biodiesel

[Tractorat]

They are really starting to play up biodiesel in Seattle. There is a station in Seattle that is importing biodiesel from the midwest that is supposed to be pretty go as far as biodiesel goes (commercial stuff, not home made) I think I just heard that commercial biodiesel can now be grown in Washington and that will drop the price to where it is competitive with fossil diesel. (This is 100% bio, not a mix)



Has anyone had any experience with this stuff in a 24v cummins ? Ive heard that it works fine in old mechanical diesel engines (such as my son-in-laws 78 Mercedes), but that the newer engines dont like it.



Thanks

Tractorat

 

[darkhorse]

They are really starting to play up biodiesel in Seattle. There is a station in Seattle that is importing biodiesel from the midwest that is supposed to be pretty go as far as biodiesel goes (commercial stuff, not home made) I think I just heard that commercial biodiesel can now be grown in Washington and that will drop the price to where it is competitive with fossil diesel. (This is 100% bio, not a mix)



Has anyone had any experience with this stuff in a 24v cummins ? Ive heard that it works fine in old mechanical diesel engines (such as my son-in-laws 78 Mercedes), but that the newer engines dont like it.



Thanks

Tractorat

Bio diesel will work fine in an ISB. It's just veggie oil with the glycerine removed. It actually has more btu's than petro diesel. It burns cleaner & lubricates your injector pump better.

 

[AndrewGray]

Biodiesel will work great and everyone should be using it. Pay ourselves rather than sending it over seas. Im not sure if the 100% is useable. Someone please chime in here. I do know you can run B2, B5, B10, B20, and B50 in your engine with no problems except possible gelling in the cold winter with anything higher than B10. I use B2 to B20 all the time and works greats.

 

[n7gxz]

I just picked up a tank full of B100 on Friday and the truck is running great on it. The tank before was a partial, 20 gallons B100. It smells like a hot deep frier with freash oil in it.



Kevin

 

[Rdunkin]

n7gxz: What are you paying for that stuff up there? Also what is your diesel price?

Here in Tulsa OK. diesel is $1. 97 today... .....

Thanks

Richard

 

[scotty1]

I have been getting enlightened about the different things to watch out for with biodiesel.

first off the papers I have been reading, the profs I have spoken to and the reports back from the transport companies and cities using biodiesel in their buses are telling me that B-100 loses BTU over #2 and there have been reports on diesel reefer units clogging filters and injectors. I am not saying that this is 100% true as there are a lot of conflicting stories about biodiesel and how its made etc etc.

The studies are saying that running B-5 gives the optimum result and that Canola based biodiesel is better then soy based derivatives. It gets a bit confusing as I was always under the impression like stated on above posts that B-100 is better.



In addition to that I have read several different articles about biodiesel compatibility. The findings report that natural rubber products do not do well with biodiesel and metals can be effected as well. Aeroquip has a conficting report that states brass and steel are not compatible but stainless steel is.





That got me to wondering... what are the injectors made of? What are the stock hardlines made of? What is the fuel filter canister made of? Plus many other components in direct contact with the fuel.



I will continue to pursue figuring this out but currently there is/are definately a lot of different ideas about biodiesel.



I am currently running a Canola based biodiesel additive from Milligan Biotech.

The results of the first tank are a much better odor from the exhaust... it has reduced the smoke as well and performance appears to be better and idle is smoother. Its only been one tank so I need to do more monitoring over the summer, towing and empty. I used 125 ml per factory tank.



Scotty

 

[CMerli]

I have used three tankfuls so far. I buy 99% biodiesel. They must mix it with petrol diesel to get the tax break. Smells good. No more diesel fuel smell in cab. Smells like I am nearing a fast food place. My 24v 2002 2500 quad LB seems to run quieter too. I buy it in Portland, OR at StarOil for $ 3. 10 / gal.

 

[nps]

Bio is an excellent solvent. If you switch over, you want to change your fuel filter after 2-3 tanks because all of the varnish in the tank from the dino diesel will be scrubbed off.

 

[n7gxz]

n7gxz: What are you paying for that stuff up there? Also what is your diesel price?

Here in Tulsa OK. diesel is $1. 97 today... .....

Thanks

Richard

Richard,



The first tank it was running $2. 709 and the second tank Friday it was $2. 999. Regular #2 is running in the low $2. 30's up to the mid $2. 60's.



