Biodiesel
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,955
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From: Eastern PA
Biodiesel
Can you buy strait 100% biodiesel, and add it to the tank with a regular fill up if you are not convenient to a place that sells biodiesel? Like can i fill up a 5gal tank and then with each fill add some? Or does it have to be pre mixed?
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: northern,california
I splash mix my biodiesel during the winter months. I first put diesel in the tank and then drive to the biodiesel source and fill up on biodiesel. I have been mixing to around b60 to b70 the last few tanks. The biodiesel is warmed from the above ground tank so it mixes well and doesn't gel. Biodiesel is heavier than diesel so it is best to add biodiesel to the top of the tank. After driving around for 10 miles or so it is all blended together. If the weather is going to be really cold I just add a little diesel to the top of the tank. Biodiesel will gel around 32 deg depending on the feed stock. So I try to have a 10 deg margin of safety.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 6
From: Eastern PA
I was thinking of taking a 5gal tank to the biodiesel source, and just adding some in every tank. I don't fill up terribly often so that BD would last me a good 2 months at 2% or so. I'm really mainly after the cleaning ability that comes from BD, not diehard to run it at all times. A 5gal gas tank I can keep in my basement, ambient temp around 60F, without a problem.
with BD2% is it still safe to add power service, or is it no longer necessary at that point?
with BD2% is it still safe to add power service, or is it no longer necessary at that point?
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 853
Likes: 0
From: northern,california
I was thinking of taking a 5gal tank to the biodiesel source, and just adding some in every tank. I don't fill up terribly often so that BD would last me a good 2 months at 2% or so. I'm really mainly after the cleaning ability that comes from BD, not diehard to run it at all times. A 5gal gas tank I can keep in my basement, ambient temp around 60F, without a problem.
with BD2% is it still safe to add power service, or is it no longer necessary at that point?
with BD2% is it still safe to add power service, or is it no longer necessary at that point?
You still can add power service or whatever additive you want but with biodiesel added you wont need the additive for lubrication. The additive would still help keep the fuel system clean. I personally just use biodiesel to keep the fuel system clean but it needs to be a high % of bio to be effective.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,955
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From: Eastern PA
How high % do you need to clean? I was told after a tank or two of BD5 you'd need to change your fuel filters because it cleaned the junk out of the system. All I really want to do is run a couple tanks of BD a year as part of general maintenance. Is there anything you need to do to run a high % of BD before you just dump it in?
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 853
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From: northern,california
When I really noticed a difference was when I started using B50 and higher. When I started using bio I started with b5 and added a little more % of bio on each fill-up. It took around 2 or 3 months to work my way up to b50. I changed my fuel filters every 4 tank fulls. A lot of the cleaning effects depends on how much diesel sludge is in your fuel system. With the new diesel (ulsd) there shouldn't be too much. Here is some good reading for you.
National Biodiesel Board - www.biodiesel.org - www.nbb.org
National Biodiesel Board - www.biodiesel.org - www.nbb.org
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Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,743
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From: Peoria, IL
Just a little friendly reminder, Ford still says running more than 5% bio can void your engine warranty. I just got a flier in the mail with coupons for discounts on oil changes, tire rotations etc, and it had a warning about it right on the bottom of the flier.
I really think they need to get rid of this silly requirement though. It's getting very hard to find fuel around here that doesn't have more than 5% bio. Most of the tanks near me say that they can have anywhere from 5 to 20% bio. These are large Mobil and Shell stations. I can understand Ford being leary about letting everyone run home-brewed B99 etc, but I would think that Mobil, Shell, etc. have good enough quality control that their fuel shouldn't be causing issues.
I really think they need to get rid of this silly requirement though. It's getting very hard to find fuel around here that doesn't have more than 5% bio. Most of the tanks near me say that they can have anywhere from 5 to 20% bio. These are large Mobil and Shell stations. I can understand Ford being leary about letting everyone run home-brewed B99 etc, but I would think that Mobil, Shell, etc. have good enough quality control that their fuel shouldn't be causing issues.
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: northern,california
I only did this once. Once I was up to B50 the tank is clean and there is no reason to change the filters except at regular maintenance schedule. So that was 3 filter changes in 3 months. Yes, biodiesel is a bit more expensive and there is definitely a learning curve and you need to monitor your truck a little more. It's the price to pay for oil independence. I like to think that maybe I am making a deference. Cleaner air, recycling veg oil and better lubrication. I also like the smell of the exhaust.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 853
Likes: 0
From: northern,california
Just a little friendly reminder, Ford still says running more than 5% bio can void your engine warranty. I just got a flier in the mail with coupons for discounts on oil changes, tire rotations etc, and it had a warning about it right on the bottom of the flier.
I really think they need to get rid of this silly requirement though. It's getting very hard to find fuel around here that doesn't have more than 5% bio. Most of the tanks near me say that they can have anywhere from 5 to 20% bio. These are large Mobil and Shell stations. I can understand Ford being leary about letting everyone run home-brewed B99 etc, but I would think that Mobil, Shell, etc. have good enough quality control that their fuel shouldn't be causing issues.
I really think they need to get rid of this silly requirement though. It's getting very hard to find fuel around here that doesn't have more than 5% bio. Most of the tanks near me say that they can have anywhere from 5 to 20% bio. These are large Mobil and Shell stations. I can understand Ford being leary about letting everyone run home-brewed B99 etc, but I would think that Mobil, Shell, etc. have good enough quality control that their fuel shouldn't be causing issues.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,285
Likes: 1
I only did this once. Once I was up to B50 the tank is clean and there is no reason to change the filters except at regular maintenance schedule. So that was 3 filter changes in 3 months. Yes, biodiesel is a bit more expensive and there is definitely a learning curve and you need to monitor your truck a little more. It's the price to pay for oil independence. I like to think that maybe I am making a deference. Cleaner air, recycling veg oil and better lubrication. I also like the smell of the exhaust.