another biodiesel thread

[robobx]

guys that have been running bio for awhile, how many miles have you been running it? and at what concentration? what's highest concentration you have run? anything good or bad to say about it?

Thanks!

Rob

 

[skobylenski]

I've been talking to a guy here at school who is making his own bio. , been running it straight for a little more than 7000 miles and hasn't clogged a filter yet. He said he doesn't wash it, so the performance is a little better than petrol. -based fuel, and as long as you don't mind smelling like fried food, you're good to go



As soon as I can get ahold of him again, I'll have him seek out this thread and post all the details, as he is a TDR member, but I don't know his user name.

 

[DF5152]

becareful running unrefined biodeisel. the purpose of the refining process is to remove all the glycerin from the oil.



http://www.biodiesel.org/resources/biodiesel_basics/

 

[y-knot]

I saw a big old black diesel (Ford) tonight with the words in huge print on the sides,"This truck runs on Biodiesel"

 

[kentdiesel]

I ran a tank of B20 and it did fine. Couldn't tell a difference in fuel mileage or power. I like the extra lubrication BioDiesel provides and would run it all the time if it was sold locally.

Kent

 

[JoeBioDiesel]

how many miles have you been running it? and at what concentration? what's highest concentration you have run? anything good or bad to say about it?



I got my Cummins in June, and have put about 18K or so on it running mostly B100, but lower mixtures in the cold weather.

I've been home-brewing for 4 years now, and commute 50K/yr in my VW running B100. most users will not get much over B20, and if you're not mechanically inclined stay at those numbers for trouble free operation.

I never wash my Biodiesel. On occasion I have to change a fuel filter early because of glycerine in the filter. I have only had to do the emergency-road-side-change two times 200K miles. Both times the filter had a glob of glycerine in it that had been loosened by a temp change.

The benefits are much higher lubricity, lower soot emissions, lower EGTs, and no dependence on foriegn oil.

The drawbacks are lower mileage and power, by about 6%, more white smoke on cold starts, higher cloud temps.



Commercially made Biodiesel does not have the filter plugging and glycerine problems that home-brew does. ASTM certified Biodiesel is a reliable fuel that makes a great additive to petro-diesel.



My opinion, etc:

I like running Biodiesel because it eliminates my dependence on anyone to travel. When we suffered a big Ice Storm and were without power for over 10 days I still had fuel stored, and could make more if I needed it. I am not affected by soaring fuel prices. I like to tinker with anything I drive (like many BOMBers here). None of my money goes to help fund nations that hate us, and plot against us(makes me sound like a conspiracy theorist. . but it's an important point).

I have had to experiment quite a bit to find my filter plug points, something the average owner wouldn't enjoy. I have made "bad batches" and even had one tank of fuel solidify inside the tank of my VW. Home-brew at your own risk, even though it is a simple operation.



Joe

 

[Blakers]

Joe, what is the glycerin supposed to do that's bad?



I work in a fatty acids plant and we split beef tallow and vegatable oil all the time. But, instead of using methanol to split the glycerin off the fat, we use 800 psi steam pressure and water. We have some nice split and distilled soybean oil here that would probably run nice in a diesel. I suppose beef tallow would run fine too.



I'd like to check out your operation sometime if I'm in the area.



Take care,

Blake

 

[TboneMan]

Joe,



Where are you in "Central NY"?



It sounds like we are "neighbors". I'd be interested in seeing you biodiesel operation.

 

[JoeBioDiesel]

Tbone,

I'm in Mexico. . just a few minutes away from you. blakers, you are welcome anytime, honest.

The glycerine will plug fuel filters, settle in the bottom of the tank and clog the pickup, gum injector tips and break delivery valves on occasion.

Joe

 

[Blakers]

Hi Joe,



Did you get together with that other guy on the KDP jig?



I just looked up Mexico and that's not too far from me. A nice drive up there and back in a day. Probably big time maple syrup country! I looked at a Cletrac in Oswego that was for sale a few years back. Lots of muck farming around there.



We make glycerin where I work from the fatty acids, and the stuff is very similar to maple syrup in how they evaporate the water out of it to get it to 99. 5% pharmecutical grade. I believe it's a type of sugar - is that correct? I don't think I'd like to run sugar through my engine.



Maybe I'll give you a call and drop by sometime.



Take care,

Blake