel, it would take a trained chemist to differentiate between home heating oil and automotive diesel fuel.

Different countries use different solvent dyes to create their red diesel, but the purpose is generally the same. The dye has no negative effects on the fuel itself, but it does allow revenue agents to determine at a glance if a violation has occurred.

Source: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-red-diesel.htm

 

The 6.4L engine requires the ULTRA-LOW SULPHUR DIESEL, which is 15 PPM sulphur. If you run the LOW SULPHUR DIESEL, which is 200 PPM sulphur, you can clog up the DPF or the truck can stay in regen all the time. A new DPF from Ford costs about $2400.

 

Yep. There is your answer.

 

Can you explain your answer?

DPF?

Regen all the time?

I thought since january 7, of this year ALL diesel had to meet ultra low sulfur standards.......

 

DPF=diesel particulate filter. More emissions garbage Ford has added, although I'm sure it won't be long before folks are figuring out how to get rid of it altogether.

Regen is another emissions procedure, although I know some folks have already figured out how to turn this off, too.

AFAIK all the diesel you will find at the pumps is the new ULSD. I have looked for LSD at local stations and cannot find any, but I've heard its still out there. Red diesel may not have to comply to the same standards, though?

 

Yes, all AUTOMOTIVE diesel sold since january 7 of this year is ULSD (Ultr-Low sulphur Diesel). As far as I know, red diesel is NOT automotive diesel and not required to be ULSD.

 

Well see that's what I don't understand. The man that sells us diesel, told us that there is no difference between red diesel and white diesel(Excluding the color). And the only reason they changed the color, was so that if they stopped you and checked your truck, they wouldn't have a hard time finding out that your using it.

 

All diesel sold in the United States (dyed or undyed) is ULSD, no matter what the sticker on the pump says (unless its REALLY old diesel). The only difference between the dyed diesel and the undyed diesel is the dye itself. However, if you have a problem with your new 6.4 PSD and take it into the dealer, I've got a $20 bill that says they will tell you to go pound sand if you're running red diesel.

 

On road Diesel has had taxes paid on it....off road diesel hasn't. Thats the difference and the only reason its cheaper.

 

Yeah, that I know for sure.

So then I'm right? There should be no problem running it, correct?

 

I wouldnt think so, but then on the other hand I can run different brands of on road diesel and tell a difference in my truck. Fuel from a few certain chains will smell very bad and make the truck go into regen a lot more often than it will from others. I dont know why but it does. So I would say it wouldnt hurt a thing to try it and see what it does. After all its in no way an inferrior fuel...its for running engines that cost more than our whole trucks cost.

 

Not true...

Although ULSD fuel is the dominant highway diesel fuel produced, EPA does not require service stations and truck stops to sell ULSD fuel. Therefore, ULSD fuel might not be available at every service station or truck stop. Diesel retailers may choose to sell Low Sulfur Diesel fuel instead of ULSD fuel until December 1, 2010, when only ULSD fuel will be available for highway use. The industries involved in the transition are doing all they can to minimize potential inconveniences during the conversion to ULSD fuel.

Courtesy of http://www.clean-diesel.org/highway.html

Here in the Houston area, you really have to watch for the sticker at the pump. From what I've seen, about 30-40% of the stations are selling ULSD.

 

It is not reccomended that you run "red" ag diesel in the new 6.4L. It doesn't meet the new Ultra-Low standards. Not to mention, I think it's illegal in some states if not all to run it in non-farm applications.

As for the DPF, all new diesel trucks, reguardless of brand, have one. It's a part the the new EPA emissions standard.

 

it is TRUE that ford will blame EVERYTHING on the red ag diesel... when I worked there there was 1 truck with the 7.3L and one with 6.0L that came in with problems and they blamed the red ag diesel, AND once tried to get the guy in trouble with the law for running it in his truck.... so if its an 08, why not just run the proper fuel through it and be safe and keep it running properly?? If you choose to run the red ag, dont plan on taking it to the dealer ever and MAKE SURE its ULSD!