The cheapest station in town is Shell who uses B20 additive. Is this good or bad? Is cheaper really better? Is there a diesel brand that has no bio fuel in it?

 

B20 is not an additive, but a designation that the diesel is blended with 20% biodiesel. B50 is 50% biodiesel, B99 is 99% biodiesel, and so on.

Did you check the other pumps at that station? Chances are, that there are other pumps with lower blends.

 

Personally, I like B20 and biodiesel in general. I has better lubricity and higher cetane than most places that sell straight #2 road diesel.

It's a trade off though, it has less BTUs so you get less MPG, but you get less soot - which if you are running a truck with a DPF in it, it regens less.

Also, becareful as Bio is a great solvent/cleaner. It has been known to clean a tank up and clog fuel filters. B20 is supposed to the be "sweet" spot for Biodiesel use, where you get the most BTUs, the least amount of NoX emmissions, highest lubricity and cetane.

 

B20 is 20% alternative fuel, could be animal fat based or vegetable based. and cetain is the inverse of octain. low cetain is desirable in diesel fuel, for power, however low cetain fuels are hard to start in cold weather. most things that have oil in the name will burn in a diesel engine, with the exception of the newest high pressure common rail systems, that need fuel with consistent quality to maintain tune, and not damage the pintal in the injector.

 

it depends on your local. in NY no diesel has biofuel in it. in NJ some pumps have B5 some do not.