[Invader1]

They just started selling Bio-diesel in Santa Cruz and it is actually a few cents less per gallon than I had been currently paying for #2 so I decided to take the plunge and fill up. Especially since I am almost done with my Appleseed processor I wanted to see how the truck would run on Bio.

Here is what I have noticed so far.

1) Did not really notice any reduction in engine noise. This surprised me as everything I have read says that the motor will run quieter on Bio.

2) I do seem to notice that there is a slight bit less power. Although I just noticed that I was out of propane the other day and this could be why it feels a bit less powerful.

3) Smoke is reduced by about half. Especially on Tony's extreme/race program.

4) The smell of the exhaust is totally different. Not sure what to compare the smell with but it is not any more pleasant than with #2

I will post any other things I notice in the future as I just filled up yesterday.

Oh one other thing. I had to fill out a form with my address and phone # on it and an estimate of how many gallons I would use in a month for them to sell it to me. I think it is a California thing. Anyone else have to fill out such a form in California or in other states?

Invader

 

[frobozz]

[ QUOTE ]
1) Did not really notice any reduction in engine noise. This surprised me as everything I have read says that the motor will run quieter on Bio.


[/ QUOTE ]

What percentage biodiesel was it? My '97 pickup, and the 1982 Mercedes both got way quieter with B20 and up. Another question would be what you're driving. If it's a really new quiet diesel (the latest Cummins Ram, say) then maybe the effect isn't as pronounced.



[ QUOTE ]

4) The smell of the exhaust is totally different. Not sure what to compare the smell with but it is not any more pleasant than with #2


[/ QUOTE ]


My commercial soy-based biodiesel exhaust smells like a cross between corn on the cob cooked whole on a grill, and the exhaust from those little Cox .049 hobby engines (which use Castor Oil based fuel, so that makes sense.) Even if it isn't more pleasant, you can rest assured it's less toxic, and not as bad for the environment.

Duncan

 

[Invader1]

It was B99 and I had about 1/8 of a tank left of #2 when I filled up.

And yes, that's what the exhaust smells like!

Invader

 

[frobozz]

[ QUOTE ]
It was B99 and I had about 1/8 of a tank left of #2 when I filled up.


[/ QUOTE ]

Ah, my second question (what kind of truck) must have looked stupid, but in the reply screen it doesn't show the .sig!

Well my same year same engine truck gets noticeably quieter on even B20, and I've been running it at 50% or more recently. We'd put maybe 120K miles on it before I ever tried biodiesel and I had become very familiar with what it sounded like, so I'm pretty sure it's not a placebo effect; it really is quieter. Not nearly as quiet as a new Ram or Duramax, but still far quieter than normal.

I wonder if some or all of your extensive mods were already making your truck quieter, thus a less pronoucend change? Mine's still got the original parts.

Duncan

 

[Gandalf]

[ QUOTE ]
They just started selling Bio-diesel in Santa Cruz and it is actually a few cents less per gallon than I had been currently paying for #2 so I decided to take the plunge and fill up.

Oh one other thing. I had to fill out a form with my address and phone # on it and an estimate of how many gallons I would use in a month for them to sell it to me. I think it is a California thing. Anyone else have to fill out such a form in California or in other states?

Invader

[/ QUOTE ]

The only paperwork I've ever done buying bio-diesel in San Jose is signing the M/C slip.

I suspect, since the station is new to bio-diesel, that they're running a survey to help determine whether its a good business decision, and how much to order from the distributor--ie projected sales. If they find that there aren't enough buyers in the local area then (read repeat customers) then there's no sense in their selling it.

What station in Santa Cruz is selling B99? This would be good to know since I come over the hill every now and again.

 

[SCMike]

Gandalf,
It's the USA station on 7th and soquel ave. $3.15 a gallon (I saw 2.99 for #2 at a Rotten Robbie on Mission st,Sant Cruz) and a very light blend of 99.9% bio. The forms were basicaly info or release of liability when the auto co. try to get out of their warranties...by signing you are using it at your own risk...
Mike

 

[waterdude]

Hey Invader,

I'm right down the street in South Felton (near the Bigfoot Museum). I've got a 40 gallon processor setup with 20+ gallons of finished bio. I'm off to the hose shop today to get my particle fuel filter setup for this weekend's filtering.

