The cheapest diesel in town is Bio Diesel and about 30 cents a gallon cheaper then a non Bio Diesel Station. Is it worth it to Run Bio Diesel?

 

Maybe. At the risk of insulting, just realize that it probably has a lower BTU than straight diesel which in turn lowers the mileage / range. At a minimum I would add lube to the bio mix fuel. Naturally this presumes the fuel is not veggie and is a BXX mix.

Not sure that I would tow heavy using bio unless adding lubricant and cetane booster to the fuel which would eat into the per-gallon savings.

 

Straight biodiesel or mixture? What percentage?

 

I use to go to this station all the time when it was a Shell station and I don't remember if it had the little sign saying it could contain a low percentage of biodiesel, but it just changed to a Mobil station and now the diesel pumps have BIODIESEL in bold 8" letters, I think is more than 20%.

I do run a Cetane additive regardless if I use a percentage of biodiesel or not. I think I have talked myself out of going back there.

 

Most pumps around me are labeled Biodiesel between B5 and B20. I have not noticed a problem.

 

For the billionth time, our trucks do not need lubricity so no additive is needed. That's a wives tale. And you can absolutely tow heavy with bio fuel. It makes no difference. Me thinks this stuff is way over thought.

OP, you didn't verify the percentage of it. 10? 20? 100?

 

Biodiesel has more lubricity than ULSD anyway... much more! Every time I've run it, my engine is noticeably quieter and it runs just as well as ever.

 

Not sure how. There is nothing in the 7.3 that fuel would quiet down. The injectors are oil driven, so nothing there.

 

A paper from the National Biodiesel Board (see attached pdf)

Other articles: https://www.bellperformance.com/bell...fuel-lubricity


https://www.sciencedirect.com/scienc...76610215013879


A bunch more with a google

 

I'm not offering to explain it either, just reporting my observation that the engine has a distinctly smoother and slightly "duller" tone when I've run tanks of BD10.

 

I know it's already been discussed to death, but the only thing on the 7.3 that benefits from some lubricity is the fuel pump itself... A $90 fuel pump. And there's already additives to the fuel at the refinery. The lubricity problem has long been debunked and is not an issue like it was the first year that changed over to low sulfur....anyways, those articles talk about the fuel, not what additives do for the 7.3...which is nothing. But if someone wants to keep spending needless money on needless additives, more power to them. I'm just trying to save people the headache and a little bit of money in their wallet.

 

Wasn't looking for an explanation. Glad it's quieter for you.

 

How about the Cliff's Notes version? Not being a jerk, I haven't read the other discussions.

It sounds like you are talking about the 7.3L specifically, not the question of the lubricity of biodiesel vs ULSD.

On THAT subject, however...wouldn't the highest pressure portion of the injector (fuel is x 7 pressure via the intensifier, right?) be better lubed?

 

I am an alt fuel user, since 2003. I have even operated on 100% uco/wvo.
(The condition many nay sayers predicted would ruin engines...well, I am still here and still driving.)
You name it, my truck has consumed it. AND my truck continues to be the daily driver.
Many people talk about what if's...I continue to experiment and succeed.

OP-Go ahead. Fill her it.

 

it could ignite slower, lessening the diesel rattle.