what do I do after biodiesel gelling?

[Sri Ram]

Temps in the upper 20s/low 30s this morning…about 90% soy biodiesel in tank. I knew it would be a crap shoot. Truck chugged to work barely making 25mph. I assume fuel filter clogged with gelled fuel. Temps should be in the 40s this afternoon. Question: am I going to have to change the filter, or will the gelled fuel 'soften' in the warmer temps and unclog itself? TIA



(Also posted in Alt. Fuels forum)

 

[RWWinslow]

IMO change the filter and clean the fine mesh screen on the upstream side of the fuel heater.



AMOCO Oil Company engineering did extensive research in the 1960's on diesel fuel filter plugging, fuel cloud points, fuel gel points, etc. (Note that cloud point is a term and ASTM Test Procedure that was applied to conventional diesel fuels - as the fuel temperature dropped, the fuel would turn cloudy long before it would gel. The cloudy appearance was the barely visible formation of waxy precipitates that would continue to increase as the fuel temperature dropped. These waxy precipitates would then plug the fuel filters. ) The research found that a dirty fuel filter will increase the chances for partial to full fuel filter pluggage on susceptible fuels when the temperature starts to drop.



On some of the first generation CTD's, a very fine mesh screen was installed on the upstream side of the fuel filter heater. If this is dirty it will also promote flow restriction when the temperature drops.



With respect to bio-diesel, many of these formulations are actually esters that behave quite differently than conventional diesel fuel at lower temperatures. You might want to research the formulation and determine what, if any additive could be used to lower the fuel cloud / gel point.



Give me a call on my work phone if you would like to discuss in further detail.

 

[Greenleaf]

... ... ... ... . so, your gelling? I thought that was a GOOD thing, no?

 

[Grey Wolf]

... ... ... ... . so, your gelling? I thought that was a GOOD thing, no?

:-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf

 

[Sri Ram]

yep, it's all coming together, now! :-laf

 

[PeteFleming]

I have been running 100 % biodiesel in both trucks (gen1 and 2) for 2 months with no problem, BUT: as the temps drop, I have gone back to petro diesel because of your problems. I am working on an aux tank that I can use quick connects; Insulate, heat with a coil from the cooling system and monitor temp from the cab. The people who run straight vegetable oil use this system with two seperate switch controlled valves that power off default to the stock position (available at JC whitney for about 50 dollars each. )

The people who use this system start and shutdown on regular petro diesel during cold weather. Two valves are used to delay return to tank selection in order to keep fuels seperate. Running the last five miles on petro diesel purges the fuel system and "gaurantees" you a good start and warm up period to switch back. Bio diesel is supposed to be a good counter to this ultra low sulfer but I don't think it will work in cold wx as an additive. Good luck.

 

[Headshot zod]

leave a couple of five gallon containers of #2 by a radiator, when they are hot dump it in the fuel tank, drive around and swish the fuel around so it gets mixed. Get a heated second tank (think wvo kit) to run b100 during the winter

 

[Ggg]

You do not need to change the filters, once the fuel is warm enough to melt the wax that has solidified they will flow again. I have had many off road equipment gell in the winter, I will take the filters off to heat them up if I can't get the equipment inside. Another solution is to run a lower % of Bio.

BTW normal diesel anti gell agents will not work on Bio because it is not petrolium based.