PUBLIC B20 Biodiesel Pump to open in Cleveland this Friday!!

[LightmanE300]

Hey guys, just thought I'd spread the news in case you guys didn't hear. This is an exciting step for Cleveland!



On Friday, August 12, 2005, Cleveland will welcome its first retail outlet

for biodiesel fuel. The fuel will be sold at the Rapid Stop fuel station and convenience store on the corner of East 55th Street and Payne Avenue. This location is the first in Northeastern Ohio for drivers to fill up on the fastest growing alternative fuel in the United States. Previously, the closest biodiesel retail pump was located in Norwalk, Ohio.



The unveiling of this biodiesel pump at this inner city location will be inaugurated by a convoy of diesel vehicles from NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland Metroparks, City of Cleveland, Great Lakes Brewing Company, and HealthSpace plus a host of privately owned diesel vehicles. The event, which will feature these alternative fuel vehicles on display, will run from 9AM-12NOON on Friday, August 12.



Participating Organizations include:

• City of Cleveland

• Cleveland Metroparks

• Earth Day Coalition’s Clean Fuels Program (a designated U. S. Dept. of Energy Clean Cities Region)

• Great Lakes Brewing Company

• HealthSpace, the Cleveland Museum of Health

• NASA Glenn Research Center

Biodiesel is a diesel fuel that is made from vegetable oil pressed from U. S. grown crops like soy and corn. Typically

blended with regular diesel, it burns 25% cleaner, reduces smoke, eliminates the offensive smell of petroleum diesel

exhaust, and reduces our dependence on imported oil.

Biodiesel is clean, renewable, and made in the USA.

Additional information about biodiesel is available from:

• National Biodiesel Board: http://www.nbb.org

• U. S. EPA: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/fu...ls/altfuels.htm

Primary contact:

Ray Holan, President - Biodiesel Cleveland

Phone: (216) 771-4404, ext. 503

Email: -- email address removed --

 

[RACE427]

Bio Diesel

I am driving into Cleveland on the 20 th of this month to take a weekend long welding class at Lincoln Electric. How much per gallon will this fuel sell for? I would like to stop by and fill up. Thanks

 

[SHobbs]

You can check out DFWbiodiesel.com for additonal info on bio as well. I have been running bio (B20 cottonsed oil) for about three months now with no problems. Bio will clean your entire fuel system and you will need to change your fuel filter a little earlier than usual. I had to change mine 2 times to finally get the crud out. The first change showed fuel in the filter canister that looked like coffee and a white sludge at the bottom, the second time looked much better and the third was back to normal.

I think this is why Cummins says that they have seen clogged up engines as a result of running bio. I normally change the fuel filter every 6k, I was changing it every 3k for the first 6k I ran bio. Also the more miles you have on the truck and the more diesel you have ran through the system might take a few more filter changes till the system is finally cleaned out. Right now the price is around $2. 34/gal, this is the first time it has been that high it has been around $2. 11 for a while.

 

[LightmanE300]

Despite what shobbs has said, you typically will not have to do anything about your filter or vehicle whatsoever to run B20. It's not solvent enough to really clean much. Most of the recommendations to change filters is when people are running biodiesel in higher percentages, like b100, in older high mileage vehicles. I'm guessing that either shobbs had a really crappy source of biodiesel, or an unusual amount of funk in his tank. I've run b20 excusively since 2001 in my mercedes, tons of b100 in my tdi, and b20 in the truck with no filter issues at all.



I believe the b20 pump in cleveland will be priced about the same as regular #2.

 

[RACE427]

bio diesel

I regularly attend Ohio Diesel Technical College Instructor seminars every summer so I am somewhat familiar with the area. One evening after class I will drive over and fill up with B-20 and give it a try. Will be great to drive home and see if it has any positive or negative effect on my MPG. I take I-80 all the way as it is a nice road compared to what we have in NY!! LOL

 

[LightmanE300]

Most likley you won't notice any difference in mpg. The benefit is in the added lubricity which helps out your injection equipment and reduces wear, reduced emissions/smell, higher cetane for a smoother burn, and best of all 20% of your money is supporting the american economy, not the middle east. .



While the press release and official ribbon cutting is tomorrow morning at 9, I got word that early afternoon today they are actually filling the tank. I plan on filling up with my first tank of b20 from them tonight after work!



Apparently it's pay at the pump w/credit card, sweet.

 

[LightmanE300]

The best way to get there if you guys aren't familiar, is take the chester exit off I-90 right downtown and head east. Turn left on e. 55th and payne will be your next major street.



I just called the station, and the b20 tank is being filled right this minute - should be available any time as soon as they're done filling!

 

[LightmanE300]

Ok I went after lunch today and filled up with the sweet b20 bean juice It was 2. 49/gal.



I took some pics with my phone of the pump and signage. I'll try to attach them. Sorry for cutting off part of the pic. It says "the fuel that pumps up our country. " The cut off part on the label says Made in the USA.

 

[SHobbs]

Despite what shobbs has said, you typically will not have to do anything about your filter or vehicle whatsoever to run B20. It's not solvent enough to really clean much. Most of the recommendations to change filters is when people are running biodiesel in higher percentages, like b100, in older high mileage vehicles. I'm guessing that either shobbs had a really crappy source of biodiesel, or an unusual amount of funk in his tank. I've run b20 excusively since 2001 in my mercedes, tons of b100 in my tdi, and b20 in the truck with no filter issues at all.



