Diesel Fuel In Mexico - Update re Late Model Diesels
For almost 8 years I have been gathering data on, and reporting to this forum annually on, the behavior of diesel powered motorhomes, vans, and pickup trucks while in Mexico, where most of the diesel fuel is still LSD (Low Sulfur Diesel), up to 500 ppm. Unfortunately, ULSD (Ultr-Low-Sulfur-Diesel), 15 ppm, is available only in border cities/towns, the Northern Baja, Mexico City, and Monterrey.
In particular, my present database (November 2015) contains detailed information about the effects of Mexican LSD on the emissions systems of Ford Powerstrokes, Dodge RAMs, and GM Duramax systems for model years 2007.5 through 2015. Owners will be pleased to learn that none of these vehicles for model years 2007.5 through and including 2012 have any significant issues while using Mexican diesel. There may be occasional blue smoke during regeneration cycles, as sulfur compounds in the emissions system are burned off, and 2011/12 Duramax powered pickups may display “BAD DEF” and speed limitation warnings from time to time, but there has never been a confirmed situation of any of these vehicles becoming disabled or going in to “limp mode” due to sulfur in Mexican fuel. A regeneration cycle ALWAYS occurs and burns off the sulfur compounds before a serious speed limitation problem develops.
For 2013 through 2016 Duramax powered vehicles, management of the situation is required because these pickups can go in to limp mode unless regenerations are forced when “BAD DEF” messages appear. There are, however, 6 volunteers stationed across Mexico, including me, who can quickly provide information on how to force those regenerations and return the vehicles to normal operation. It is better to be prepared in advance though, so owners of 2013 and later Duramax pickup trucks should contact me at whitetmp@aol.com BEFORE entering Mexico.
Based on the data provided to me by owners, there are no recorded significant issues for 2013 and later Dodge RAM diesels while on Mexican fuel, although the engine light may come on and stay on for extended periods of time. Otherwise the vehicle operates normally, and the engine light extinguishes once the truck is back in the USA and has gone through a couple of tankfuls of ULSD.
Similarly, 2013 and 2014 Ford Powerstroke diesels have no reported issues, other than an occasional temporary engine light on. With respect to the 2015 Ford Powerstroke though, there COULD be a major issue for owners. The following story explains why:
In January of 2015 the owner of a 2015 Ford F350 Powerstroke joined a caravan tour into the Baja. As expected, his truck exhibited NO symptoms of temporary sulfur poisoning of the emissions system while he was towing his fifth wheel trailer. This is because towing a heavy trailer, or carrying a camper in the truck bed, provides sufficient load to keep exhaust gas temperatures elevated high enough to prevent the deposit of sulfur compounds in the emissions system. (This is also true for late model Dodge and GM diesel powered pickups).
In this specific case though, the owner left the caravan while in the Los Cabos area and traveled to La Paz, where he booked in to an RV park, unhooked his trailer, and began driving the truck with no tow load. Within a week or so, his truck went in to speed limitation, and eventually limp mode. He contacted the local Ford dealer in La Paz and discovered that there is NO ability to service late model Ford Powerstrokes in Mexico. He then contacted a dealership in the U.S., which canceled his warranty when it was discovered that he was in Mexico.
At that stage he researched the problem on line and contacted me, but it was too late to assist due to the truck being in limp mode. The only way to clear the sulfur compounds from the emissions system, and return the truck to normal operation, would be to run a Service Regeneration.
This owner then made the decision to import a delete kit in to Mexico, and within two weeks he had removed the entire factory emissions system and installed the delete kit, at which point he was able to get the truck running normally again.
The HUGE problem with this case, is that there is no way to know whether this single owner's experience is indicative of a larger 2015 Ford Powerstroke issue that will affect other owners driving on Mexican diesel, or whether his truck suffered a completely unrelated emissions system component failure that put his truck in to limp mode.
Erring on the side of caution I thought it would be wise to make a recommendation based on my extensive experience with similar problems on GM duramax post-2012 models. In conjunction with a different 2015 Ford Powerstroke owner, I have confirmed that the latest model Edge Tuner CT2, can force a regeneration on the 2015 Powerstroke. I am therefore recommending that any 2015 Powerstroke owner planning to drive into Mexicoand use Mexican diesel should purchase and carry an Edge CT2 Tuner - during the purchase, owners should confirm that the CT2 they are buying can initiate a regeneration cycle. (Please note that I do not work for Edge and I receive no compensation for this recommendation).
Once in Mexico, if or when the engine light or other DEF or emissions related message shows, a regeneration should be initiated, especially if there is warning of speed limitation. Following the regeneration, NOX emissions can be expected to return to normal range for long enough to cancel the emissions fault codes. If the Powerstroke behaves under these conditions the same as the GM Duramax post-2013, the engine light could remain on for up to 30 miles and/or three engine warm-ups, but will extinguish by itself.
Please note that I have insufficient information at this time to accurately describe the process because it is presently at the stage of a “Beta Test”. I would have preferred to witness the process myself on a 2015 Powerstroke in Mexico but that hasn't been possible to do so. For this reason, it would be of great assistance to me, and to owners of late model Powerstrokes, if owners could share their Mexico experiences this season with 2015 or later vehicles. There is every reason to believe, based on extensive observation of 2013 and later Duramax powered trucks, that the Edge CT2 will, via its regeneration function, prevent any major sulfur-in-fuel problem from developing, but I need further confirmation before becoming 100% confident.
Feel free to contact me if you have additional information, either via a private message, or directly to whitetmp@aol.com
In particular, my present database (November 2015) contains detailed information about the effects of Mexican LSD on the emissions systems of Ford Powerstrokes, Dodge RAMs, and GM Duramax systems for model years 2007.5 through 2015. Owners will be pleased to learn that none of these vehicles for model years 2007.5 through and including 2012 have any significant issues while using Mexican diesel. There may be occasional blue smoke during regeneration cycles, as sulfur compounds in the emissions system are burned off, and 2011/12 Duramax powered pickups may display “BAD DEF” and speed limitation warnings from time to time, but there has never been a confirmed situation of any of these vehicles becoming disabled or going in to “limp mode” due to sulfur in Mexican fuel. A regeneration cycle ALWAYS occurs and burns off the sulfur compounds before a serious speed limitation problem develops.
For 2013 through 2016 Duramax powered vehicles, management of the situation is required because these pickups can go in to limp mode unless regenerations are forced when “BAD DEF” messages appear. There are, however, 6 volunteers stationed across Mexico, including me, who can quickly provide information on how to force those regenerations and return the vehicles to normal operation. It is better to be prepared in advance though, so owners of 2013 and later Duramax pickup trucks should contact me at whitetmp@aol.com BEFORE entering Mexico.
Based on the data provided to me by owners, there are no recorded significant issues for 2013 and later Dodge RAM diesels while on Mexican fuel, although the engine light may come on and stay on for extended periods of time. Otherwise the vehicle operates normally, and the engine light extinguishes once the truck is back in the USA and has gone through a couple of tankfuls of ULSD.
Similarly, 2013 and 2014 Ford Powerstroke diesels have no reported issues, other than an occasional temporary engine light on. With respect to the 2015 Ford Powerstroke though, there COULD be a major issue for owners. The following story explains why:
In January of 2015 the owner of a 2015 Ford F350 Powerstroke joined a caravan tour into the Baja. As expected, his truck exhibited NO symptoms of temporary sulfur poisoning of the emissions system while he was towing his fifth wheel trailer. This is because towing a heavy trailer, or carrying a camper in the truck bed, provides sufficient load to keep exhaust gas temperatures elevated high enough to prevent the deposit of sulfur compounds in the emissions system. (This is also true for late model Dodge and GM diesel powered pickups).
In this specific case though, the owner left the caravan while in the Los Cabos area and traveled to La Paz, where he booked in to an RV park, unhooked his trailer, and began driving the truck with no tow load. Within a week or so, his truck went in to speed limitation, and eventually limp mode. He contacted the local Ford dealer in La Paz and discovered that there is NO ability to service late model Ford Powerstrokes in Mexico. He then contacted a dealership in the U.S., which canceled his warranty when it was discovered that he was in Mexico.
At that stage he researched the problem on line and contacted me, but it was too late to assist due to the truck being in limp mode. The only way to clear the sulfur compounds from the emissions system, and return the truck to normal operation, would be to run a Service Regeneration.
This owner then made the decision to import a delete kit in to Mexico, and within two weeks he had removed the entire factory emissions system and installed the delete kit, at which point he was able to get the truck running normally again.
The HUGE problem with this case, is that there is no way to know whether this single owner's experience is indicative of a larger 2015 Ford Powerstroke issue that will affect other owners driving on Mexican diesel, or whether his truck suffered a completely unrelated emissions system component failure that put his truck in to limp mode.
Erring on the side of caution I thought it would be wise to make a recommendation based on my extensive experience with similar problems on GM duramax post-2012 models. In conjunction with a different 2015 Ford Powerstroke owner, I have confirmed that the latest model Edge Tuner CT2, can force a regeneration on the 2015 Powerstroke. I am therefore recommending that any 2015 Powerstroke owner planning to drive into Mexicoand use Mexican diesel should purchase and carry an Edge CT2 Tuner - during the purchase, owners should confirm that the CT2 they are buying can initiate a regeneration cycle. (Please note that I do not work for Edge and I receive no compensation for this recommendation).
Once in Mexico, if or when the engine light or other DEF or emissions related message shows, a regeneration should be initiated, especially if there is warning of speed limitation. Following the regeneration, NOX emissions can be expected to return to normal range for long enough to cancel the emissions fault codes. If the Powerstroke behaves under these conditions the same as the GM Duramax post-2013, the engine light could remain on for up to 30 miles and/or three engine warm-ups, but will extinguish by itself.
Please note that I have insufficient information at this time to accurately describe the process because it is presently at the stage of a “Beta Test”. I would have preferred to witness the process myself on a 2015 Powerstroke in Mexico but that hasn't been possible to do so. For this reason, it would be of great assistance to me, and to owners of late model Powerstrokes, if owners could share their Mexico experiences this season with 2015 or later vehicles. There is every reason to believe, based on extensive observation of 2013 and later Duramax powered trucks, that the Edge CT2 will, via its regeneration function, prevent any major sulfur-in-fuel problem from developing, but I need further confirmation before becoming 100% confident.
Feel free to contact me if you have additional information, either via a private message, or directly to whitetmp@aol.com
