new to bio diesel

[ironworker15]

hey im new to the site i have a 2001 f-250 7.3 cc sb 4x4 and was wondering if i can run it with biodiesel and what grade???

Thanxs

[Spencnaz]

First off,

Welcome to the forum, there are lots of great people and resources on biodiesel here.

Now to business:

Yes your truck can run biodiesel. In fact any diesel engine can run biodiesel. Your truck is no exception. I'm assuming you have the 7.3L Powerstroke? There are many here with that engine running 100% biodiesel (aka B100) and making it for themselves.

I have a 6.9 and it's done wonders for the engine, it's smoother, makes great power and less noise.

As for grades, what you'll probably see will be the percentage of biodiesel mixed with petroleum based diesel (aka #2 fuel). A common mix is B20 which is 20% biodiesel and 80% #2 fuel.

You can mix biodiesel in any proportion with #2 fuel up to 100% biodiesel.

I have been running B50 due to the colder winter weather. Biodiesel can start to gel up below 40 degrees F depending on the plant stock it was made from, soy beans, etc. Canola seed has a much lower gel point.

When you start to use biodiesel, be sure to have an extra fuel filter ready to swap in when the existing one clogs. Biodiesel is a fantastic solvent for the accumulated gunk in the fuel tanks and will send this gunk to clog your fuel filter. I have to replace a fuel gauge sending unit in my rear tank and am curious to see how well biodiesel has cleaned out the tank.

On your newer truck also, the fuel lines are all VIton hose, so biodiesel will not soften them. On vehicles older than 1994 this can be an issue as biodiesel can over time weaken rubber hoses leading to fuel leaks and alr leaks into the fuel system.

A great site to check out that lays the facts out on biodiesel is www.biodieselcommunity.org

Hope this wasn't too much information, but starting out in biodiesel or any endeavour requires accurate information to be successful. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[ironworker15]

Hey Thanks a ton for the response!I think im goign to buy the fuelmeister and give it a shot.Do you make your own diesel? And once i start using bio diesel do i have to keep using it or can i switch back and forth between petro-based and bio.Thanks again for the response.

[Nitro454]

don't waste your time on the fuelmeister, build your own appleseed and use the money you save for methanol and KOH(or NaOH). search for some of the bad reviews of the fuelmeister, I'm sure it will soon change your mind.
as for switching between B100 and dino, I do it all the time. the engine doesnt really care as long as it is getting fed. The weather has been real wacky here in indiana lately, and I've been running B100 down to 28*. Though it is not usually reccommended, I've had no problems to date.

[ironworker15]

Thanks for the reply.can you point me in a direction as to where i may find directions on how to build an appleseed??

thanxs again

[vjohnson23803]

Ok, I have been running soy bean oil all summer. Do not run Bio. Check out this link - www.dieselsecret.com. I love the product, no by-products, no heaters. Read up on it. Be sure you follow the instructions to the TEE!! You add, or switch back to reg diesel anytime, you need no tank heater, and so on. Read up, and enjoy.

[ORHunter]

[ QUOTE ]
Ok, I have been running soy bean oil all summer. Do not run Bio. Check out this link - www.dieselsecret.com. I love the product, no by-products, no heaters. Read up on it. Be sure you follow the instructions to the TEE!! You add, or switch back to reg diesel anytime, you need no tank heater, and so on. Read up, and enjoy.

[/ QUOTE ]Ignore above post. Do a search on it on this site, it is bogus.
vsjohnson is most likely a distributor or a spambot. The link to a beginning reading on appleseeds is: biodiesel community ( former b100) another: forum for bio
read up and get started.. I agree with the priors, don't spend big $$ on a prefabbed setup. Build your own for under $300 or so.

[rcdallas]

Wow, this is the first response on dieselsecret that I have seen, after countless posts on various sites on people inquiring about it.

Perhaps we can finally know what the secret is. So what's the secret?

Randy

[h2odrx]

the first post? that is old hat here!! some have tried it, or wasted $40 i should say!! do a search i know it has been talked about alot!!
good luck and try this book! Girl-mark's book!!!!

[ironworker15]

So i should just stick with making my own appleseed

[Spencnaz]

Yes make your own Appleseed design. You should spend 200 bucks tops on making one. Water heaters can be had for free and in good working order from many scrap yards and plumbing shops.

I just finished putting together another reactor today in my shop for my mobile processor unit.

By all means, steer clear of the FuelMeister, DieselSecret and just make an Appleseed.

www.biodieselcommunity.org has all the plans for the water heater biodiesel processor design.

[girlmark]

wow, a thread on all the products.

You can build an Appleseed reactor easily (the biodieselcommunity.org links) , or can pay a little extra to some of the several kit vendors who sell the parts (like www.b100supply.com or www.diyfuel.com- I"m not associated with either of them in any way, I just like the fact that someone's selling the parts for those who are afraid of the hardware store run-around).

the cool thing about the Appleseed processor is that besides being really cheap and very sturdy, thousands of people seem to have built them by now, so if you need any information about how to make biodiesel in it, you can get help almost 24 hours a day on this forum or these forums:
www.biodiesel.infopop.cc
and www.forums.biodieselnow.com
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/biodieselbasics

enjoy the hobby!

Mark

[h2odrx]

[ QUOTE ]
wow, a thread on all the products.

Mark

[/ QUOTE ]

we like to be open minded, it helps us find the truth!!

[jbealer]

I would like to know the same. What is the diffence and if you feel so strongly about it. Share why you are so.

Thanks,

DustBowl..... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]

[h2odrx]

i am guessing you want to know why the appleseed is better?
i would say it's design and that it was a hot water heater, so it can handle it! i'm just not so sure the fuelmizer can handle batch after batch? i think it will break down over time? i want to be safe and live a long time!!!