I believe the b20 pump in cleveland will be priced about the same as regular #2.

I am not the only one to encounter this. The owner of the place where I get the bio had the same thing on his Dodge Cummins and his big rig, his TDI was no biggie. The TDI is brand new. The reason I made the post was the fact that the older the engine and fuel system there is alot of crud built up over the years and the bio will wash it out. I have 152k on the ticker and I have put alot of fuel through it.

 

[Cattletrkr]

The "problem" with biodiesel is the same one encountered with ethanol when it first came out. It cleans out all the crap from previous fuel. I've got B30ish on order for tomorrw. I tried to get the guy to mix it stiffer, but he was concered about making too big of a jump all at once. Raise the level little by little to clean things out more slowly. I go thru about 450gal a month. Been running B5 since april. Price for B100 and #2 is virtually the same here. $2. 42--geesh

 

[Blakers]

on the corner of East 55th Street and Payne Avenue.

Be sure to go there only in the daylight!!

 

[DennyDay]

Be sure to go there only in the daylight!!

Sounds like some one else knows Cleveland. I go to the Collingwood rail yard on a regular basis and zip up tight when I exit I-90. But I'm going to head over there on the way back from Chicago the end of the week and give it a try.



Denny

 

[LightmanE300]

I dont think the area is quite as bad as you guys are making it out to be, but I haven't been out there at night too much to be honest. In the daytime it's very very busy. Do you guys really think it's that bad?



SHobbs - that would be the only way I could see it happening - as I figured you might have had high mileage. It's never a bad idea to have an extra filter with you (don't forget the wrench, doh!), but generally speaking, clogged filters are typically unheard of with b20. Oh well, stranger things have happened.

 

[lil red cummins]

fueled mine up there saturday afternoon. its a beautiful new station. not sure if i would be there after dark though. (the sceaming music in the car next to me was way annoying). it's very near the old hofbrau house restaurant which is unfortunately closed.



the south most pump was only running about 3 gal/min. seemed kinda slow.

truck is running great and seems to have more power than on diesel supreme, but then again it could be my imagination or wishfull thinking. mileage is holding at 20. 9 on overhead. mixed driving city and highway.



so hopefully there is some ohio made product in that sweet stuff. i'm glad to take the business away from opec.



jim

 

[DennyDay]

Lightman E300

Can you give us an update on the Cleveland BioDiesel facility - - I'm coming back from Chicago today and thought I might give it a try - - What is the current price?



Denny

 

[LightmanE300]

Denny - I'm not sure how much of an up-to-date update you want, since these posts were only about a week ago The price is similar to normal diesel, and I'm guessing will fluctuate similarly too. In any case, it SHOULD be more expensive considering 20% is a premium biofuel that gives us way more lubricity and a small cetane boost - let alone the domestic/patriotic benefits.



As Lil Red mentioned - the station is brand new, BIG, and very nice. It's in 'da hood tho... . come strapped with your 9 milly



Denny, you might find this site interesting - www.clevelandgasprices.com . Once you get there look in the upper left hand side of the page, and click 'diesel fuel' . IT will display the cheapest stations around cleveland, usually updated by the day. The rapid stop at E55th/payne is typically in there. .

 

[Blakers]

It's strange that they decided to debut Biodiesel in Cleveland inner city. It's about the last place you'd typically find a CTD or any other private diesel vehicles. Though there may be a good handfull of diesel Benz's, there'd be a better concentration of them in the Heights areas.



A Biodiesel station would sure get a lot more exposure if it were out on the main highways where the big trucks, RVs, and us typical big pickup guys tread. I personally avoid the inner city like the plague! And yes, if you have an Ohio concealed carry permit, use it.

 

[LightmanE300]

I asked Ray about the station location and he said it's very central - if it were on the east side the west siders would throw a fit and vice versa. The reality of the situation though if you think about it, is getting a station owner to actually buy into the concept and risk his business by carrying this alternative fuel. More likely than not, this happened to be a guy that was willing, and it turns out to be an inner city location.



Again, during the day this is not very far outside downtown, and it's a busy area.



Blakers, I'll tell you one thing, there aren't ANY station owners that plan their business around private diesel vehicle owners, nor do they care. They want all of the commercial fleets, dump trucks, semis, etc that consume far more fuel than we do. There is no shortage of tow trucks, fedex/ups, etc in that area. Granted I wish the station was up the street from me too, it IS a central location.



FYI Ohio reciprocates/honors 23 or so other states' ccw's by the way. I have a FL one that is good for 9 yrs or so and the cleveland office told me to just keep it until it expires, to save the hassle of the paperwork and having my name in the paper etc. It's still somewhat of a pain to deal with here in OH.

 

[lil red cummins]

by the way, the phone # of the rapid stop station is 216-361-9660.



i called over there at 6:10 pm and talked to a very helpful gentleman. bio is still holding at 2. 599 and may actually go down tomorrow. he said the wholesaler was seeing a slight drop in price.



jim

 

[DennyDay]

Went by there last night (10:30 PM on 8. 17. 05) after we finished an emergency at the rail yard, and just didn't feel comfortable with the mob - - nobody buying any fuel just hanging out. Also don't know if the $0. 15 a gallon premium is worth it. Fuel is $2. 459/gallon outside of Canton. Also I still had a half full main trank left from trip back from Elkhart, so I wouldn't be able to tell if I was getting better mileage. Did find another Biodiesel station at Salem, OH on the biodiesel.org web site.



Denny