B5 in Monona, WI

[HoleshotHolset]

(FYI: Monona may as well be part of Madison... yeah, it's that close. )

There's an unstaffed (credit card only) Cenex location on East Broadway (just off Monona Drive) that sells soy based B5.



I fueled up (~24 gallons) with $3. 09/gallon soy based B5 tonight. I've never tried biodiesel until now. Petroleum based diesel is running between $3. 25 and $3. 45/gallon around here...



Initial impressions:

When I was filling up the tank I noticed that it smells different... if I had to describe the smell, I'd have to say it's 'sweeter'.

After a 20 mile drive... the diesel clatter didn't seem as pronounced (even with 16. 5° of timing on my CPL 2175 12-valve... ) and the exhaust didn't smell like a normal 12-valve - it didn't smell bad... just different.



My statements don't have any scientific merit and the results may be psychological more than anything else... but, it is good to know that I'm not sending as much money overseas and I'm helping the environment.



If B5 works out OK, I'm going to go get some $3/gallon B100 from Great Lakes Biofuels (Madison, WI offices / Sun Prairie, WI distribution center) and 'splash blend' my own little mixture. http://www.greatlakesbiofuels.net



Matt

 

[TurboTweaker]

welcome to the club farva :-laf we've had the bio up here in the pumps, gerneraly 2%. kinda sucks but its a start.



The Fat Kid

Andy

 

[vssman]

MTY,



Smell is one thing... But the all important taste test should really tell you how different it is. :-laf

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Well, I'm still on my first tank of B5 in the '98...

The '94 needs fuel, so that'll be treated to a tank of B5 pretty soon...



As for the taste test - I know what straight #2 diesel tastes like... so I'll have to do some qualitative testing with B5... or B100.



Matt

 

[SHobbs]

Welcome to the bio club. Just remember that bio has a natural detergent property and it will clean your tank, lines and everything else. When switching to bio check your fuel filter often to avoid any clogging. I ran B20 for about 2 months and then went to B100. Been on B100 for about 4 months now and I am staying with it. The Cummins is smoother, quieter, feels like it has more pep ( stronger ) and yes you do loose some power with B100 but you would never know it by the way it runs.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

My 205,000 mile '94 had its first tank of B5 on Monday night... so far, so good.



Matt

 

[DBond]

Your observations are typical of what people report.

Remember that the bio cleans out crude in the fuel system, so slowly increasing the bio %, and changing fuel filters, is the thing to do.