Oklahoma,
nice post, but may I try to de-bunk the myth that Rudolf Diesel ran his engines on veggie oil or even constructed his diesel engine for use with peanut oil. That is simply a myth. His engine was built to run on a type of refined crude (today we call it diesel fuel), which Diesel considered the fuel of the future.

on edit: just corrected a spelling mistake.

 

Thanks canuck999! Always glad to know when I'm wrong so I don't spread it any more. A good example of reading or being told something and then it becomes truth without facts. I did a search on web. It was surprising how many sites I found with peanut oil at Paris Fair for Rudolph! I had heard and actually read this many times for years.

Thanks again and have a great day,
OK

 

Is any one using bio-diesel? If so what what blends and how has it performed, not from a power stand point but economy and maintenance side. Would there be any problems running it in the earlier pre super-duty PSD's

From what I've found in the Atlanta area it's about .62 cents more a gallon.

John

 

folks, please accept this long post, it might be well worth reading.

For what it is worth, here is some information that I picked up at the Shell and Esso websites in Germany (search criteria "shell deutschland" and "esso deutschland" respectively):

In 2001 a total of 1,100,000 hectares of "Raps" (which I translate rightly or wrongly as Canola) was grown in Germany, of which 300,000 hectares were used to produce biodiesel. One hectare is 2.47 acres. The total production of biodiesel, after processing, was 300,000 metric tons. One metric ton = 1.1 US tons. Esso states that biodiesel is made by processing canola oil with methanol. The tone that I pick up (rightly or wrongly) on these two websites is that they would rather have this whole issue go away, but since they cannot swim against the current, they at least pay it lip service and say they are going to open biodiesel stations with a mix ration of 5 to 95. (5% veggie oil, 95% refined diesel)

A further google search with the criteria "biodiesel deutschland" points to the site: www.biodiesel.de, which is owned by the german subsidiary of Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), Decatur, Illinois, USA. ADM seems to be one of the leading manufacturers of biodiesel in Europe. Again, lots of good information, but you have to be able to read german or else use one of the internet translator (like google's).

I have driven diesel cars in Europe that were running on bio diesel and I could not tell the difference. Unfortunately, I did not pay attention as to the fuel being pure biodiesel or a mix of biodiesel and refined diesel. My reading tells me, that both pure biodiesel and mixed biodiesel are available at fuelling stations in Europe and next time I go there, I shall pay better attention.

From discussions with automotive engineers in Europe I know that the fuel system of diesel engines has to be modified to run on pure bio diesel. Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Skoda, Seat, Volvo and VW offer such modifications on their new diesels. (please note that Ford owns Volvo and thus this technology is Ford technology)

It cannot be disputed that both Ford (under its own name & Volvo's) and GM are building diesel engines in Europe. These engines are quiet, have lots of power and are very fuel-efficient. I have been there and driven them. These engines are low on pollutants and conform to the EU-4 standard, which is very stringent. Ford is also cooperating with Peugeot on the particulate filter, which reduces harmful NOX emissions even further. Self-maintaining particulate filters that do not need replacement are already on the market (Daimler-Chrysler, for instance). Mind you, NOX emissions become less of an issue with biodiesel!

Further, one of the leaders in Europe as far as biodiesel is concerned is another American company, ADM from Decatur. And the last time I checked, Illinois was still in the US.

NOW:
1.) Why can we not have these great diesel engines that Ford and GM produce over here?
2.) Why is biodiesel not freely available over here?
3.) Why is the option of having your new vehicle equipped to run on pure biodiesel not available over here?
4.) Whose business, revenue and profits would get hurt, if we started to drive fuel-efficient diesel vehicles over here?

It doesn't exactly take a rocket scientist to figure that one out.

OK, so why does Europe have all these great diesels, that sip fuel, are clean burning, can accept biodiesel? Two word answer: CONSUMER PRESSURE

Until such time as we all make it known that we shall no longer accept the bovine scatology that car manufacturers and BIG OIL is feeding us, nothing is going to change and we will drive fuel guzzlers.

Meanwhile, I am going to drive my F-350 PSD. It is the best I can get.

 

I just picked up on this thread and am very intrested. Farmboy has got the right thought going. The oil companies are not going to build new refineries or distilleries to create the "bio" additive for diesel. In NJ where I drive the environmentalists would make any new facility cost prohibitive.

So we have a problem. The US can reduce its consumption of oil, At least in Diesels, by adding the proper bio product. Who wants to do that and at what cost? The oil companieS? No they tried gasahol a number of years back and where did that go? What if the farmers not only grew the bio, but offered for sale the bio product that could be added by the consumer. What if they sold through companies like Lucas or Amsoil to name a few? Granted the consumer would have to be a bit more conscious of how much bio to add to the regular fill-up. I mean I dump stabilizer in during the winter and reduce how much I put in during the warmer times of the year. I wouldn't be opposed to buying a 55 gal drum and adding my own 5% mix. I mean a 35 gallon fill-up would mean pumping in 1 3/4 gallons. I guess one question I would have to ask is: How exact does the 5% blend have to be to not cause damage or drastic changes in fuel economy, etc?

I feel the consumers need to not only create the need, but find ways to circumvent the oil monopolies. I was also ready about some reasearch done to create hydrogen using a converter that would use a corn based oil as the basis for conversion. I believe the research was done out of a university in either Wisconsin or Iowa.

 

I have 2 55 gallon drums of B-100 I've been meaning to try. Anyone in the western washington area who wants to try it with me is welcome. I figure at a 10% BD to 90% diesel I can get some good data. No cost as the BD was given to me to try out.

 

I'll have to say that you got a steal there! For our testing we got 5 gallons of it donated by the local fuel man. But he told me it costs $2.46/gal for B100. And that much B100 should last you quite a while! Good luck with it!!

 

I think this probably needs to be in a different forum now. I enjoy the political and independent issues with alt energy but I don't want kicked off FTE or at least this forum. This is my last post on this particular thread.

There are lots of web sites out there on this. I encourage you to explore. Some of the best are in Europe, but several are contunually popping up in U.S. Don't make BD yourself without proper instructions and equipment. Try Josh's site if interested in making yourself. You'll see what I mean when you do a search. There are better filtering systems you can make.

Jharvey3. There are lots of people burning BD. You might only find a dozen or so from this forum. Please don't think it's indicative of it's use in the many makes and years of diesels out there. Join some of the many BD or alt energy forums out there.

Canuck999, it depends on the 'rubber' parts of fuel systems for diesels to be able to run B100 dependably. You will see from alt energy web sites that you can run B100 in any diesel you want to without modifications. True, but not for everyone in all situations. My 95 for instance. I am not running B100 until I get the word from Ford exactly what the 'rubber' components are made of, I get the PU paid off, or I buck up and stop being a timid chicken. Running WVO or SVO you need slight modifications to your vehicle; an inline heater or radiator heater exchange system (for viscosity issue), etc. Probably what you were told is a difference in terms or the issue of being 100% compatible with seals or something.

Farmb0y, try $3.00 a gallon for B100 here in central Oklahoma! That is the lowest I have been able to haggle out of a petro distributor. Still trying to get cheaper though! You have to pay for the new drum in that price for new soy BD.