Drop me a line if you want to talk about bio. SCMike is a friend of mine too.

--Hugh

 

[Rickie]

Your results are interesting. You say that your exhaust odor is different. That is expected. I thought that mine had a more bearable, almost pleasant smell.

You mileage and power observations sound correct, but I never noticed a drop in mileage or power.

Engine not quieter. That is counter to all the expected results. Could be because you do not have stock injectors.

Could be the type of bio stock used. My experiments were all with soy-based bio and one tank of vegetable oil-based fuel, not WVO. The vegetable oil-based fuel actually had a pleasant odor while the soy-based was less obnoxious than straight #2.

 

[jpblues]

I ran my first tank of B99 last week (the tank had maybe 3 gallons of #2 left) and found the engine to start slower (it just kind of spun to life, no snap), a reduction in power and mileage, with the same engine noise as #2. I paid about .35 cents per gallon more to try it for the novelty. I won't be buying more unless the price drops to at least match what #2 is selling for.
The USA on Thompson st. in Ventura has the B99 if anyone's interested.

 

[hheynow]

[ QUOTE ]

Oh one other thing. I had to fill out a form with my address and phone # on it and an estimate of how many gallons I would use in a month for them to sell it to me. I think it is a California thing. Anyone else have to fill out such a form in California or in other states?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yup, I've filled out that form. It's a California thing because California classifies B99.9 as an experimental fuel. That's why its availability is limited to those who join a biodiesel user group (BUG) or join a coop. I think it's a CTA (cover their azz) form releasing them (the seller) from liability from what biodiesel can do to a vehicle...degrade old rubber fuel lines, gel in cold temps, prematurely clog fuel filters and remove auto paint.

 

[williamgargan]

when I signed up for the coop in Berkeley they said I should fill it out. then they whispered, 'But you don't have to use your real info'.....

 

[Rickie]

[ QUOTE ]
when I signed up for the coop in Berkeley they said I should fill it out. then they whispered, 'But you don't have to use your real info'.....

[/ QUOTE ]

Reminds me of Dharma's parents on Dharma & Greg reruns. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif Only in Berkeley.

 

[PRDATR]

[ QUOTE ]
Yup, I've filled out that form. It's a California thing because California classifies B99.9 as an experimental fuel.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have been signing a log book @ Western States pertroleum in Phoenix the last few fill-up also over the last few months.

 

[RichZ]

PRDATR,

Do they only sell B100 at the Western States station? I was looking for some B20 around Mesa to try in my PSD. I see there is a station in Tucson that sells B20 but we will have the fifth-wheel hooked up when we go through there next month and I don't know how hard it will be to get in and out.

 

[Powerstroke2000]

I filled up for the first time with Biodiesel, and they had a representative come out to explain the fuel to me. They told me it might be a good idea to start with B5 (5% Biodiesel) regarding the issue of the solvents in Biodiesel cleaning out the tank/fuel system...then to change my fuel filter after 2 tanks, and then perhaps move up to B20.
I believe B90 was the highest version they have at this particular station here in western Canada.
Here though...B5 was about 5 cents per litre LOWER, and the more Biodiesel you get....the LOWER the cost.
Apparently it has to do with taxes, as with it being so new the gov't hasn't taxed it yet, so they are passing the savings on to the customers (quite fair of them).

At any rate, it's not real easy to find yet here, but hopefully there will be more of it in the future. With B5, and the drive I took today, I found no differences at all with the minimal amount of Bio in my fuel.
Perhaps after a few tanks, and I move on up to B20, I will see some differences, but by what I've read on it, you should actually see better efficiency...not sure if that meant in power or fuel mileage, but with the price being lower right off the bat, it makes it worthwhile to try.

Dale

 

[OMCUSNR]

Dale,

Your usage of bio-d should depend more on temperature than anything else. B-20 should be good to about 30f, and will not act like the cleasning agent B-100 would. It will start to cleanse, but it won't plug anything up immediatly.

We have B-99 available here, and I usually put 5-g(us) in and then top w/ #2 (makes it about B-13. I do this for cost reasons, as around here bio is MORE expensive than #2 by about 0.50 /g. I've had no problems with gelling, but we rarely get below 30.