New to Bio

[lone_star_dsl]

I have just started looking into bio. I am interested in running bio for the first time. I'm not quite sure about what % of bio I can run. Is B-100 safe or should I start with B-5? Do I need to make any modifications to my truck? I havent found any places locally to buy Bio-diesel and I am wondering if Bio can be shipped commercially? Thanks

[lone_star_dsl]

Nobody knows?

[Spencnaz]

First off welcome.

Patience is sometimes required on this site, as people try to read all the posts.

As for your questions:

1. No modifications are needed for your 7.3, just have a couple of extra fuel filters handy. Biodiesel is a really good cleaner and will clean out all the crud in the tanks. You can just put 100% biodiesel in the truck with no problems.

2. Biodiesel can be mixed in any proportion with regular petrodiesel. B100 is 100% biodiesel. B20 is a 20% blend.

3. Since biodiesel has a very high flash point, you can buy it online in 5 gallon cans, I dont have any links handy for you right now but it can be done.

4. Have you considered making a biodiesel processor? You could always check out www.biodieselcommunity.org for more information. I've been making homebrew for about 5 months here and had only one glitch from the batch of oil not processing fully.

[kc_maverick]

I started out running B-20 since that was what the retailer carried. It was just like running 100% petro diesel, only the exhaust smelled a bit less pungent and the engine was a LOT quieter. Recently, I've found a source of B-100. I'm alternating fills with petro Diesel now which equates to around a B-60 blend. No problems yet. I have never plugged a fuel filter, but I do carry one with me. Even petro Diesel can plug a filter if you get a bad load.

Ford recommends a maximum blend of B-5. Just their way of saying, if you have fuel problems, don't call us. That's true also if you get a bad load of petro Diesel. Your problem, not theirs. There is no reason that your truck cannot run B-100 safely without modifications, except the ambient temperature. B-100, depending on the feed stock, can gel at relatively high temperatures. In Texas, you have one of the most hospitable locations for B-100 in the country. Even so, I would suggest that during winter, you keep some petro Diesel in the blend. There is little research on how much you need, so you might want to poll others in your area that have experience. Where I live, I'm told 25% to 30% petro is needed.

There is no reason that Biodiesel cannot be shipped commercially. Its not even classed as a hazardous material. After all, it is just refined veggie oil.

Here's a link to some information that I found extremely useful. It makes great bed time reading!

web page

[dssamp]

Welcome to the wacky world of BIOD. Your 7.3 will run absolutely great on B100....depending on the weather. I have an 01 that sounds like the new 6.0's on biod and smells great to boot. There's tons of data out here. Read a lot & check out "girl mark". She has a book out on biod and has probably helped out more of us than she knows.
LocalB100 web site
The link above will get you to a bunch of data/info and
this: Girl Marks' Book site
should get you to her book site. I don't work for her in any way, shape or form....but I do have a copy of her book. It is not "professonally" printed but gives you enough info to build your own system and make your own biod. Good luck. Burn Biod! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]