Diesel problem in Uzbekistan, Turrkmenistan
 

Hi,

I'm worrying about travelling ib Uzb. with my car (Land Rover) which have a "modern" diesel engine because I know that this kind of motor (or more precisely injection system) needs a good quality of diesel.
In other posts I've find that I can find this kind of diesel only in Tashkent.
But I'm coming from Iran and Turkmenistan and I need to know if I can refill my tanks in Turkmenistan with "good" diesel.

Other question, do you think it's ok to find this kind of deiesel in Kirg. / Kaz;?
So a solution can be (if I'm stuck with no fuel in Uzb.) crossing one of these bordesr to refill on the other side.
This solution needs to have a multi-entries visa and also to waste time at each border post.

What is your opinion about this diesel problem and what are your advices?

I have an extra 70l tank and also a 20l jerrycan.

Thanks in advance.

RR.

Hi,
I'm also considering a trip through central Asia in my 2010 model diesel car, and it's the emissions control equipment you have to watch out for.
My car is fittted with a DPF (diesel particulate filter) which would clog in no time by the high sulfur content of low quality diesel.
Check if your car has one and if so either stick to euro/sulfur free diesel or look to get the DPF removed.
Suggest you speak to your mechanic or local garage, and consider it may be illegal to remove depending where you live.

Good luck!

I have no idea about cars or specific Diesel requirements. But from what I have seen in TM and UZ is that you will consider yourself lucky to find any Diesel whatsoever. Most of UZ cars run on gas, so finding pumps with some kind of liquid fuel is already not so easy. As far as I recall most of the pumps do not have Diesel, only petrol. I had to put up with a lot of 76 octane fuel. Bottom-line: be happy if you find Diesel, you will likely not have a choice.

Other than that both countries are great with many things to see and very friendly people :-)

The modern Dieses engines with common rail technology (HDTI or however you call that ) have a big problem when there ist more than 5% of gasoline in the diesel.

The small injection pumps will die in a short amount of time because the need the film of diesel for lubrication. And even a little bit of benzin will kill this lubrication film inside

So this kind of engine would not be my first choice for a long trip in countries with bad diesel supply

Thanks for your replies,

Unfortunately, I have this kind of engine....
Any other experiences or advices about diesel quality through te Stan's?
and what about crssing borders to refill my 170l of diesel?

RR.

Thanks a lot for your very useful infos about diesel's quality in Stan's.
I didn't know it's forbidden to cross Turkm./Uzb. border with my jerrycan full of GO!
They keep the GO or also the jerry (if you know)?
And you have a 300TDI : a very good engine (I had it it before but, unfortunately the car was too old (rust)) and it's sure you have less problem with GO with this engine than with "new" LR ones like TD5,TD4 .

RR.

Engines-diesel
 

I drove 180 000 km in my Defender (2007, TD4) mostly in Central Asia, Iran, Africa. In fact I drove more km. there than in Europe.
I hadn't any problems with engine and I always used all kind diesel I found.
First problems I had this winter in east Turkey (temp. -12) with iranian diesel (morning start) but my second car Toyota HZJ with old model of engine had no problems. This wasn't water but bad conditions of iranian diesel.
In 2012 in Tajikistan I bought diesel with water and in this case Defender drove very good but Toyota had problems with water (cold morning start near Akbajtal Pass and few hours of slow driving).
In my opinion don't worry with TD4.

get the DPF removed and take a spare fuel pump. Also some bottles of fuel system cleaner might be an idea

Thanks Jmi for your info about crossing this border with full jerrys.

And thanks Bartosz for your experience with TD4 in Central Asia's diesel (hoping it will be the same for my TD5).

BTW I have to say that my "injectors" (injection system, I don't know the English word) was out of service at 115000 km last month ;and also by consequence my engine TD5 (bad lubrification due to problems these injectors): that's why I'm worrying wit this diesel problem, because I have travelled in Iran with this car - and I know their diesiel is a bad one - and also a big trip in west Africa where I think it's not always so good.

RR

Just a question about taking extra gasoline ( benzin ) on a bike:

As there is no Gas station between Beyneu and Nukus I have to get over 550km with my tank.
Which is impossible, I can go 400 maximum.

So If I take some extra gas with me on the bike in cans, do I have the same problem with the border like you have with a car?

Gas taken away and then try to get gasoline on the way before running out of it?

There are 5 things that separate "good" diesel from "bad"
1) Cetane rating = ignitability. Really not much of an issue for anyone once the engine is running
2) Dirt in fuel = bad for new and old engines, worse for new. One needs at least 2 filters in series, a large one preferably with water separator and fuel heater, like a Racor for a primary
3) Water in fuel = see (2)
4) Pour point/gel point = not really a quality issue at all unless travelling low temps. Can be ameliorated by fuel heater and pour point depressant/antigel additives
5) Sulfur in fuel. See MB 136.1 - Wordwide sulfur content of commercially available diesel fuels - rough classification - Mercedes-Benz Specifications for Operating Fluids , also 136.2.
Not a problem for anyone unless you have SCR and/or DPF. High sulfur diesel will poison the catalysts. It will not damage the engine unless you run on it for long time and don't change the oil and/or don't use an oil with sufficient TBN (total base number). But high TBN oils will eventually clog the DPF.
Solution: If 1-2 tanks are anticipated do nothing. If lots of high sulfur fuel will be used one needs to remove the DPF and SCR with software mods to make sure engine still runs; also use a high alkalinity oil like a MB228.5 oil MB 228.5 - Multigrade engine oils (Specification 228.5) - Mercedes-Benz Specifications for Operating Fluids. Assuming one has a vehicle with these items. If not, just use a 228.5 oil.
In summary, the only things that are really really bad for any diesel are dirt and water in the fuel.

Charlie

When will you be in Central Asia??
I will start in a begining of July and back end of August.
Maybe we can meet somewhere on track.

Hi Bartosz,

"When will you be in Central Asia??
I will start in a begining of July and back end of August.
Maybe we can meet somewhere on track. "

Entering Turkm. from Iran around 3-5th of Sept....too late to meet ....

RR.