Bio Diesel Cold Test.

[Eco Rednek]

Last night was our first truly cold night at 8300'. Overnight lows got down to around 06 F. In anticipation, I tried an experimental blend... ...



70% B 100

20% B 20

10% KEROSENE.



Driving up the canyon last night in a snowstorm, temps were in the low 20 s. No change in performance... .



This morning, I thought, no way is she going to start with 75-80% bio.

Temps were 19-20F in the sun, 11-12F in the shade.



Cycled the heaters 3 times, first try no go. . second try, fired up with a little hesitation. Let her run for about 15 minutes..... now she s running perfect.



Have not driven her yet but I suspect all will be well.

I have a full tank of this blend, the forecast says cold all week.

It will be interesting to see... .

 

[dslmacdown]

Interesting I have noticed something similar with mine running a half tank of B20. Before I could start with no heaters into the low 30's. Then cycle the heater for 5, 10, or more seconds as it got colder. Now it won't start in the 30's without at least 5 seconds of heaters, then it will start rough. Once running she won't miss a beat and runs perfectly.

 

[DBrickel]

I just tanked up today with b50. There was a sign posted on the pump recommending that through the winter. It said bio will start to cloud at degrees. I also am carrying a spare filter with me.

 

[Josparkz]

I just tanked up today with b50. There was a sign posted on the pump recommending that through the winter. It said bio will start to cloud at degrees. I also am carrying a spare filter with me.

How many degrees?

 

[Headshot zod]

70% B100

20% B20 but its really 80% Petrodiesel 20% B100



so its.....



86% B100

4% petrodiesel

10% kerosene



wow... did you use any additives? did you plug the engine heater in?



just be cautious, if it gells you will trying pump frozen margarine through your injection pump and injectors. If you can, try to keep some of the fuel mixture in a plastic soda bottle outside so you know whats going on in your fuel tank. It might behoove you to pick up a cheap 120v heatgun and a 12v/120v voltage convertor so you can heat up those lines.



JMHO.

 

[DBrickel]

How many degrees?

Sorry dam fingers get ahead of the brain sometimes. 35 degrees

 

[Msilbernagel]

Sorry dam fingers get ahead of the brain sometimes. 35 degrees

We've been getting frost the past few weeks, so its been below 32 degrees at night - days in the 40s-50s.



I'm running about 50-50 mix of B99 and #2 - about 50% bioD.



I can see the fuel pressure gauge idling around 13. 5-14 and putting around in the 12-13 psi range, which is about 1. 5-2 psi lower than #2 alone.



Other than that, it's quiet, smells better, and runs great.



Mark

 

[Josparkz]

Sorry dam fingers get ahead of the brain sometimes. 35 degrees

Thank you.

 

[Eco Rednek]

Just to check back in,



I am through a half tank of the above mentioned mix. 70% b100, 20% b20, 10% kero.

Temps this week at 8000' have been between 33 high and 6 low. when I go out to start it in the morning it s usually in the low 20 s. except for the first day, she has fired up on the first crank.



No heaters, No additives.



No problems so far... ... ... At a half tank the odometer was reading 240 miles, so hopefully mpg will be decent as well... ... .

 

[poor]

Just made my first batches of bio fuel out of waste peanut oil! It gels at around 50*-cut it to 50% with #2 and it seems to be good outside-checked it yesterday at temps around 25* in the morning and its just a little cloudy-but fine at around freezing! But they say peanut oil is 1 of the worst to cloud up! Will be working on some soy oil next week!

 

[Sled Dog]

Just made my first batches of bio fuel out of waste peanut oil! It gels at around 50*-cut it to 50% with #2 and it seems to be good outside-checked it yesterday at temps around 25* in the morning and its just a little cloudy-but fine at around freezing! But they say peanut oil is 1 of the worst to cloud up! Will be working on some soy oil next week!

You guys keep talking.

Izmad, and want to put the carpetbagging oil companies on a DIET!

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Here is a calculator I found to help find out at what temps your Biodiesel blend is good at:



http://www.duffscience.com/biodiesel/biodiesel_calculation.htm

 

[Josparkz]

Great calculator Oo.

 

[DFerverda]

I was using 10 gal. in a 1/2 tank of petro and it got cold and jelled up, truck ran fine but my fp gauge pulled down a little at a time till i was only running 4 lbs while acc. i got home and changed the filter, back to 14 lbs at idle and cant pull under 10 lbs wot.

Went to town and added 2 gallons k1 and some anti jel,(pint) and topped off with petrol. runs good but am kinda afraid of a real cold snap. I keep a jar of bio on my cup holder just to see what it is doing . Yesterday it was yellow butter, couldnt shake it.

My point is if you dont have a fp gauge beware... ... truck will run good but it may take out the vp44. I will mix up different batches of bio and additives to see what works, however i will more than likely keep making batches and save most of my fuel till spring.

If any body has a good mix and live where it gets cold,,, I am all ears.

Dirk

 

[machinemover]

I haven't seen Biodiesel for sale yet around me, I do travel alot though and still haven't noticed it. But I'd like to know, I have an '03 do I need to put a pre heater in or anything or can I just try a tank full as I would any other diesel?

 

[Eco Rednek]

On to a new tank of fuel, that last blend(see above post) worked well with the cold, but fuel economy was depressing. . got just over 400 miles and re filled 30. 6 gal. 13. 4 MPG ... ... not so good... especially at $3. 19/gal. Filled up again yesterday.



19. 6 B100

8. 0 B20

3. 0 K1



70% BIO

30% PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.

 

[DLGonzo]

Dirk,



Almost same thing here. With a 50% mix on an 18 degree morning almost no PF under any type of load. Idle was around 10. K1 seams to be the best treatment cost wise. additives arou costly and not proven. I'll probably stick with 50% or less 'tll spring.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Machine mover,



Here is the link for retail biodiesel stations in AZ



http://www.biodiesel.org/buyingbiodiesel/retailfuelingsites/showstate.asp?st=AZ



You don't need a add pre-heater. Cummins says to use no more than 5% biodiesel in you truck. I think you would be fine w/ B20.

 

[DFerverda]

DLGonzo

Yea i am doing something different with this load of bio, Its in the processor right now. A guy on the bio site i hit said this will be good to -10 c , 14 degrees before it clouds. If this is the case i will be posting how to do it here.

I am going to hold off mixing more than 20% bio till it warms or till i find the secret. I like the way the truck runs and smells and how quiet it is , but it isnt worth mixing heavy If the truck jells up at -10 and i gotta walk home and get a tow. . :-laf





Good luck, Dirk

 

[Headshot zod]

Remember kerosene has less btu's then diesel so you will get less mileage with it. The same goes for B100 unless you advance the timing.