Kerosene or Winterized Diesel for Winter Blending?

[tpendergraft]

I was wondering if it is more effective, in your experiences, to use pure kerosene for blending with home brew biodiesel in the winter or just to use winterized diesel (which I guess contains a lot of kerosene too). I ask this because kerosene is typically 20 - 40 cents per gallon more expensive than diesel in the winter. But, if I only had to use half the amount of kerosene to cut my biodiesel… for example if I could run a 80/20 (biodiesel/kerosene) or a 60/40 (biodiesel/winterized diesel) at the same cold weather performance, the kerosene, although more expensive initially, would be more cost effective since I would have to buy less of it and also could in turn use more biodiesel all winter.

Any thoughts?

[Spencnaz]

What type of temperatures are we talking about? Remember that bioD made from soy will start to cloud at about 38 degrees F. Canola is much better at 25 degrees.

As for mixing, I would just mix 50/50 biodiesel and winterized #2 with an amount of diesel antigel. If you are going to get really cold at night, plug in your truck, run 60/40 with kerosene and antigel.

I haven't seen any antigel yet for biodiesel around here in the Seattle area, doesn't mean it doesn't exist though.

When mixing, put in your petro products first and then put in your biodiesel, biodiesel is slightly more dense than #2 and will settle down through the #2 to make a complete and thorough mixture in your tank. As you are driving, fuel circulation from the IP of your engine back to the tank will promote further mixing.

I had to learn this the hard way last winter when some commericial B99 gelled up on me during a cold snap here in Seattle.

[tpendergraft]

The lowest temps I can expect to see around here are the low twenties, very rarely does it get into the teens for an extended period of time. With regard to the biodiesel antigels they do have some avaliable for B100, but none that I have seen are cost effective even if they work as advertized. At the current prices winterized diesel or kerosene are much more effective biodiesel antigels.

Thanks for the blending tips, I will have to remember to add the diesel first. Plugging in my truck really isn't an option since I have to part in a parking lot over night.

So my question remains... is kerosene a more potent "antigel" than winterized diesel or are they about the same? Please share any experiences that you have.

[forrestkk]

I found this additive. I've read on some European forums that it works really well...I am trying to get some so I can try it and if it works I want to sell here in the US. Might help though.

Kevin

http://www.biofuelsystems.com/wintron.htm

[tpendergraft]

Wintron is a promising additive but it is just simply not cost effective.

Look at the totals, 1 liter treats 100, or about 26.5 gallons. For a total price of $1.50/gal for WVO processed fuel (including all expenses and utilities) + ($51.35/liter for wintron + shipping) for a total price for 26.5 gallons of fuel at: $91.10/26.5 gal

If I had a B50 mixture of biodiesel and regular diesel say at $2.50/gal the total is: $53 for 26.5 gallons

If I had a B25 mixture of biodiesel and regular diesel say at $2.50/gal the total is: $59.63 for 26.5 gallons

Even if the Wintron works 100% as advertised, and I haven't used it... it is still just not economically feasible, its nearly twice as expensive.

http://www.biofuelsystems.com/shop/p...products_id=37
29.38 British pounds = 51.350364 U.S. dollars

[ak_cowboy]

we hacd a cold winter here nad it was regularly down to the low single digits. I was running roughly 30% bio and had no problem. I started out with 50/50 but had to stop every half a mile to put a torch to the filter to thaw the fuel. I won't do that again. Oh by the was that is on #1 dino diesel or as some p[eople refer to stove or furnace oil.

[01crewcabtg]

I second the thanks on blending tips. I fuel up in Fife and the Bio-diesel station is located before the Flying J, so I've always done the Bio first. Since I hardly ever frequent this forum there is a very could chance I've missed things about anti-gel. Howes makes a very good ani-gel product. Is this kind of product not what you guys are talking about?

[Spencnaz]

The only antigel products I've used were for petrodiesel used in a 50/50 mixture with biodiesel.

CRC makes a very good antigel product with added lubricity for use with kerosene, I think it comes in a grey bottle.