Ford Transit (2018 year). Manual — part 31

FUEL QUALITY - DIESEL

Fuel Requirements - Choosing the
Right Fuel: Vehicles Operated
Where Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel
is Required (United
States/Canada/Puerto Rico/U.S.
Virgin Islands and Other Locales)

WARNINGS

Only use Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel fuel
(ULSD) containing a maximum of 15
ppm sulfur and up to 20% biodiesel

(B20). These fuels should meet the diesel
specifications defined by American Society
for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D975 for
diesel and by ASTM D7467 for B6-B20
blends, or an equivalent local market
specification.

Do not mix diesel with oil, kerosene,
paraffin, gasoline or other liquids to
diesel. This can cause damage to the

fuel system.

Do not use home heating oil,
agricultural fuel, raw fats, oils, waste
cooking greases, biodiesel fuels

greater than 20% or any diesel fuel not
intended for highway use.

The vehicle warranty will not cover
damage caused by using an improper
type of fuel or fuel additive.

Note: Do not blend used engine oil with
diesel fuel under any circumstances.
Blending used oil with the fuel will
significantly increase your vehicle’s exhaust
emissions and reduce engine life due to
increased internal wear.

Fuel Requirements - Choosing The
Right Fuel: Vehicles Operated
Where Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel
Is Not Required

Use only a diesel engine configured for use
with high sulfur diesel fuel in markets with
diesel fuel that has sulfur content greater
than 15 ppm. Using low sulfur diesel fuel
(16–500 ppm) or high sulfur diesel fuel
(greater than 500 ppm) in a diesel engine
designed to use only ultra-low sulfur diesel
fuel may result in damage to engine
emission control devices and the
after-treatment system, potentially
rendering your vehicle inoperable.

For the engine to operate reliably on low
sulfur or high sulfur diesel fuel, the engine
must be a factory built high sulfur engine
(available as a dealer order option for
select markets) or an ultra-low sulfur
diesel fuel configured engine that has been
retrofitted for high sulfur diesel fuel using
Ford Motor Company dealer service parts.
Failure to use retrofit components other
than those available through your
authorized dealer will result in coolant
system damage, engine overheating,
selective catalyst reduction system or
diesel particulate filter damage and
possible base engine damage.

Vehicles with engines configured for use
with high sulfur diesel fuel are only
available for sale in countries where
ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel is generally not
available or mandated by the government.
Vehicles originally sold in a ultra-low sulfur
diesel fuel market that are subsequently
exported to non ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel
markets will need to be retrofitted (at the
customer’s expense using Ford authorized
dealer service parts) in order to be reliably
operated on non ultra-low sulfur diesel
fuel.

Biodiesel

You may operate your vehicle on diesel
fuels containing up to 20% biodiesel, also
known as B20.

Biodiesel fuel is a chemically converted
product from renewable fuel sources, such
as vegetable oils, animal fats and waste
cooking greases.

To help achieve acceptable engine
performance and durability when using
biodiesel in your vehicle:
•

Confirm the biodiesel content of the
fuel to be B20 (20% biodiesel) or less
by checking the label on the fuel pump.

•

Only use biodiesel fuel of good quality
that complies with applicable industry
standards ASTM D975 for diesel and
ASTM D7467 for B6-B20 blends.

•

Follow the recommended service
maintenance intervals. See Normal
Scheduled Maintenance (page 457).

•

Do not store biodiesel fuel in the fuel
tank for more than one month.

•

Do not use raw oils, fats or waste
cooking greases.

System Messages

Action and Description

Message

Consider changing brands
or reducing biodiesel
content if you have cold
temperature fuel gelling
issues or this message
frequently appears.

Fuel Pres-
sure Low

Use of biodiesel in concentrations greater
than 20% may cause damage to your
vehicle, including engine or exhaust
after-treatment hardware (exhaust
catalyst and particulate filter) failures.
Using biodiesel in concentrations greater
than 20% can also cause fuel filter

restrictions that may result in a lack of
power or damage to fuel system
components, including fuel pump and fuel
injector failures. See Special Operating
Conditions Scheduled Maintenance
(page 459).

Look for a label on the fuel pump to
confirm the amount of biodiesel contained
in a diesel fuel. Biodiesel fuel blends with
greater than 5% must be labeled.

Biodiesel content is often indicated with
the letter B followed by the percent of
biodiesel in the fuel. For example, B20
indicates a fuel containing 20% biodiesel.
Ask the service station attendant to
confirm the biodiesel content of a diesel
fuel if you do not see a label on the fuel
pump.

Biodiesel fuels degrade more easily than
diesel fuels not containing biodiesel and
should not be stored in the fuel tank for
more than one month. If you plan to park
or store your vehicle for more than one
month, then you should empty your vehicle
fuel tank of biodiesel fuel. You should fill
the tank with a pure petroleum-based
diesel fuel and run your vehicle for a
minimum of 30 minutes.

