WASHINGTON, D.C. — An alliance of automotive industry trade groups is warning diesel truck operators that fuel additives that are not clearly labeled as approved for use in model year 2007 should not be used in upcoming diesel motor vehicles required to run on ultra-low sulfur diesel ULSD.

The Automotive Specialty Products Alliance (ASPA) is working with their point-of-sales partners and others to alert diesel equipment operators and others as to the proper use of additives in model-year 2007 diesel engines.

Under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, diesel fuel additives are now required to include label information related to acceptability of use in 2007 model-year diesel engines.

The regulation requires that all diesel fuel additives to be labeled to comply with a sulfur content standard not exceeding 15 ppm sold in containers for use by the ultimate consumer.

Additives with a sulfur content in excess of 15 ppm sold should be labeled as follows: “This diesel fuel additive does not comply with federal ultra-low sulfur content requirements for use in model year 2007 and newer diesel motor vehicles or model year 2011 and newer diesel non-road equipment engines.’

The problem, says the ASPA, is the vast majority of the consumer diesel fuel additive industry was not notified or aware of this requirement until very recently. Therefore, products remaining on store shelves or in retail inventory are likely not appropriately labeled.

There is also concern that adding diesel fuel additives above 15 ppm sulfur could potentially cause damage to the emission-control technology or perhaps void warranties of 2007 model year diesel engines.

Formed in 2002, ASPA is an alliance between three national trade associations – the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), the Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA) and the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA).