Cold starting with bio-diesle

[eltonmcrae]

Been using my brother's F 250 running on Bio-diesel (100%) for about a month since I came to Atlanta. Yesterday and today the temp was low approx 33. Had difficulties starting both days, once started no problem runing or restarting Glow plug seems inadequate to heat the fuel. Is there a heating coil that can be installed to help when the weather is so cold? Elton PS. Batteries are new.

[fabmandelux]

Welcome to FTE! At those temps you need to blend down to about B80 or B60 to avoid cold start problems. B60 is 60% bio and 40% D2, and B80 is 80% bio and 20% D2. B100 gels at different temps depending on the original feed stock.

When you get a chance you might want to check out your state chapter here: http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum82/

[eltonmcrae]

Thanks, try a mix in the morning.

[eltonmcrae]

Did not improve much with the blend. However some one told me that here is a block heater available, how effective are they?

[Rushmore X]

Block heaters are good, but still need to make sure your mix isn't gelling. Add a couple gallons of straight Diesel, or an additive. When I got caught by surprise earlier this winter I used Diesel Kleen... Bio's gell point can be in the 40's, depending on the oil that it came from and its quality...

[eltonmcrae]

Thanks, would keep that in mind.

[Buzzard_Wing]

I run B100 in the summer but slack off in the winter. To blend you need to put the diesel in after (bio will sink when added).

I found it 'gels' around freezing (mine is made from waste cooking oil) and according to a guy I talked to at Howes, no 'anti-gel' additive works effectively on Bio.

It may be worthwhile to change the filter....

[zhilton]

Originally Posted by eltonmcrae

Did not improve much with the blend. However some one told me that here is a block heater available, how effective are they?

Like everyone else has said, the block heater won't help with the fuel gelling. But to answer your question about the block heater...what year is it? I know all of the 7.3L & 6.0L were built with them, but only up to the '04 model year did all of them come with a cord out the front.

If it's a 7.3L...the cord will be on the driver's side:
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums
(this link is to the 7.3L forum, there isn't a tech folder listed like the 6.0L forum)

If it's a 6.0L...the cord will be on the passenger's side frame rail:
Diesel Technician Society

I don't spend much time outside of the 6.0L forum...so I have no clue about the 6.4L or the 6.7L; I did look in the 6.4L tech folder...but there isn't anything about the block heater listed in there. I'll echo what Don said, welcome to FTE.

[IABill]

Here ya go. http://www.technol.com/index.html

They have a B-100 product but say it is only good for soy based BD
Used it down to about 20deg on my home brew but i have not bought any more just went back to pump diesel in the winter months cause i was chicken to try it in any colder weather.
If you are using a good quality mass produced bio that is not fat based you should not have starting issues @ 33 deg you might want to check all glow plugs for opperation when I did mine last fall only 3 of 8 were actually working. Started ok down to about 40deg but lower than that it was a bear......

[binuya]

Some pics of different bio blends in a thread I have in the '99-'03 7.3 forum: http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/10...zing-temp.html