What is "ULSD" fuel?
What is Sulphur?
What is there a need for a lower sulphur content diesel?
What happens to sulphur in the engine?
How does SPC reduce the sulphur content in SPC ULSD?
Can SPC ULSD be mixed with other diesels of higher sulphur contents?
How different is it compared to the 'regular 'SPC diesel previously available?
Why is SPC upgrading its diesel to ULSD?
Is SPC ULSD compatible with my vehicle?
Are there any side effects from using SPC ULSD?
Can I safely mix the SPC ULSD with other brands of fuel?
Does SPC ULSD look different from the 'regular' SPC diesel previously available prior to 1 Dec 2005?
Is SPC ULSD in compliance with local fuel specifications?
Would SPC ULSD affect the performance of a vehicle?
Is SPC ULSD available at all SPC Service Stations?
How can I identify SPC ULSD at SPC service stations?
Would the 'regular' SPC diesel sold prior to 1 December be available after the introduction of SPC ULSD?
Would SPC ULSD be more expensive than the 'regular' SPC diesel?
Does SPC ULSD cost more to produce?
How does SPC ULSD contribute to the protection of the environment?
Is there any concern over the usage of ULSD in general?

What is "ULSD"?
Ultra-Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD) is a new grade of diesel with only 0.005 per cent or 50 parts per million (ppm) sulphur content.

What is Sulphur?
Sulphur is a naturally occurring element found in crude oil and most refined petroleum products including motor gasoline and diesel.

Why is there a need for ULSD?
With SPC ULSD, vehicles and industrial machinery and equipment should emit less fine particulate matter resulting in better air quality. SPC ULSD contains only 0.005 per cent of sulphur, one-tenth of its current level, in its formulation.

Additionally, it is specially developed with anti-foaming properties and detergent additives to maintain optimal engine performance.

What happens to sulphur in the engine?
During combustion, sulphur compound in the fuel burns to form acidic by-products including sulphur dioxide, sulphur trioxide and sulphates which contribute to air pollution.

How does SPC reduce the sulphur content in SPC ULSD?
The sulphur content in SPC ULSD is reduced by a process known as "hydrotreating", which is a complex refining process involving high-temperature and pressure.

Can SPC ULSD be mixed with other diesels of higher sulphur contents?
Yes, SPC ULSD can be mixed with any other diesel of higher sulphur contents. Such mixing is not expected to result in any problem, however it is advisable to refill with SPC ULSD to maximise engine performance and minimise atmospheric emission.

How different is SPC ULSD compared to the diesel previously available?
The diesel supplied prior to 1 December 2005 has a sulphur content of 500 ppm (0.05 per cent sulphur content). In comparison, SPC ULSD only has a sulphur content of 50 ppm (0.005 per cent sulphur content).

Why is SPC upgrading its diesel to ULSD?
The introduction of ULSD at SPC service stations and the supply of ULSD to the domestic commercial and industrial markets underscore the Company's commitment to a clean and green environment and its support of the "clean diesel drive" by the Singapore Government.

The clean diesel initiative is also in keeping with the Company's technology progress and its corporate social responsibility to continue to provide quality and environmentally friendly products.

Is SPC ULSD compatible with my vehicle?
SPC ULSD can be used for all diesel vehicles, including EURO II and EURO III compliant vehicles. It is also suitable for older vehicles, however if in doubt, it is advisable to check with the original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

Are there any side effects from using SPC ULSD?
SPC ULSD can be safely used in any vehicle designed to operate on diesel.

Can I safely mix the SPC ULSD with other brands of fuel?
Yes, SPC ULSD can be mixed with other brands of diesel. However it is advisable to refill with SPC ULSD consistently and continuously to maximise engine performance given the special formulation of SPC ULSD.

Does SPC ULSD look different from the 'regular' SPC diesel previously available prior to 1 Dec 2005?
The main difference is the sulphur content and the special formulation of SPC ULSD. Apart from that, the appearance of SPC ULSD resembles the diesel previously available.

Is SPC ULSD in compliance with local fuel specifications?
Yes, SPC ULSD complies fully with the National Environment Agency (NEA) mandatory provisions on diesel specifications.

Would SPC ULSD affect the performance of a vehicle?
The lower sulphur content is not expected to affect vehicular performance. However, with SPC ULSD, specially formulated with anti-foaming properties and detergent additives, there is enhanced engine protection, resulting in optimal engine performance.

Is SPC ULSD available at all SPC Service Stations?
With effect from 1 December 2005, SPC ULSD is available across SPC network of 38 service stations except at 623A Bukit Timah Road.

How can I identify SPC ULSD at SPC service stations?
SPC ULSD is identified on all the fuel pumps as "SPC Diesel".

Would the 'regular' SPC diesel sold prior to 1 December be available after the introduction of SPC ULSD?
With effect from 1 December 2005, all SPC service stations will only retail SPC ULSD.

Would SPC ULSD be more expensive than the 'regular' SPC diesel?
Notwithstanding the introduction of SPC ULSD, SPC will maintain its current retail pump price for the cleaner diesel and continue to offer promotional price discounts on the cleaner diesel at the pumps.

Does SPC ULSD cost more to produce?
Yes, the overall production cost of SPC ULSD is higher given the additional process to reduce the sulphur content in the fuel.

How does SPC ULSD contribute to the protection of the environment?
With SPC's new ULSD, vehicles and industrial machinery and equipment should emit less fine-particulate matter resulting in better air quality.

According to the Ministry of Environment, ULSD plays an important role in reducing the level of particulates, which is a key pollutant in Singapore.

Is there any concern over the usage of ULSD in general?
In general, there is no real concern over the usage of ULSD. However, it is advisable to exercise prudent if one is driving an older model vehicle.

In some older vehicles, fuel pump seal leakage may be experienced. This is a result of substantial reduction in the aromatics content in ULSD. However, this should not be an issue if the vehicle is well maintained with regular servicing.

Additionally, there have been concerns over the effects of ULSD on the fuel's ability to lubricate the fuel injection system. In the process to reduce the sulphur content, the level of natural lubricants would also be reduced in ULSD. To maintain the lubricity, SPC introduced a special lubricating additive to its formulation of SPC ULSD.