Kevin

 

[Sri Ram]

I've been running 50-100% biodiesel in my 12 valve for nearly a year. I had to change the fuel filter once; but other than that, I've noticed no change. I say go for it. It'll probably extend the life of your engine.

 

[PAllyn]

BioDiesel?

Take a look at www.biodiesel.org



This site may help.

 

[rblomquist]

Bio is an excellent solvent. If you switch over, you want to change your fuel filter after 2-3 tanks because all of the varnish in the tank from the dino diesel will be scrubbed off.

Are you running bio fuel in Vegas and if so where are you getting it?

 

[PAllyn]

BioDiesel?

Take a look at www.biodiesel.org



This site may help.

 

[Rdunkin]

n7gxz Why are you guys running it? If I read correctly it is MORE $ than diesel. WHY... ... ... ... ?

Kfitz: You might want to read the OEM pdf file in the post above, it says a LOT of bad things about going over 5% mix with dino.

Thanks

Richard

 

[EBoyts]

Biodiesel user

I've been using biodiesel for over a year now without fuel related problems. I made the switch because the fuel is made in the U. S. and it burns clean. I used B20 only for the first six weeks. I've got over 300k on my engine: I read how B100 can "clean out" petroleum diesel deposits that build up in the tank and fuel lines and in so doing cause problems for the injectors of higher mileage vehicles (not a problem in new or low-mileage engines). I got around this by installing a FASS fuel system: new lines from the tank forward and an excellent fuel filtration system.



Since then (for about a year now) I've been burning B100 without any trouble. It is said to keep the injectors clean without having to mess with additives. It also does a MUCH better job of lubricating than petroleum diesel. During the winter months, I blend it with winterized petro. Bio costs a bit more, but then, I figure anything we can do to help the U. S. achieve fuel independence is a good thing.



Quantifying degrees of "smoothness" in engine idle and acceleration can be a little tricky--but I find myself agreeing with others who have mentioned noticing improvements. Occassional traveling requires I fill up with petro--I do think my engine runs noticeably better on the B100.



Its ironic to note that bio fuels aren't anything new: When Rudolph Diesel unveiled his "new" diesel engine at the 1900 World's Fair in Paris--it was running on biodiesel. But that's another story...

 

[EBoyts]

PDF posted by PAllyn

I think anybody considering biodiesel should read the PDF posted above by PAllyn. There's a lot of good info. Its left me with a few unaswered questions.



My biodiesel supplier states a cetane rating of 48 or better, which is good. I've know about the low temp. gelling problems and have successfully avoided them (even parked overnight, 20 degrees below zero at 11,000 ft). About the elastomer fuel lines that degrade--my understanding is that trucks manufactured since 1990 don't really have to worry about this. Nobody ever mentioned the mircobial growth--this has got me concerned. I'm wondering now if I don't need to cut back on the B100 and run a more balanced blend until we know more. Hmmm.

 

[PAllyn]

BioDiesel Info from Cummins

This link just came out today from Cummins Turbo Diesel Official News letter.



http://list.priceweber.com/cummins/td/bio_diesel.html

 

[SKargo]

This link just came out today from Cummins Turbo Diesel Official News letter.



http://list.priceweber.com/cummins/td/bio_diesel.html

To be honest, I can't bring myself to trust Cummins or DC when it comes to this, it's a case of CYA.



I am running my first tank of B100. it smells great, seems to be a little quieter, and seems smoother as well. No loss of power that I can tell.



It costs me $3. 67 a gallon, but with the 50% rebate from the Md Soybean growers, it's much cheaper than dino diesel.

I will change my fuel filter after this tank and see what's doin.

 

[darkhorse]

To be honest, I can't bring myself to trust Cummins or DC when it comes to this, it's a case of CYA.



I am running my first tank of B100. it smells great, seems to be a little quieter, and seems smoother as well. No loss of power that I can tell.



It costs me $3. 67 a gallon, but with the 50% rebate from the Md Soybean growers, it's much cheaper than dino diesel.

I will change my fuel filter after this tank and see what's doin.

I understand your feelings toward the corporate manufacturers. I've heard conflicting things about veggie oil. It will be interesting to see what kind of deposits you may dissolve in your tank & deposit in your filters.

 

[SKargo]

I understand your feelings toward the corporate manufacturers. I've heard conflicting things about veggie oil. It will be interesting to see what kind of deposits you may dissolve in your tank & deposit in your filters.

I think I will replace my filter after this tank, just to see what the bio might of loosened up.