Thoughts on Biodiesel...pros & cons
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From: Duncan, OK
Thoughts on Biodiesel...pros & cons
So I don't see much biodiesel around here in Oklahoma, and have almost no experience with it... but when I filled my truck up in ft smith yesterday the pump said ( contains 18% biodiesel ) My truck gets right at 16mpg on the highway, but with the bio-mix I got 17.4 mpg...( hand calculated ) who else is running it, and what's your experience been?
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I've been making and running 100% bio for about 5-6 years. I'm now running my 2006 6.0. Cost me about .50-.60 cents per gallon. When running 100% I do notice a bit of a power and mpg loss. I change my oil at about 4500 miles. I have heard of people experiencing an increase in mpg when blending diesel and bio. At 18% you should not have any problems. Some may say injectors won't hold up but you're running only 18%. On the plus, the bio will lube stuff better. Maybe run a little quieter too.
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From: Spanaway
I've been making and running 100% bio for about 5-6 years. I'm now running my 2006 6.0. Cost me about .50-.60 cents per gallon. When running 100% I do notice a bit of a power and mpg loss. I change my oil at about 4500 miles. I have heard of people experiencing an increase in mpg when blending diesel and bio. At 18% you should not have any problems. Some may say injectors won't hold up but you're running only 18%. On the plus, the bio will lube stuff better. Maybe run a little quieter too.
I am interested to know how acidic you oil is at 4500 and what other contaminates are
in it.
Also how are all the rubber parts holding up?
Thanks
Sean
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I've been making and running 100% bio for about 5-6 years. I'm now running my 2006 6.0. Cost me about .50-.60 cents per gallon. When running 100% I do notice a bit of a power and mpg loss. I change my oil at about 4500 miles. I have heard of people experiencing an increase in mpg when blending diesel and bio. At 18% you should not have any problems. Some may say injectors won't hold up but you're running only 18%. On the plus, the bio will lube stuff better. Maybe run a little quieter too.
without any issue, making it himself, and running 100% biodiesel.
supposed to lube the injectors better. his cost was in the same range
yours is.
and another friend who put it in his marine diesels and had to redo
two volve marine diesels. a very expensive experience. dunno where
he bought his, but it seems something in the process wasn't quite right.
i'd be inclined to use it if i was making it myself, i'd be leery of buying
it unless i knew who was making it personally.
sorta like buying moonshine, and finding out someone made it in a
used truck radiator, after carefully washing it out, of course...
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From: Stuttgart, Ar
AFA the affect of biodiesel on injectors it has something to do with what the combustion of biodiesel does to the engine oil and what the oil leaves in the injectors, specifically the spool valves. That's why I quit running it.
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If biodiesel isn't made correctly, it can be corrosive, have a high ash content, or even sludge up readily in mildly cold conditions. It can plug up filters more rapidly and can contribute to low fuel pressure.
There are a number of people using biodiesel successfully, so I know it can be done, but as fulthrotl said, I would be worried about the quality when buying it commercially. I bought it and filled 5 gallon containers so that I could add a 1/2 gallon every fillup. I definitely got some bad batches on occasion.
I know that not ALL of the soft goods in the fuel system are viton. I believe some o-rings are Buna N (nitrile rubber). It will swell with biodiesel exposure. The HFCM drain plug is a good example! So are the fuel filter o-rings I believe.
I agree that the most likely problem area (after fuel system restrictions from bad batches) would be if you ever had much fuel contamination of the oil. Polaris Labs is a good place to send oil samples and to contact for questions.
There are a number of people using biodiesel successfully, so I know it can be done, but as fulthrotl said, I would be worried about the quality when buying it commercially. I bought it and filled 5 gallon containers so that I could add a 1/2 gallon every fillup. I definitely got some bad batches on occasion.
I know that not ALL of the soft goods in the fuel system are viton. I believe some o-rings are Buna N (nitrile rubber). It will swell with biodiesel exposure. The HFCM drain plug is a good example! So are the fuel filter o-rings I believe.
I agree that the most likely problem area (after fuel system restrictions from bad batches) would be if you ever had much fuel contamination of the oil. Polaris Labs is a good place to send oil samples and to contact for questions.
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Not sure why this is, but Ford had thier reasons, so my 6.0 will only see a 5% max of biodiesel. Just enough to keep things lubed up and quiet down the injectors.
Of course if I can find the regular 15ppm diesel with no bio, I'll run that with some Diesel Kleen (gray bottle) and be done. <--- The 7.3 and 6.0 seem to like this combo better too.
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Bismic uses several places for analysis. Maybe he can give you some good suggestions.
AFA the affect of biodiesel on injectors it has something to do with what the combustion of biodiesel does to the engine oil and what the oil leaves in the injectors, specifically the spool valves. That's why I quit running it.
AFA the affect of biodiesel on injectors it has something to do with what the combustion of biodiesel does to the engine oil and what the oil leaves in the injectors, specifically the spool valves. That's why I quit running it.
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I ran over 100,000 miles of B20 in my 2005. It's quieter, slightly better mpg and smells better.
Although I used Blue-Sun at first and later Suncor B20 due to availability.
Currently I will use it sporadically, mainly due to cost, although the Murphy USA stations here used to be B5-B20 Biodiesel, they dropped it late last year.
I experienced 1-2 mpg increase with B20, but have known several that noticed a decrease.
Josh
Although I used Blue-Sun at first and later Suncor B20 due to availability.
Currently I will use it sporadically, mainly due to cost, although the Murphy USA stations here used to be B5-B20 Biodiesel, they dropped it late last year.
I experienced 1-2 mpg increase with B20, but have known several that noticed a decrease.
Josh
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I've heard, read, and seen this too...
Not sure why this is, but Ford had thier reasons, so my 6.0 will only see a 5% max of biodiesel. Just enough to keep things lubed up and quiet down the injectors.
Of course if I can find the regular 15ppm diesel with no bio, I'll run that with some Diesel Kleen (gray bottle) and be done. <--- The 7.3 and 6.0 seem to like this combo better too.
Sent from my mind thanks to the Internet and an app.