Shell in Singapore - Frequently Asked Questions on Shell Ultra-Low Sulphur Diesel

It is diesel with sulphur content of 50 mg per kg or less. This is equal to a maximum of 50 parts per million or expressed in a percentage it is less than 0.0050%. These limits are set in accordance with the European Fuels Directive (EURO IV). This is significantly lower than the 'regular' diesel previously available.

2. What is sulphur?

Sulphur is a naturally occurring element, which is naturally present in crude oil and most oil products including petrol and diesel.

3. What happens to sulphur in the engine?

When fuel is burnt in the engine, all remaining sulphur is converted to sulphur dioxide and this is emitted into the atmosphere through the exhaust pipe. Some of this sulphur dioxide reacts with water forming acidic droplets, which contribute to diesel particulate emissions.

4. How is the amount of sulphur in the fuel reduced?

Sulphur is a naturally occurring element in crude oil. The sulphur is removed using a complex high-temperature, high-pressure process known as 'hydrotreating,' before refining it into ULSD for the forecourt.

5. Can ULSD fuel be mixed with other fuels of a higher sulphur level?

Yes, ULSD fuels can be mixed with any other fuels of the same grade without any problems. Obviously to maintain the maximum benefits of ULSD fuel in reducing exhaust emissions they should be used continuously.

6. How different is it to conventional or low sulphur fuels?

The standard diesel in Singapore has had a maximum sulphur content of 500 parts per million for several years now. This diesel is described as low sulphur fuels. ULSD will simply have a much lower level of sulphur, so low that it is described as Ultra Low.

7. Why are fuels changing to become ULSD?

ULSD is beneficial for some vehicle and engine manufacturers as it allows particulate traps and catalysts to work more efficiently than they would with low sulphur diesel.
ULSD fuel can also improve the durability of the above mentioned exhaust after-treatment devices.

8. Why did Shell decide to launch Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel?

Shell supports the Government's desire to achieve cleaner air quality through the introduction of Euro4 emission standards and believes that this objective can be met in a number of ways including the introduction of ULSD.

9. What is its main advantage/characteristic of this new fuel?

Euro4 diesel sulphur content has less than 50ppm (parts per million) of sulphur. It is also known as Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD).

ULSD is suitable for all diesel vehicles (including existing Euro2 and Euro3 diesel vehicles). There is a positive effect on the environment because the lower sulphur content leads to lower sulphate emissions, which also reduces particulate matter (PM) by weight. The whole present diesel population will benefit from the change. Singapore's air quality will benefit from the introduction of this new fuel.

10. Why did Shell not launch this product before?

The global reduction of sulphur in fuel is an important and ongoing industry target promoted and encouraged in many areas by legislation. Shell has been very active in generating technical information upon which much of this legislation has been based. Indeed, Shell is seen as a global leader in the understanding of how fuel components, such as sulphur, impact on the emissions from motor vehicles. However, we are now in a phase where the benefit from lowering sulphur is very much linked to the level of vehicle technology in the market place. As new technologies become available that require lower sulphur in order to give an environmental benefit, Shell will undertake to match fuel sulphur to the required level.

Shell ULSD can be used for all diesel vehicles, including existing Euro2 and Euro3 compliant vehicles. The lower sulphur content leads to lower sulphate emissions, which also reduces particulate matter (PM) emission by weight, leading to better air quality for Singapore overall.

11. Why have others not done it before?

Shell's technical expertise and our understanding of our customers is unrivalled by our competitors and, we feel, this puts us in a unique position to recognise the need for more environmentally friendly diesel (lower sulphur content) and to bring such a product to the market place ahead of others.

12. Was Singapore chosen as the “test market”?

Shell is already supplying ULSD to Hong Kong and some countries in the European Union. Singapore is the first country to have widespread use of ULSD and Euro IV compliant vehicles.

13. Has this product been used in other countries before?

Shell is already supplying ULSD to Hong Kong and some countries in the European Union. Singapore is leading the move in Asia together with Hong Kong.

14. Shell has launched Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD) in a few countries including Hong Kong and some European countries. How does the SG formulation compare to these countries?

Shell uses base fuels accessed locally to produce ULSD and the composition of these base fuels meets the needs of local legislation. As there are differences in both refining capability and government regulation, there are market-to-market variations in base fuels. The products designed for SG take into account the local market requirements. Nonetheless, all of these markets are supplied with ULSD that meets the emission requirements of Euro4 diesel for less than 50ppm sulphur content.

15. How is SG's formulation comparable to HK?

Singapore will be supplied with ULSD from Shell's Bukom Refinery which currently also supplies to Hong Kong.

16. Will it be launched in other countries, too?

Shell operates in most countries across the globe. The Shell headquarters in each country will assess the needs of their customers and make the decision about the launch of a particular product in their own market.

17. Can I use this new fuel in my car?

Yes, new Shell ULSD can be safely used in any vehicle designed to operate on diesel.

18. Are there any side effects in using this new fuel?

There are only positive benefits by using this new Shell ULSD. The lower sulphur content leads to lower sulphate emissions, which also reduces particulate matter (PM) emission by weight leading to better air quality overall.

19. Are your new fuels suitable for all automobiles?

Yes, Shell's New ULSD can be safely used in any vehicle designed to operate on diesel.

20. I am using an old car – will the new fuel cause any problems to my car?

So long as your car is suitable for using existing Shell Diesel, Shell's New ULSD can be safely used.

