Union 76 Renewable Diesel Fuel

[Rob S]

Just saw this at the pump, claims its ok to use. Anyone know anything about it? https://www.76.com/renewable-diesel

I did not feel brave enough to test it out.

 

[Tuesdak]

I did not feel brave enough to test it out.

Good choice.

Most diesel fuel today is already a 5% blend of Biodiesel mainly for lube and required in some areas for feel good political stupidity.

This is a marketing term for Biodiesel and looks to be B99 or B100. (Tax rebates suggest it's B99 not B100.) RTFM as your owners manual gives you the maximum amount allowed. My 2018 says 5% Biodiesel max unless it's a cab and chassis with a B20 filter option added. I am curious if the 2019 allows a higher % of Biodiesel as the fuel filters are different.

The 2018 manual explains a high % of Biodiesel doesn't allow filters to strip water out of the fuel and can cause corrosion damage to the fuel system. (Biodiesel is hydroscopic like brake fluid) You bet they will test the fuel after smelling the difference and any CP4 failure: you get to fight with the fuel company.

NOx emissions are higher with a high % of Biodiesel. I suggest modern diesels see this higher NOx and can correct it with more DEF used or further loss of MPG.

When we ran B99 we suffered a 10% loss on MPG. Same 550 mile parts delivery route.

6.7 Cummins engines do not use a 9th (rather 7th) fuel injector for DPF cleaning like some of the modern V8 diesels do to stop fuel engine oil dilution. I have seen where post injection events for DPF cleaning raised the engine oil level by quarts ... B99 doesn't evaporate as well as #2 diesel and will not evaporate back out of the engine oil. More of the B99 hits the cylinder walls instead of evaporating like #2 diesel. You will need to change the oil more often with high % of Biodiesel. B99 does not show up as fuel in a UOA: it does show up as loss of viscosity.

It does not store as long as #2 diesel. A bug problem gets expensive quick:

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/ulsd-and-biodiesel-exposed.248698/

 

[Rob S]

The 2019 Manual states this
A maximum blend of 5% biodiesel meeting ASTM
specification D-975 may be used with your Cummins
diesel engine. (Chassis Cab models not configured with
B20 capability.)
Thanks for the info Tuesdak. I dont want to take any risks since i have the CP4.

A friend just sent me this not sure if it relates to the 76 renewable #2 or not:
here’s a direct statement from cummins on the topic of r99 and hpr fuels. again, these are not bio diesel:

cummins inc. (nyse: cmi) today announced that the b4.5, b6.7 and l9 engine platforms are compatible with paraffinic renewable diesel fuels meeting the en 15940 specification. both on-highway and off-highway versions of the b6.7 and l9 platforms and all vintages are approved to use paraffinic diesel fuels in north america.
as with our announcement in september on our euro vi platforms, this helps further reduce the carbon footprint of cummins-powered bus, truck, agricultural and construction fleets operating around the world. compared with conventional fossil-based diesel, paraffinic diesel fuels offer the potential to reduce greenhouse gas (ghg) emissions by 40 percent to 90 percent over the total life cycle of the vehicle.
paraffinic diesel fuels can be used as a 100 percent substitute for standard en 590 or astm d975 ultra-low sulfur diesel (ulsd) without requiring any change to the cummins engine. no additional engine maintenance is required when using paraffinic fuels meeting the en 15940 specification, and the same fuel filters are retained. paraffinic diesel can easily be blended with standard diesel at varying percentages, including winter-grade fuels, and has the same stability and cold properties as conventional diesel, which means it can be used and stored in the same ways.
cummins led an 18-month field trial running 100 percent paraffinic diesel fuel in order to understand changes in engine performance, aftertreatment effects and fuel system durability. engine performance remained stable and consistent while using the paraffinic fuel, and customers should not expect to see any differences. depending on the application and the engine duty cycle, a fuel economy detriment of 0 percent to 6 percent is expected due to the lower density of paraffinic fuels compared with regular diesel fuel.
a thorough analysis of the aftertreatment system showed that each subsystem – the diesel oxidation catalyst (doc), diesel particulate filter (dpf) and selective catalytic reduction (scr) – remained stable throughout the test with performance similar to that of regular diesel fuel. the materials in the fuel system equipment (o-rings, injectors and pumps) are all compatible with en 15940 diesel fuels.
“focused on energy diversity and enabling the power of choice, cummins has provided another approved fuel option to help the continued reduction of emissions. the use of paraffinic diesel allows customers to minimize their emissions-based footprints without additional capital investment. plus, they have the comfort of knowing that cummins conducted a thorough analysis prior to approval,” said jim fier, cummins – vice president – engineering.
cummins approval for the use of renewable diesel with b6.7 and l9 engines aligns with
the recent introduction of en 15940, a final european cen specification for paraffinic diesel fuels, including hydrotreated vegetable oil (hvo), gas-to-liquids (gtl) and biomass-to-liquids (btl). operators of cummins-powered trucks and buses are required to source all paraffinic fuels from high-purity suppliers meeting en 15940, as this ensures that the fuel contains the necessary lubricity additive for use in a diesel engine.
other light-duty, heavy-duty and high-horsepower platforms are currently undergoing a similar validation plan on 100 percent paraffinic fuels, and cummins will be announcing the results of the studies throughout 2017.
star oilco makes a fleet seeking to use renewable diesel in the portland, oregon and vancouver, washington markets simple.
we are capable of serving bulk fuel receiving fleets with r99 and other blends.

