Biodiesel

[Wallis]

New to TDS. Owned an F350 5.4L with zero problems for 5 years. Now I'm looking to get smart on diesels. What's the community opinion on Biodiesel?

[Ford_Forgotton]

You should check out our biodiesel forums on this site.

CLICK ME for Bio-D

[GrampyJim]

Warranty is very specific on biodiesel content. It really doesn't matter what you see or read.... If warranty coverage becomes a concern, stepping outside manufacturer recommendations can have adverse effects.

There will be many that aver that the use of high concentrations of biodiesel have had no adverse effects on their trucks..... I have no way of proving or disproving these allegations. However, if you have a concern that draws fuel quality into question, the use of anything above 5% biodiesel may add uneeded stress to your life.At this point, I can only remind you that I am the "messenger"... shoot me if you like.

[FloridaEd]

Just for info....

Manatee County (Bradenton) in Florida has converted all their school buses to a 20% biodiesel blend. They cite lower maintenance costs ( I assume longer oil change intervals...not sure what else). An article in St. Pete Times newspaper said they expected to save about $40,000 per year in fuel costs as that blend of biodiesel is about 10 cents a gallong cheaper around here.

Also, same paper reports an application in Hillsborough Co (Tampa) to construct an biodiesel plant on east side of Tampa Bay. There are lots of crops grown in the central Florida area to supply raw materials, plus they can easily import raw materials by ship. Looks like the plant will get regulatory okay...not sure about the economics.

For me, I don't run biodiesel if I know about it and have a choice. Just cautious as I want my PSD to last a way long time and I don't want to take ANY chance of damaging it.

My 2 cents.

Florida Ed

[mannytranny]

Biodiesel is better than diesel.

Far better lubricator, and that means far less injection system wear, and in many cases less engine wear as evidenced in oil analyses.

If you are running a blend, all you really need to do is make sure that the fuel is clear. (IMO)

Ive got 10k+ miles of B50-80 on the Duramax, and the injector balance rates are significantly better on biodiesel, and the engine runs a lot smoother, oil stays cleaner longer.

I wont go back. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]

[h2odrx]

[ QUOTE ]
Biodiesel is better than diesel.

Far better lubricator, and that means far less injection system wear, and in many cases less engine wear as evidenced in oil analyses.

I wont go back. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

that is right i've read in an offical report some where(can't remember where?) but Just 1% biodiesel ups the lube by 65%! thats enough for me!
if i use more more lube!

[Spencnaz]

I'll chime in here about the merits of biodiesel.

My 6.9 is so much smoother and quieter when running biodiesel. NO clattering of injectors.

Aside from the cold-weather gelling issues I had as of late, I have no complaints about the use and manufacture of biodiesel.

I too have noticed a longer oil life in my truck as well. The 6.9 is a very 'sooty' engine and really punishes engine oil. I have observed that the oil stays clearer for a longer period of time when running biodiesel.

Also, no huge clouds of smoke when I tromp the fuel throttle. I know that some really enjoy the smoke production, but I prefer to be more discreet in my generation of horsepower [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[m35a2]

yea,If you think wear and tear is bad now,wait till next June for you folks in kalifornicate and January 07 for the rest of the nation.Currently 500PPM sulfur.That changes to 15PPM at the above dates.The Sulfur is what Lubricates the pumps in older mechanically injected diesels.Without it or without lubricant additive put back in,all the old 6.9L,7.3L,350(are there any that still run?),6.2l,6.5L,12 valve cummins,etc will be broke down on the side of the road due to trashed fuel system.I won't run anything less than B5 in any mechanical diesel.

[girlmark]

[ QUOTE ]

My 6.9 is so much smoother and quieter when running biodiesel.

[/ QUOTE ]


I have heard his truck and I think 'quiet' is kinda relative when it comes to 6.9's...

Mark

[OMCUSNR]

I've got an 03 6.0. I've been running b-20 about every other tank since new (I can't get to my Sequential b99 supplier every time I need to). The truck is noticably quieter & smoother w/ the b-20 mix than w/ #2.

[kc_maverick]

I started out with B-20. Truck was noticably quieter after driving about a mile. Since then, I have been mixing in B-100 to get about a B-60 blend. Sounds about the same. Smells different and smokes less under hard acceleration. Exhaust smells like hot oil in a frying pan. Definitely less irritating to the nostrils than petro diesel. On cold mornings, more water vapor is evident from the exhaust pipe.

Biodiesel has several advantages: improved lubricity, lower emissions, naturally high cetane rating, it's sustainable, and can be either made from waste vegtable oil or good old American farm products.

Biggest disadvantage is that it does gel at higher temperatures than petro Diesel so if you live where it gets below 40 degrees, you will have to cut it with petro Diesel or use an anti-gel additive during the cooler months.

And perhaps the greatest advantage(s) of all are moral and political. It's a "green" fuel, no war is required to obtain it, no Americans need die for it, and profits are not exported to terrorists that want to murder us and destroy the American way of life.

I'm willing to pay a premium for it... and do.

[Spencnaz]

[ QUOTE ]
The Sulfur is what Lubricates the pumps in older mechanically injected diesels.Without it or without lubricant additive put back in,all the old 6.9L,7.3L,350(are there any that still run?),6.2l,6.5L,12 valve cummins,etc will be broke down on the side of the road due to trashed fuel system.I won't run anything less than B5 in any mechanical diesel.

[/ QUOTE ]

The sulfur doesn't do anything for lubrication. The process to remove the sulfur in ULSD destroys the lubrication qualities in the diesel fuel.

The removal of sulfur is to lower SO2 (sulfur dioxide) pollution which is a major component in acid rain (H2O and H2SO4 (sulfuric acid)).

As for those who will be using ULSD instead of biodiesel, the only products that I would recommend are Stanadyne products and Motor Silk. Motor Silk puts a coating of boric oxide on the internal pump mechanisms, creating an anti-friction surface 85% the hardness of diamond.