If you intend to store your vehicle for more
than two months, we recommend that you
seek advice from an authorized dealer.

Note: Degraded or oxidized biodiesel can
damage fuel system seals and plastics and
corrode steel parts.

Fuel companies adjust diesel fuel
formulations for cold temperatures. Diesel
fuel which has not been correctly
formulated for cold ambient temperatures
may gel and block the fuel filters. An
indication that the fuel filters are blocked
is the engine starts, stalls after a short time
and then does not restart. If you have been
using biodiesel, you may need to use a fuel
with lower biodiesel content or discontinue
using biodiesel.

Do not use alcohol based fuel additives to
correct fuel gelling. This may damage the
fuel injectors or fuel system. This may also
degrade vehicle performance and could
lead to fuel system damage that may not
be covered by the vehicle Warranty. Only
use an anti-gel and performance
improvement product. We recommend
Motorcraft® Anti-Gel & Performance
Improver.

Diesel Fuel Additives

It should not be necessary to add any
aftermarket additives to your fuel if you
use a high quality diesel fuel that conforms
to ASTM industry specifications.
Aftermarket additives can damage the fuel
injector system or engine.

Use Motorcraft Cetane Booster or an
equivalent cetane booster additive if you
suspect fuel has low cetane. Use
Motorcraft Anti-Gel & Performance
Improver or an equivalent additive if there
is fuel gelling during cold weather.

Do not use alcohol-based additives to
improve cetane quality, to prevent fuel
gelling or any other use. The use of alcohol
additives may result in damage to the fuel
injectors and system.

The vehicle Warranty may not cover repairs
needed to correct the effects of using any
aftermarket product that does not meet
Ford specifications.

FUEL QUALITY - GASOLINE

Choosing the Right Fuel

E161513

Your vehicle is designed to operate on
regular unleaded gasoline with a minimum
pump (R+M)/2 octane rating of 87.

Some fuel stations, particularly those in
high altitude areas, offer fuels posted as
regular unleaded gasoline with an octane
rating below 87. We do not recommend
these fuels.

For best overall vehicle and engine
performance, premium fuel with an octane
rating of 91 or higher is recommended. The
performance gained by using premium fuel
is most noticeable in hot weather as well
as other conditions, for example when
towing a trailer. See Towing (page 175).

Do not use any fuel other than those
recommended because they could lead to
engine damage that will not be covered by
the vehicle Warranty.

Note: Use of any fuel other than those
recommended can impair the emission
control system and cause a loss of vehicle
performance.

Do not use:
•

Diesel fuel.

•

Fuels containing kerosene or paraffin.

•

Fuel containing more than 15% ethanol
or E85 fuel.

•

Fuels containing methanol.

•

Fuels containing metallic-based
additives, including manganese-based
compounds.

•

Fuels containing the octane booster
additive, methylcyclopentadienyl
manganese tricarbonyl (MMT).

•

Leaded fuel (using leaded fuel is
prohibited by law).

The use of fuels with metallic compounds
such as methylcyclopentadienyl
manganese tricarbonyl (commonly known
as MMT), which is a manganese-based
fuel additive, will impair engine
performance and affect the emission
control system.

Do not be concerned if the engine
sometimes knocks lightly. However, if the
engine knocks heavily while using fuel with
the recommended octane rating, contact
an authorized dealer to prevent any engine
damage.

FUEL QUALITY - E85

Choosing the Right Fuel - Flex Fuel
Vehicles

Flex fuel vehicles have one of the following
identifiers:
•

Yellow fuel filler cap.

•

Yellow bezel around the fuel filler inlet.

•

Yellow fuel filler housing.

•

Yellow E85 label on the fuel tank filler
door.

E161513

Your vehicle is designed to operate on
regular unleaded gasoline with a minimum
pump (R+M)/2 octane rating of 87 or
regular unleaded gasoline blended with a
maximum of 85% ethanol (E85).

Some fuel stations, particularly those in
high altitude areas, offer fuels posted as
regular unleaded gasoline with an octane
rating below 87. We do not recommend
these fuels.

For best overall vehicle and engine
performance, premium fuel with an octane
rating of 91 or higher is recommended. The
performance gained by using premium fuel
is most noticeable in hot weather as well
as other conditions, for example when
towing a trailer. See Towing (page 175).

Do not use any fuel other than those
recommended because they could lead to
engine damage that will not be covered by
the vehicle Warranty.

Note: Use of any fuel other than those
recommended can impair the emission
control system and cause a loss of vehicle
performance.

Do not use:
•

Diesel fuel.

•

Fuels containing kerosene or paraffin.

•

Fuels containing more than 85%
ethanol or E100 fuel.

•

Fuels containing methanol.

•

Fuels containing metallic-based
additives, including manganese-based
compounds.

•

Fuels containing the octane booster
additive, methylcyclopentadienyl
manganese tricarbonyl (MMT).

•

Leaded fuel (using leaded fuel is
prohibited by law).