What steps to change to B20?
 

Hello folks-

I have been running diesel with Power Service fuel additive in my 7.3, but I am very interested in switching over to B20. I have recently found a few stations in my area that are supposed to be carrying it, so at least locally, I should be able to find it.

I have a few questions however-
If you are travelling, what do you do if you can't find a biodiesel pump? Is it OK to go back and forth with regular diesel?

Are there any steps I need to take to prepare my truck to run Bio?

Do I need to use Lucas or some other product as a 'top lube' additive?

Are there any threads here in this forum that can help clarify some basics for a beginner and give me some directio on getting started?

All help is appreciated!

The only suggestion is to carry an extra fuel filter as bio will clean out your system and shove all the junk into your filter. Swithing back and forth will not affect your engine whatsoever. Youll want your addatives for the low sulfer diesel but b20 overcomes all of the lubricity factors. No addatives for b20, addatives for number 2.

Just dump it in and go..

The fuel filter clogging thing is half myth and half truth...
I tell folks to carry the extra filter just in case but after thousands of gallons served, I have not had one report of a filter actually clogging..

That's not to say it doesnt happen, but its rare..

Mike...you don't need to change a thing, or do anything to prepare for using B20, or any biodiesel mix (using straight unprocessed vegetable oil is different...that's where you have to make some changes). Your PSD is all ready to go. Fuel lines and associated gaskets and seals are all made of materials compatible with biodiesel in the newer models from around 1996 on.

No additives needed!!

When you can't get BD on the road, you can go right back to petro diesel with no problems...that is if YOU can stand it after running BD. The truck can take it, but I can't!!:-D You'll probably find that the truck likes BD better, too, I'll be installing an extra tank in the bed when I start traveling beyond BD suppliers.

Don't hesitate to try some BD!! You, and your truck, will love it!

As previously said "no modifications to B20" but if your fuel system is rusty/corroded. It will find a pinhole and start to leak easier than on #2. It will clean your fuel system squeeky clean and any rust , gunk from over the years will find its way to the fuel filter.

You won't have as many problems with B20 in a 2002, but in my 88 I went thru so many filters when I first started It almost made it not worth it, but then it just stopped, not more problems, but in a newer truck there is not as much corrosion in the first place.

You have a much greater chance of loosing a seal from running straight ULSD than you will ever have running Bio-Diesel, Ive run it now for over 3 years, and trust me I am a firm believer. My truck runs quieter and smoother.

one note though; I was running B35 this winter and for the first time ever it did gel up on me. But that was my own stupidity for not adding any additives.

I started running B20 in my 02 at 155,000 miles. I checked the filter every week because I was scared of it plugging up, but never noticed it getting dirtier than normal. Like others said switching back to #2 is no problem just have some additive handy if you're going to burn several tanks of it to help with lubricity.

I've been running B99 at least 3 out of 4 tanks for the last six months without issue.

Fat- I've never understood "B99"- why bother putting just 1 gal of #2 into 100 gallons of bio??

I'm not sure either. It just comes out of the pump that way...

Oh yeah. I went to school with Brian Burke, just thought you might know them.

I believe that with B99 it qualifies for a 99 cents per gallon rebate. At least that is what shows on my receipt here in Phoenix. The line reads "99% AGRI-BIODSL PRICE INCENTIVE" then lists the number of gallons at a price of -0.99 per gallon and then subtracts that from the total cost.

Blenders of Biodiesel receive a $1 per gallon rebate from the Feds for every gallon used, But DO NOT get the rebate for B-100. Some blenders pass the savings on to customers, but a lot do not...............:mad:

Gotcha- it don't matter to me as I have yet to find a commercial bio station here in so cal

Here is a list in Cal. I see a few in S. Cal. Hopefully near you. http://www.biodiesel.org/buyingbiodi...tate.asp?st=CA