 

[Tuesdak]

I had hoped 2019 would have allowed higher. I recall Fords allow B20 as a standard with a tree branch on the sides of their pickups. Not because I care for Biodiesel after what it cost me, but, because it's becoming common to have higher than B5 available.

I can't even get Diesel fuel off-road or otherwise in Arizona for generator use that is free from Biodiesel. It's all B5.

Been awhile since I looked, but, I don't know of any OEM diesel engine that allows/recommends over B20.

 

[sag2]

I don't find anywhere where they give the fuel specification. Propel Fuels here in CA meet the D-975 fuel specification of regular diesel. I will stop by one of the 76 stations near me and see if it says what specification their fuel meets. I have used a bunch of the Propel in my 18. No smell, generally a bit cheaper than #2, and a slight increase in fuel mileage.

 

[Tuesdak]

I don't find anywhere where they give the fuel specification. Propel Fuels

I may stand corrected. I hope I do. Their (76) website is really vague.

I hope this new process doesn't have the extreme problems traditional FAME biodiesel has with water, yellow metal corrosion, bugs, gelling, short storage life, leftover meth in the fuel, etc..

Best I can track down is Propel Fuels uses something like this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neste_Renewable_Diesel

That said is this fuel (Not FAME biodiesel ) use "approved" or is it a warranty concern with RAM Cummins?

 

[lpennock]

I may stand corrected. I hope I do. Their (76) website is really vague.

The FAQ on the Union76 website states:
100% hydrocarbon fuel, it is chemically very similar to petroleum-based diesel and can be used in vehicles without modification to the engine or its fuel system.

I do agree it has not specifics though.

 

[Diesel Gunner]

If the ammo manufacturers came out with "Eco Shells" that were 100% "Green" would you try them out in your $70K Purdey shotgun?

Just sayin'.

 

[Tuesdak]

The FAQ on the Union76 website states:
100% hydrocarbon fuel, it is chemically very similar to petroleum-based diesel and can be used in vehicles without modification to the engine or its fuel system.

I do agree it has not specifics though.

Same marketing they claim for FAME Biodeiesel. So their site is very vague and doesn't make any effort to say why it's different.

" 76® Renewable Diesel is diesel fuel that is made from 100% renewable sources (vegetable oils and fats) that undergo chemical processing to make renewable diesel fuel. "

 

[sag2]

I stopped in and purchased a half gallon today. The pump only said it was at least 95% renewable. Nothing about it meeting any fuel specification like the Propel does. It looked and smelled just like the Propel, actually no smell to it at all which is a plus

. It didn't do too well in the freezer though. I would not suggest filling up and driving to Tahoe when it's near zero degrees. I think I will still try a tank or two and see what happens. Not a bad price at $4.59 compared to everyone else around.

 

[avvblanc01]

Just want to jump in since I’m seeing some mis-information here. Traditional Bio diesel and B20 blends and VERY different from 76’s R99 or HPR from Propel stations. Bio diesel is not compatible with emissions trucks (2007.5 and newer with DPFs) but R99 and HPR are. R99 and HPR are chemically extremely similar to normal diesel, and can be used without adverse impact on any diesel. In fact, HPR actually has a higher centane rating and lubricity than normal diesel.

Both were formulated to essentially act as replacements for diesel that are made from renewable sources. As such, they atomize and perform like diesel, and actually burn cleaner. You’re welcome to run both R99 and HPR without issue in a HPCR or other Cummins truck, but you do want to be wary of traditional bio diesel in blends higher than 20% especially in cold weather.

Here’s a direct statement from Cummins on the topic of R99 and HPR fuels. Again, these are NOT bio diesel:

Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) today announced that the B4.5, B6.7 and L9 engine platforms are compatible with paraffinic renewable diesel fuels meeting the EN 15940 specification. Both On-Highway and Off-Highway versions of the B6.7 and L9 platforms and all vintages are approved to use paraffinic diesel fuels in North America.
As with our announcement in September on our Euro VI platforms, this helps further reduce the carbon footprint of Cummins-powered bus, truck, agricultural and construction fleets operating around the world. Compared with conventional fossil-based diesel, paraffinic diesel fuels offer the potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40 percent to 90 percent over the total life cycle of the vehicle.
Paraffinic diesel fuels can be used as a 100 percent substitute for standard EN 590 or ASTM D975 Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) without requiring any change to the Cummins engine. No additional engine maintenance is required when using paraffinic fuels meeting the EN 15940 specification, and the same fuel filters are retained. Paraffinic diesel can easily be blended with standard diesel at varying percentages, including winter-grade fuels, and has the same stability and cold properties as conventional diesel, which means it can be used and stored in the same ways.
Cummins led an 18-month field trial running 100 percent paraffinic diesel fuel in order to understand changes in engine performance, aftertreatment effects and fuel system durability. Engine performance remained stable and consistent while using the paraffinic fuel, and customers should not expect to see any differences. Depending on the application and the engine duty cycle, a fuel economy detriment of 0 percent to 6 percent is expected due to the lower density of paraffinic fuels compared with regular diesel fuel.
A thorough analysis of the aftertreatment system showed that each subsystem – the Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC), Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) – remained stable throughout the test with performance similar to that of regular diesel fuel. The materials in the fuel system equipment (O-rings, injectors and pumps) are all compatible with EN 15940 diesel fuels.
“Focused on energy diversity and enabling the power of choice, Cummins has provided another approved fuel option to help the continued reduction of emissions. The use of paraffinic diesel allows customers to minimize their emissions-based footprints without additional capital investment. Plus, they have the comfort of knowing that Cummins conducted a thorough analysis prior to approval,” said Jim Fier, Cummins – Vice President – Engineering.
Cummins approval for the use of renewable diesel with B6.7 and L9 engines aligns with
the recent introduction of EN 15940, a final European CEN specification for paraffinic diesel fuels, including hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), gas-to-liquids (GTL) and biomass-to-liquids (BTL). Operators of Cummins-powered trucks and buses are required to source all paraffinic fuels from high-purity suppliers meeting EN 15940, as this ensures that the fuel contains the necessary lubricity additive for use in a diesel engine.
Other light-duty, heavy-duty and high-horsepower platforms are currently undergoing a similar validation plan on 100 percent paraffinic fuels, and Cummins will be announcing the results of the studies throughout 2017.
Star Oilco makes a fleet seeking to use Renewable Diesel in the Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington markets simple.
We are capable of serving bulk fuel receiving fleets with R99 and other blends.

