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BIO Diesel

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Neil Young Tour = 17 biodiesel powered vehicles

bio diesel

With the oil/gas/diesel prices going threw the roof and possibly up above 3. 00. Have any of you looked into the bio thing? i Have heard little bits and peaces about it and would be willing to drive a French fry o im sorry i mean a freedom fry if it is a lot cheaper and i dont lose any power. Please let me know what you all think about the bio thing and if i will lose power. Oo. Oo. Oo.
 
Hi Doug,

I notice a little less power, and slightly less mileage running Bio. When the truck was stock the power difference was minimal. Since I slid my stock plate full forward the power difference is a little more noticeable, but not an annoyance to me.



Joe
 
I'm on my 4th tank of B20, and noticed an increase in mpg. Haven't noticed a loss of power. Truck is smoother and quieter too.
 
hi Stakeman,

There are other people that report increases in mileage and performance when running blends, so you're not alone. In my Cummins, the more Bio i run, the lower the mileage... but my old VW TDI I felt more power(never dyno'ed it) and got better mileage on blends.



Joe
 
I am very interested in making my own biodiesel. If anyone here is making their own PM me and let me know. I have been reading everything on the web and understand how to make it but i need same advice and guidence to where to start.
 
I have a few questions for those of ya'll running blends.



What is your estimated fuel savings per tank over running straight #2?



In order to run a blend what is needed? Another tank, fuel pump, filter, lines, etc. Looking to know what is needed to make my truck run a blend.



Can the truck still be run on straight #2 if you are in the middle of nowhere and can't find some veggie oil to put in the tank?
 
Rebel,

The fuel blends with Diesel without doing anything special. No separate tanks needed. you can switch back and forth simply by adding whichever fuel you intend to burn that day.

joe
 
Originally posted by Rebel_Horseman

What is your estimated fuel savings per tank over running straight #2?

Don't expect a fuel savings. Up to a 20% blend, you shouldn't notice a change in mileage. Past that, your mileage will go down. Biodiesel has a lower heat content (less energy) than straight #2.
 
So all I have to do is dump vegetable oil in my fuel tank at the next fillup and that's it? Hmm. I have a 39 gal tank so 20% of that is about 7. 5 gallons. So 30 gal of diesel at $1. 60 a gal = $48. 00 and 8 gal of veggie oil at $1. 25 a gal = $10. 00 for a total of $58. 00. Compare that to 38 gal of #2 at the same $1. 60 = $60. 80 for a savings of $2. 80 per tankfull. 2 tanks per week times 52 weeks per year is 104 tanks at $2. 80 per tank you save $291. 20 a year in fuel. Doesn't seem like much of any savings to me whether short term or long term. Maybe my calculations are off cause I have no idea how much a gallon of veggie oil costs. Now my question is why do it? Over the life of the truck I can see a little savings but in the short term I don't see the benefit.
 
One distinction that we have to make is that biodiesel is not veggie oil. Its processed veggie oil, and biodiesel (100%) is going to run you more than #2 (on the order of $3. 00 to $3. 50 per gallon). You will not be able to justify running biod (retail) versus #2 based on economics. Making your own biod is a whole nother subject and could be made cheaper than #2 if you use waste veggie oil.



The reason I run B20 (20% biod) is that it has better lubricating properties, better emissions, and 20% of my fuel comes from the American farmer. Saving money is not part of the equation. I buy mine from a local station that is subsidized by the government so its price is the same as straight #2.



Personnally I wouldn't run unprocessed veggie oil in my rig.
 
So I can take waste veggie oil from say my turky fryer and filter it out and add about 8 gal of free fuel to my truck per fill up? As far as im concerned that is quiet a big savings caus im getting wast veggie that is made by American farmers that i payed for to use to cook. Wow i gata go fry up some turkeys lol any one want a fryed turkey. They could do that at tdr meets sell fryed turkeys and help fill every ones tank.
 
OK I think this is making a little more sense to me now. Using bio and paying retail for it is not economical, but probably more expensive. However making your own from household or bulk waste oils that you get cheaply or for free will result in a cost savings as well as secondary benefits such as better lubricity and helping out the farmers. The only downside is having the neighborhood dogs following you thinking they are following a portable McDonalds.



Sorry for such ignorant questions here fellas, but bio is something totally new where I live and no one that I know of has ever heard if it much less tried it out.
 
Hi Doug,

Are you asking if it makes good Biodiesel? Yup. Any veggie oil works, although I've had high cloud point problems with peanut oil.



Joe
 
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