Energy crisis: what is summer diesel, the sale of which the government is authorizing earlier than expected?

Anger is intensifying among motorists. Many people are outraged by the rise in fuel prices at the pump since the start of the war in the Middle East and the cessation of tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

Between February 27, the last day before the first Israeli-American strikes in Iran, and this Thursday, the value of a liter of diesel increased by 29%, crossing the threshold of 2.10 euros per liter on average.

To curb this outbreak, the government is trying to activate “levers”, according to the terminology used by Maud Bregeon, the Minister of Energy. On Wednesday, the latter decided to relax the constraints on service stations. Since this Thursday, the latter have been authorized to market “on an exceptional and temporary basis” a “diesel that does not comply with the specifications” provided for by law.

This is a summer diesel, normally only sold between April 1 and October 31. Less restrictive to produce, this fuel has a filterability limit temperature (TLF) of 0°C maximum, compared to -15°C for winter diesel.

A risk for vehicles?

Additives allow winter diesel to better resist the cold. Without them, low temperatures create “chaff in the fuel which turns into paraffin, a yellowish material which clogs the filter, freezes the fuel and causes engine breakdown or malfunction”, a mechanic tells La Nouvelle République.

Consequence: the vehicle may have difficulty starting, or even not start at all. In which case, the motorist may be forced to go to a professional and request a filter change.

According to the text published in the Official Journal, distributors “must inform their customers of the risks linked to the use of this product in areas and during periods where the temperature may be below 0°C”. They must also assume “full responsibility for any problem that may arise during the use of this diesel”.

Minister of the Economy, Roland Lescure indicated this Thursday that other “targeted measures” would be announced in the coming days. They should concern “heavy rollers”.