 

[JR]

I stopped in and purchased a half gallon today. The pump only said it was at least 95% renewable. Nothing about it meeting any fuel specification like the Propel does. It looked and smelled just like the Propel, actually no smell to it at all which is a plusView attachment 131393 . It didn't do too well in the freezer though. I would not suggest filling up and driving to Tahoe when it's near zero degrees. I think I will still try a tank or two and see what happens. Not a bad price at $4.59 compared to everyone else around.

I would be curious what traditional diesel fuel from your area would do in the freezer. I'm guessing that stuff is simply climatized to your local ambient temps, just like regular ULSD.

 

[Tuesdak]

Again, these are NOT bio diesel:

Noted the different "Diesels" out there. Good info though. Clearly it's not traditional #2 ULSD.

Again their website is vague and uses the term Biodiesel. So clarity is needed that it's not traditional FAME Biodiesel. As above even a pump wasn't labeled clearly as to what "the ice brick" is.

It is an opportunity for the automaker, formerly known as FCA, to release a "Environmentally Green" statement and owner's manual update. FAME Biodiesel isn't used in the 2018 manual "Biodiesel" is. At the end of the day Cummins doesn't warranty the engine or fuel system: FCA RAM does.

I would be careful about pouring "Not #2 ULSD with 5% or less Biodiesel" in my RAM pickup without knowing what exactly it is.

If it has less disadvantages than FAME Biodiesel it will be a good thing.

 

[avvblanc01]

Noted the different "Diesels" out there. Good info though. Clearly it's not traditional #2 ULSD.

Again their website is vague and uses the term Biodiesel. So clarity is needed that it's not traditional FAME Biodiesel. As above even a pump wasn't labeled clearly as to what "the ice brick" is.

It is an opportunity for the automaker, formerly known as FCA, to release a "Environmentally Green" statement and owner's manual update. FAME Biodiesel isn't used in the 2018 manual "Biodiesel" is. At the end of the day Cummins doesn't warranty the engine or fuel system: FCA RAM does.

I would be careful about pouring "Not #2 ULSD with 5% or less Biodiesel" in my RAM pickup without knowing what exactly it is.

If it has less disadvantages than FAME Biodiesel it will be a good thing.

Yeah 76 has done a horrible job providing literature or information of any kind on R99. I’ve logged thousands of miles using Propel HPR in my trucks with solid results. I’ve also been using plenty of 76 R99 and the truck runs great. Noticeably less smoke than ULSD and otherwise normal performance. I do think HPR is a higher quality product though, so I source that over R99 when possible.

 

[Tuesdak]

Yeah 76 has done a horrible job providing literature or information of any kind on R99. I’ve logged thousands of miles using Propel HPR in my trucks with solid results. I’ve also been using plenty of 76 R99 and the truck runs great. Noticeably less smoke than ULSD and otherwise normal performance. I do think HPR is a higher quality product though, so I source that over R99 when possible.

Your saying there are (4) types of Diesel out there?! #2 ULSD, FAME Biodiesel, Propel HPR, and R99?

 

[Rob S]

Who sells propel hpr? Haven’t seen that yet.

 

[sag2]

I have also run quite a bit of Propel in my truck with excellent results. Propel is only available in parts of California.

 

[avvblanc01]

Who sells propel hpr? Haven’t seen that yet.

HPR is only available from select Propel stations in So Cal, which are usually tied to Shell stations. If you download the Propel app you can search for the nearest station! I love the stuff. Burns super clean, higher centane rating, higher lubricity, and way less smell. I run it in everything from my 1st gen to my TDI VW!

 

[sag2]

I would be curious what traditional diesel fuel from your area would do in the freezer. I'm guessing that stuff is simply climatized to your local ambient temps, just like regular ULSD.

I just had the students bring in samples of fuel from their local stations and they all passed the freezer test but a sample of Bio Diesel, and ULSD diesel from a 7-11 station. Both of those froze solid like the 76 did. I have to assume 76 will offer a winter blend once the weather cools off. We only get a couple days of freezing weather a year so it really isn't required around here.

 

[Rob S]

I’m in southern Ca
Must be up north I reckon