Biodiesel...Go for it or not?

[indystroker]

I recently purchased an 01 Powerstroke. Thought about running biodiesel fuel. Local place has it. B2/B5 is what it says on the pump. What does this mean and what are the pro's and con's of Biodiesel?

[F350_6]

I started running B20 when I could find it when my truck had 155,000 miles on it. I've only got around 310,000 miles now, but the engine seems to do fine with the biodiesel so far.

Things to note. The number after the "B" is the percent of biodiesel in the mix. B20 means 20% biodiesel and 80% regular diesel. B5 is 5% / 95% mix. Bio will gell at a higher temperature than regular #2, but if you stay in the 2% - 5% range, the risk is lowered.

Biodiesel also has better lubricity than regular diesel, especially the new ULSD. Many of us use a fuel additive with regular diesel to add lubricity. That is not required with Bio.

B100 does have a lower BTU content per gallon than #2 diesel, so slightly lower MPG's can be expected, but with B5, the difference is usually not even noticeable. Once you get over B20 you may start to see a slight drop in MPG's, but you will also notice your engine seems to sound smoother.

[indystroker]

There are 8 stations within 20 miles from my house carrying B2/B5. One station is actually about 5 blocks from my house. Think Ill give it a try.

Thanks for the info!

[Spencnaz]

Go ahead and use biodiesel. Running biodiesel comes down to three important issue.

Quality, quality, and quality. There are some very simple tests and test kits you can buy on the internet you can use to verify the quality of straight biodiesel.

[kevinj1]

Run as much bio as you can your truck will thank you, I bought 150 gal 2 yrs ago when the guy delivered it we got to BS'in about the process to make it. ever since that's been gone I've been making my own, not only for the $$$ $aveings but its a neat hobby.

[jas504on]

with an heat exchange unit from your radiator you can run 100% WVO with no problems, have done it for over 30,000.

[over the edge]

How is that set up?

[BiodieselPlace]

Originally Posted by jas504on

with an heat exchange unit from your radiator you can run 100% WVO with no problems, have done it for over 30,000.

You can, but sooner or later your injectors will pay the price.

[longwolf]

Originally Posted by BiodieselPlace

You can, but sooner or later your injectors will pay the price.

Seems like the savings from 30,000 miles of fuel should more than cover a new set of injectors and a new IP and tires and .....

[BiodieselPlace]

Originally Posted by longwolf

Seems like the savings from 30,000 miles of fuel should more than cover a new set of injectors and a new IP and tires and .....

Sure.
Just that if you would have run biodiesel instead (B100), you wouldn't need to spend any of that money on a new set of injectors, HPOP etc...
I've seen injectors pulled from a 7.3 PSD engine running SVO.
The problem again is: how anal are you going to be about purging.
If not, you can expect problems.
Just my 2 cents.

[Matt0987]

Originally Posted by F350_6

I started running B20 when I could find it when my truck had 155,000 miles on it. I've only got around 310,000 miles now, but the engine seems to do fine with the biodiesel so far.

Things to note. The number after the "B" is the percent of biodiesel in the mix. B20 means 20% biodiesel and 80% regular diesel. B5 is 5% / 95% mix. Bio will gell at a higher temperature than regular #2, but if you stay in the 2% - 5% range, the risk is lowered.

Biodiesel also has better lubricity than regular diesel, especially the new ULSD. Many of us use a fuel additive with regular diesel to add lubricity. That is not required with Bio.

B100 does have a lower BTU content per gallon than #2 diesel, so slightly lower MPG's can be expected, but with B5, the difference is usually not even noticeable. Once you get over B20 you may start to see a slight drop in MPG's, but you will also notice your engine seems to sound smoother.

So, B20 would be 80% diesel (#2?) and 20% what?

When you say 20% biodiesel what do you mean? Is not biodiesel diesel and something else? What is the something else?

When you buy it, what have they mixed in it?

[Matt0987]

Originally Posted by over the edge

How is that set up?

And, what about waste vegetable oil (WVO)? When I was a boy we had waste bacon grease on the stove for cooking. It jelled pretty quickly.

If you get WVO from your local chinese food resturant, for example, does it not also jell pretty quickly? Not as bad as bacon grease, of course. But would not the impurities from cooking cause it to jell pretty quickly?

And, would not these impurities clog your filtration system pretty fast?

If the oil was "clean" would not the resturant just use it over again?

How do you retrieve the stuff? From where? Do you get charged for it?

What kind of work do you have to put into the stuff before it is safe to use?

How do you know if it is safe to use? What tests are involved?

And - Indystroker - if I just hijacked your thread let me know. If these are questions you were looking for answers too then let us know that, too, and we can continue this direction. If this is the wrong direction I can start another thread.

[F350_6]

Originally Posted by Matt0987

So, B20 would be 80% diesel (#2?) and 20% what?

Exactly. B20 means 20% biodiesel and 80% #2 diesel. B50 would be a 50/50 mix.

As far as WVO and bacon grease you're thinking of fat that gells up solid. Think corn oil or wesson vegetable oil that you put in a fry daddy. That stays oil at room temperature.

[Matt0987]

[quote=F350_6;1834145]Exactly. B20 means 20% biodiesel and 80% #2 diesel. B50 would be a 50/50 mix.

Please excuse my ignorance here. I have heard of biodiesel, as everyone else has, but I am unaware of it's makeup?

When you say 20% biodiesel. What is it made up of? I thought that biodiesel was a percentage of diesel and something else? So, from my thinking, and again I have no clue what I am talking about here, that is why I am asking, B/20 would be 80% diesel and 20% something else.

Whereas you said that B/20 is 80% diesel and 20% biodiesel.

What is this 20% biodiesel made of?

I have always felt somewhat ignorant when it comes to these alternate fuel mixtures and I am hopes you can help me out.

Or, am I just really showing how thick my brain is here?

[F350_6]

Originally Posted by Matt0987

What is this 20% biodiesel made of?

It can be made of many things. #2 diesel comes from crude oil. Biodiesel is made from soybeans, or algae, or some other renewable resource. Here's a link for you Biodiesel.org - Biodiesel 101