Wintertime and BioDiesel...

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Dec 6, 2008 | 09:07 PM

CobraGT40

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Tuned

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From: Aurora, Iliinois

Wintertime and BioDiesel...

Hi all...its been a while since my last post !
I had a question about BioDiesel blends. I live here in the Northern Illinois area and the temps have started to plummet. Does anyone know of a good fuel additive to keep the fuel from waxing ? I haven't had a problem further than a couple hard starts and maybe a sputter here and there, but a budd of mine has an older 3/4 ton with the non-intercooled PSD and her said he had his rig sputter and die on more than one occasion. Mine is a 2000 3/4 ton.

Any suggestions ?

Thanks !

Scott

Dec 6, 2008 | 09:41 PM

spence13e

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From: KS

there's a number of options. many seem to use the white bottle of diesel kleen, which is ok. i would recommend standadyne performance or the motorcraft stuff. i used some stanadyne and it impresses me greatly, but is pretty tough to find and more costly. currently using a 50/50 blend of the motor craft cetane booster and winter/anti-gel stuff. there's a couple other varieties around, but i've never used them.

Dec 7, 2008 | 12:32 AM

tazo

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From: northern,california

Biodiesel will gel up at 32 deg F or higher. In the winter I blend from B80 to B50. When going to real cold climates I will blend to B20. There is nothing on the market (that I have heard of) that will lower the gel point of Biodiesel except dino-diesel. Biodiesel mixes very well with dino diesel. There are other things that you can do to the truck. Block heater, Fuel tank heater and a fuel filter heater. I just installed my block heater and it helps start the truck when it's cold out (mid teens). I used B80 to B50 all last winter and I would see low 20's on a regular basis and never had a problem.

Biodiesel.org - Cold Weather Information

Dec 7, 2008 | 12:45 AM

CobraGT40

Thread Starter

Tuned

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 493

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From: Aurora, Iliinois

Most of our BioDiesel in these parts is 10-20% blend with hydrocarbon fuel ... I been plugging it in at nite when it gets below 20F, but we can get -20F easily with wind-chill. Its bad enough to be stranded when its 80F and sunny...LoL

There are still some places that sell 100% Hydrocarbon fuel, but I don't wanna drive 20 miles outta the way for it, if ya catch my drift...So I think I'll just pick up an additive to toss in the tank at fill ups...All I gotta do is find the right one

Thanks !

Scott

Dec 7, 2008 | 01:36 AM

redford

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From: Stephensville WI

Most of the diesel you buy in the upper Midwest should already be a winterized blend. If in doubt, ask the fuel supplier.

Still, adding an anti-gel additive is good insurance.

Dec 7, 2008 | 07:21 PM

rmosso1

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From: MACON, GA

Hey over there a half world away! What happened to your correct post totals. I know you had more than 6500 posts. Certainly our moderator will check into the problem and correct it post haste.

Sorry to see your cheesers lost today. Deep down I also felt sorry for the boy coach from DALLAS. Ole Pittsburgh used to put the same job on his DADDY, Bum Phillips. Wade will mature and get used to regular losses in Pittsburgh.

Oops, sorry I see I misread. My eyes are still in the snow, after returning from the mountains of WPA yesterday.

Dec 7, 2008 | 09:39 PM

redford

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From: Stephensville WI

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmosso1

Oops, sorry I see I misread. My eyes are still in the snow, after returning from the mountains of WPA yesterday.

The Packers have dropped 3-4 games this years like that, last second scores by the opponents. It's still better than what I expected with a Q'back in his first year as a starter.

Still in A'stan, will be in Kabul for a little over 1 month, then probably back to J'bad.

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Dec 8, 2008 | 04:40 PM

Beerstalker

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From: Peoria, IL

Quote:

Originally Posted by redford

Most of the diesel you buy in the upper Midwest should already be a winterized blend. If in doubt, ask the fuel supplier.

Still, adding an anti-gel additive is good insurance.

This is the way I understand it as well. Most of the suppliers switch to a winterized blend with little or no bio in it. They just don't bother taking the stickers off the pumps that say how much Bio is in the fuel. If in doubt ask the clerk.

The station I fill up in back in Rock Falls puts another sign on the pumps stating that they do not have bio-diesel available in the winter months (but they still have the sticker on the pump that states the fuel contains up to 20% bio-diesel).

As far as an additive goes I use Power Service in the white bottle. It is a lot easier to find than anything else, and is rated pretty well in most of the tests I have seen (not quite as good as Stanadyne or Opti-Lube but it's much easier to find in a store). I usually find that Blaine's Farm & Fleet has the best price on it.