The difference between diesel 50ppm and 500ppm in South Africa

Diesel is currently at a record high price of over R30 per litre as the war in the Middle East drags on, creating a massive financial headache for motorists and business fleet owners.

At the start of May 2026, the price of petrol was hiked by R3.27 per litre, while diesel users were hit with an even larger increase of R5.27 per litre.

This increase applied to the two types of diesel sold in South Africa – diesel 0.05% and diesel 0.005%.

Available at most petrol stations, the difference between the two diesel types mainly comes down to their sulphur content and, more importantly, price.

Diesel 0.05% is the cheaper of the two, so motorists may be tempted to switch to it if they have been using 0.005% up till now.

However, the difference is marginal, as the wholesale price of diesel 0.05% is currently set at R31.17 per litre at inland rates, while 0.005% is selling for R31.88 per litre.

Note that, since these are the wholesale prices, the figures you’ll encounter at petrol stations will potentially be much higher.

This is because diesel is unregulated in South Africa, unlike petrol, which means station owners can set their own margins and prices will vary from station to station.

Regardless, diesel 0.05% is the cheaper fuel, if only by a tiny amount.

The reason it’s cheaper is because it has more sulphur, represented by the percentage level.

Diesel 0.05% is also known as diesel 500ppm (parts per million), while diesel 0.005% only has 50ppm.

This doesn’t mean that there is exactly 500ppm or 50ppm in the fuel; rather, this represents the maximum amount of sulphur allowed.

The 500ppm option is cheaper because it is a lower quality fuel with a higher sulphur level, while 50ppm is more refined and usually has additives for better lubrication.

The main advantage of 50ppm is that it is better for the environment, as it contains roughly 90% less sulphur.

When sulphur is burned, it produces emissions in the form of sulphur dioxide, which is a major pollutant.

However, cleaner emissions aren’t the only benefit of diesel 0.005%, as the cleaner combustion results in better engine performance and improved range.

It also results in less wear-and-tear, improving the engine’s lifespan.

When to use diesel 0.05% vs diesel 0.005%

The decision on whether to use diesel 0.05% or 0.005% mainly comes down to the type of vehicle you drive.

Modern bakkies, vans, and SUVs are designed to run on the cleaner diesel 0.005% since it is better for the environment.

You can usually check your driver’s manual to see which fuel type (50ppm or 500ppm) is recommended by the manufacturer.

In some cases, newer cars may only run on diesel 50ppm, but this is uncommon as carmakers purposely use engines that can run on South Africa’s poor-quality fuel.

Conversely, diesel 0.05% is cheaper and is better suited for older vehicles, such as previous generation Toyota Hilux and Isuzu KB bakkies.

This also applies to most commercial vehicles, ranging from tractors to heavy trucks.

Ultimately, the difference between the two fuel types comes down to one being cheaper, while the other provides better performance, engine longevity, and lower emissions, so it’s up to you to decide which one to use