E-TECH BULLETIN

New Diesel Sulfur Standard

Puts Spotlight on Ruby Fieldmaster

     The value of Ruby Fieldmaster™ Premium Diesel in your tractors, combines, and other equipment may become even greater a few months from now.

Here’s why: Over 95% of the U.S. Refineries will begin producing Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel for highway use by June 1, due to the 1990 Clean Air Act. Retail pumps choosing to sell Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel must switch over to this new standard by October 15.

True, the requirement applies to only clear diesel for highway use, not off-road uses such as in tractors and combines. But the practicality of the matter is, clear diesel is a huge part of the market. And refineries, after a costly gearing-up to produce ultra-low-sulfur diesel for that market, will be inclined to produce it for both the highway and off-road markets.

     About fall harvest time, the dyed diesel you buy for your farm equipment will most likely be Ultra Low Sulfur Deisel. And, here’s where the benefits of Ruby Fieldmaster™ with its superior additive package becomes especially important. Sulfur in diesel acts as a lubricant. While its removal reduces harmful pollution into the air, it makes the fuel “drier,” which leads to scarring of metal surfaces. The injector pump is our biggest concern.

     Of all the additives in Ruby Fieldmaster™, lubricity takes on added importance with the introduction of Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel.

     Sulfur reduction under the new standard is dramatic. The Clean Air Act required that sulfur content be reduced from 5,000 parts per million (ppm) to just 500 ppm in October 1993 for on-road vehicles. The Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel standard that goes into effect this year reduces the sulfur content to just 15 ppm! That’s why we are especially concerned about making producers aware of the importance of Ruby Fieldmaster™ a premium fuel refined and sold by CHS Inc. under the Cenex® brand.

     We don’t call this a premium diesel without good reason. We have spent millions of dollars quality testing and additive injection equipment. This ensures that the proper dosage of Ruby Fieldmaster™ additive is blended with CHS diesel fuel at the terminal loading rack to meet the features we consider in a must in a premium diesel fuel. Those features and their functions are:

• High cetane: Promotes quicker, more fuel-efficient starts.
• Aggressive detergents: Maximize power and fuel economy.
• Lubricity components: Protects the injection pump and injectors.
• Water demulsibility: Reduces water retention and emulsion problems.
• Corrosion inhibitors: Extends fuel pump life.
• Stabilizers: Reduce gum and varnish buildup on engine parts.

All of the additives in Ruby Fieldmaster™ are important. But detergency and lubricity are critical in today’s diesel fuels. Detergents keep injectors clean allowing for an optimal spray pattern, so that you don’t end up with unburned fuel during combustion. Otherwise, injectors become fouled. Buildup of deposits leads to poor engine performance.

Because of Ruby Fieldmaster’s additives and quality standards, it is offered with a Total Protection Plan™ warranty. The warranty covers injectors for 5 years or 5,000 hours, whichever comes first, and the pump for 9 years or 9,000 hours, on new tractors and combines.

Ruby Fieldmaster™, which has been sold since the mid 1970s, was developed primarily for farmers. But, it is well suited to all diesel applications.

Fleetguard ES Complete – Extended Life Antifreeze

Compatibility of Fleetguard Pre Mixed Antifreeze with competitor products

This is in response to customer inquiries about mixing various Fleetguard coolant products with other coolants and supplemental coolant additives. While some may claim that a particular coolant is formulated such that it renders other coolants incompatible or view it as contamination, laboratory testing has proven that there are no real matters of chemical concern. The results clearly show that mixing of coolants and supplemental additives does not cause any negative chemical reactions or cooling system problems.

Hydraulic Oil

Viscosity is one of the most important characteristics of transmissions and hydraulic oil.

Oil that is too thin can cause increased wear, excessive leakage, and lack of control.

Oil that is too thick can cause sluggish operation and higher power consumption.

TMS 15w – 40 Engine Oil

How is Superlube TMS 15w40 different from other competitive lubes?

TMS has an exclusive 10year 10,000 hour warranty.

TMS has Wear Saver TM Technology

TMS Is designed to extend engine life

TMS Is  API CI 4 Plus

TMS Reduces soot by 14 percent when used with FieldMaster premium diesel fuel

TMS has a uniquely balanced additive package formulated with:

Detergent Dispersant Additives

Extreme Pressure –anti-wear and friction modifier additives

Anti-Rust Additive

Oxidation Inhibitors

Anti-Corrosion Additives

Viscosity Index Improver

Foam Inhibitors

Pour-Point Depressant

Metal Deactivator

Ruby FieldMaster Premium Diesel Fuel

How is Low Sulfur Soy-Enhanced Premium Fieldmaster Diesel Fuel Different than # 2 Fuel Oil?

FieldMaster has a proven 4 ½ percent power increase, a free 10-year or 10,000 hour warranty, and complete additive package formulated expressly for diesel-powered equipment consisting of:

 Cetane conditioning additive. Raises cetane up to 5 points promotes quicker starts.

Detergent cleaning additives cleans injectors will exceed Cummins L 10 Test.

Lubricity Components Soy Enhanced Extends Pump Life

Demulsifiers isolates water for easy removal

Corrosion Inhibitors prevents corrosion from forming inside equipment

Stabilizers doubles storage life, prevents gum varnish and sludge

New Diesel Engine oil Classification

The API Lubricants Committee has reviewed and finalized the new lubricants category, PC-10 for diesel engine oils.  This new category was created to meet the 2007 engine specifications, which require protection of the exhaust after treatment hardware on these engines.

End users who have 2007 or newer diesel engines will require this new API category diesel engine oil.  As a supplier of diesel engine oils, these end users may have questions about the new API specifications set forth.  To help you communicate with your end users, we will continue to provide updated information.

The API Lubricants Committee has approved these five items:

·The New API category will officially be called API CJ-4.

·First licensing for the new API CJ-4 will occur on October 15, 2006.

·API CJ-4 oils will be backward compatible when using a diesel fuel with fuel sulfur less than 15 ppm.

·API CJ-4 is conditionally backward compatible when using a diesel fuel with fuel sulfur over 15 ppm up to 500 ppm. When greater than 15 ppm fuel is used, the OEM must be contacted for appropriate oil drain recommendations when using higher sulfur fuel.

·Effective May 1, 2006, oils meeting the new requirements of API CJ-4 may be licensed against API CI-4 Plus, CI-4, CH-4, CG-4 and CF-4.

Over the next months several of the OEM’s will announce new OEM specifications that diesel engine oils need to meet. Cummins CES 20081 is expected to issue their specifications in April, several months ahead of first official licensing.  During the second and third quarters of 2006, Mack, Caterpillar and Detroit Diesel are expected to issue their new diesel engine oil specifications. These changes meet or exceed the new API CJ-4 specification.  As they are issued we will provide updated information to you.

Currently, CHS Lubricants is looking at the many different technical and marketing options available for new formulated high performance diesel engine oil. It will meet all the new API category CJ-4 specifications.  We will continue to work with our Wear Saver ™Technology additives to formulate this new API CJ-4 category diesel engine oil.   The availability date for this new diesel engine oil has not been defined at this time.