21. Can I safely mix the new Shell fuels with other brands of fuel?

Yes, but this is not recommended as it will affect the emission from the vehicle . A Euro4 compliant car, i.e. the car equipped with Euro 4 engine hardware/technology needs to be fuelled by ULSD in order for the tailpipe (exhaust) emissions to meet Euro4 emission standards.

22. Is the colour going to change?

There will be no change in the colour of the Shell Diesel range.

23. Do Shell ULSD comply with the local regulations?

Yes.

24. Does ULSD have any harmful side effects on an engine?

No harmful effects are expected for diesel engines as a result of moving to ULSD fuel. However concerns about diesel engines using ULSD fuel may have been raised in the past with regard to lubricity and seals. These topics are addressed below.

Lubricity
Some diesel fuel pumps and injectors are lubricated by the diesel alone. The process of removing the sulphur from the diesel reduces the fuel's lubricant effect. In order to restore the fuel's lubricant effect a lubricity additive is added to the fuel. This additive will also help to protect the fuel pumps and fuel injection systems.

Seals
With some older diesel vehicles, fuel pump seal leakage did occur in some countries when they switched from high sulphur diesel to low sulphur diesel. This effect was actually due to a substantial change in aromatic content (in this case the reduction accompanying the reduction in sulphur) in combination with "aged" seals. The experience in other parts of the world to date has shown that these problems are rare as long as the aromatics change is not too great and vehicles receive normal maintenance and servicing.

25. Does using sulphur free fuel affect the power of a vehicle?

No, the reduction in the sulphur content will not have an effect on vehicle power.

26. Will ULSD have any benefit to the vehicle per se, eg faster acceleration, better fuel economy, easier starting, etc., as lower emission benefits the environment, not necessarily the vehicle?

No, the reduction in the sulphur content will not have an effect on vehicle performance except for lower emissions that benefits the environment.

27. Will engines designed for using Euro 2 compliant diesel and Euro 3 compliant diesel suffer adverse effect from long term use of ULSD?

No, the reduction in the sulphur content will not have an effect on vehicle performance except for lower emissions that benefits the environment.

28. Are Shell ULSD available at all Shell Service Stations?

With effect from 13th Sept, all 62 Shell stations with Shell Diesel will be offering Shell ULSD. Shell stations not retailing Shell ULSD are:
Anson
Braddell
Bukit Timah Robin Lane
Coronation
Dunearn Eng Neo
Katong
Sin Ming
Tanglin

29. How can I find out which sites will be selling the new Shell ULSD?

Look out for the sign that says "Shell ULSD".

With effect from 13th Sept, all 62 Shell stations with Shell Diesel will be offering Shell ULSD. Shell stations not retailing Shell ULSD are:
Anson
Braddell
Bukit Timah Robin Lane
Coronation
Dunearn Eng Neo
Katong
Sin Ming
Tanglin

30. How can I identify the new product at the service stations?

Look out for the sign that says "Shell ULSD".

31. Will I still be able to buy the previous Euro2 diesel from Shell?

No, with effect from 13th Sept, all 62 Shell stations with Shell Diesel will be offering Shell ULSD. Shell stations not retailing Shell ULSD are:
Anson
Braddell
Bukit Timah Robin Lane
Coronation
Dunearn Eng Neo
Katong
Sin Ming
Tanglin

32. Will fuel prices go up as a result of the move to ULSD fuel?

Shell ULSD will be available at no additional cost to consumers. The retail pump price for Shell Diesel is $1.220. Nett price after discount for Shell ULSD is $1.098.

33. Does ULSD fuel cost more to produce?

Shell in common with other fuel producers has made a significant investment in new equipment in order to produce ULSD fuel and in addition to this the ongoing manufacturing costs will be higher than for low sulphur fuels.

34. Will Shell be passing on additional production cost of ULSD to customers when it becomes widely available?

There is no intention to charge a premium for Shell ULSD. It will be retailing at the normal diesel pump price of S$1.022 per litre. Nett price after discount for Shell ULSD is $1.098.

35. What role does ULSD play in improving air quality?

For existing vehicles ULSD will bring some reductions in sulphur dioxide and particle emissions over standard diesel with no modifications required to engines. However, the most effective way of improving air quality is to keep vehicles properly maintained and to replace older vehicles with new vehicles with improved engine technology.

The use of ULSD can help to optimise the potential benefits of new engine technologies and exhaust after treatment devices such as catalysts and particulate traps, with consequent benefits to fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide reduction.

36. Will overall emissions be reduced as a result of introducing ULSD fuels?

Manufacturing these fuels does consume more energy, consequently increasing refinery carbon dioxide emissions but once these newer vehicles start to form a larger proportion of vehicles on the road, it is anticipated that there will be an overall carbon dioxide reduction.

37. Do Shell ULSD contribute to the protection of the environment?

The prime objective in developing Shell ULSD is to offer the driver a fuel with lower than 50 parts per million (ppm) content of sulphur. When used together with a Euro4 compliant vehicle, i.e. the car is equipped with Euro4 engine hardware/technology, this would ensure that the tailpipe (exhaust) emissions meet Euro4 emission standards.

Hower, Shell ULSD can be used for all diesel vehicles, including existing Euro2 and Euro3 compliant vehicles. The lower sulphur content leads to lower sulphate emissions, which also reduces particulate matter (PM) emission by weight, leading to better air quality for Singapore overall.

38. Do the new fuels have any adverse impact on the environment?

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