Anyone using the Opti-Lube XPD???

[steved]

Did you read beyond the first post? Much of the discussion in that thread deals with low percentages of biodiesel blends, such as B5. Some folks are/were even having issues with less than B5 because of the post combustion injection event.



Half a gallon of bio per tank is just over 1%. If I had a 6. 7L, I wouldn't even run that unless I removed the dpf. By running bio in a 6. 7L, any "insurance" you're trying to get for your pickup is more than likely going to end up in the crankcase with the dpf installed. For those of us with a 5. 9, any % will work.

I thought the 6. 7L was "approved" for 5% bio in the non-commercial world and 20% bio in the commercial (i. e. fleet) world??

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Gary:



Call your local heating oil/fuel distibutors, they will most often have access to biodiesel and not be on a map or advertise it.



According to a "map" of retailers, the closest biodiesel was over 100miles out... a few phone calls found it about 5 miles from the house... and they would fill 5-gallon cans or deliver 150 gallons.

I tried the local distributor - but they will only supply a 400 gallon minimum - and won't even do that during winter months due to the lower freeze point of the bio...

 

[SNGLESHOT]

Steved: I just got this email back from biodiesel.org. You are right. I submitted the following question and this was the reply. Although he is replying from an alleged biased base... . he is also referring to the OEM's sites and it is in print. Sooooo? I am still a little bit leary at this point as there was no mention of the effect on a DPF etc. but then I failed to include that in with my question. Need to do more research I guess. Your opinions gentlemen?



Thank you for submitting a question:

Your Question:

I have a 2008 Dodge Ram 2500 with Cummins Turbo 6. 7L Diesel. Will 2% BD fuel mix be a good lubricity additive for my rig? Will it void warranty on engine and affect the elastopolymer type components? Is it even necessary with the new ULSD requirements and all the upgrades Cummins has put into the fuel delivery system due to the lowered lubricity of the ULSD? Getting to be confusing.

Bens Answer:

Yes , it does get confusing but I think I can set things straight. First the ULSD (15ppm S)since the sulfur (the lubricant) has been stripped out lubricity additives have had to be added at the refinery otherwise diesel engines would be seizing up everywhere. A B-2 blend was and still is being considered as the replacement lubricity additive rather than the synthetics currently being used. The B-2 blend is a perfect complement to the refinery lubricants. B-100 has 10X the lubricity of petroleum LSD (500ppm S)so a B-2 blend would more than replace the 485ppm of sulfur reduction in ULSD. A B-2 will not void your warranty actually Cummins allows up to B-20 in this engine. If you go to the NBB web site National Biodiesel Board - www.biodiesel.org - www.nbb.org you can print out the OEM statements on biodiesel use for most diesel engines. The majority allow up to B-5. I hope this helps clear things up for you.

Thank you for using 'Ask Ben'; your source for biodiesel answers.

***Important: Please do not reply to this email. This mailbox is not set up to receive email. ***

Thanks and keep in touch,
Ben
Biodiesel Education Network
National Biodiesel Board

For More information on biodiesel, visit the National Biodiesel Board's website at National Biodiesel Board - www.biodiesel.org - www.nbb.org

 

[SNGLESHOT]

One more thing

Here is the link mentioned in the email copied into my last post. This is the Cummins OEM site for this subject in other words. Item #10 and the last item still has me wondering. Gentlemen, chek this link out. Your opinions?

Cummins Every Time - Customer Center - Biodiesel FAQ

 

[steved]

Here is the link mentioned in the email copied into my last post. This is the Cummins OEM site for this subject in other words. Item #10 and the last item still has me wondering. Gentlemen, chek this link out. Your opinions?



Cummins Every Time - Customer Center - Biodiesel FAQ

What is to wonder??



I agree with their statement #10... use an off-spec fluid and it voids your warranty, and as they even point out, it applies to regular fuel as well. Can't fault them for denying warranty for the wrong fuel or bad fuel...



And in statement #1, B20 is approved for the ISB and the common rail...



And statement #13, since Dodge bought the engines without a warranty, it is up to Dodge to determine what they consider approved fluids. No surprise there... that's to keep the home brewers at bay and to throw all the liability on Dodge and its recommendations.

 

[ZBrooks]

#5 is the one you need to worry about. "For EPA 2007 on-highway midrange engines only, oil sampling will be necessary for the first 6 months of operation with B20 to monitor fuel dilution of the lubricating oil. " If you're plugging the dpf and causing a regen cycle frequently, you're going to be diluting the oil in a hurry. The easy way to solve this issue is to get a dpf delete kit and not worry about the regen cycle.

Steve, to answer your previous question, you are correct that biodiesel has been "approved", but I'm currently trying to find what exactly the parameters for the approval process were. They know about the oil dilution, so why approve it?