As with all vehicles, EPA requirements are changing what we may or may not run for fuel.

My knowledge of maritime use of heavier fuels dates back to the 70's when I was hauling fish out of Glouster Mass. from the fisheries.

What the trains were using for fuel was from the 80's when I worked for the Burlington Northern in Denver after retiring from over the road driving.

Still goes back to the basic fact these engines are capable of running on a variety of fuels, but weither or not they are legal to burn is a different story.

I have to wonder, that ship running bunker fuel, I wonder what the cost difference of bunker fuel compared to #2 diesel is?

And then looking at things like trains and boats that were burning heavier fuels that are now burning #2 diesel to satisfy the EPA, is there any wonder the cost of diesel is higher than gasoline?

 

Last time I saw Bunker was maybe $.40 cheaper than #2.
The only tugs I've seen running it were from Crowley, but they are long distance ocean towing tugs (big horespower too).

The monetary gains aren't often enough to justify the space and/or equiptment on many small vessels.
We're an 81ft tug, when wide open towing we burn 2000gallons a day. The cost savings on even such a small boat as ours is easy to see, tho we have neither the room (nor the trained staff) to handle multiple fuels.

Drew

 

Has anyone run Purinox? It's a 20% water/fuel emulsion put out by Lubrizol. They make all of the additives that all of the oil companies put in their oils. It's been out for several years now. It's supposed to run cooler with slightly less power than straight diesel.

 

I've heard about that stuff a few years ago when researching biodiesel. I seem to remember california passed a law requiring it to be available on a commercial scale. Is this even safe for older fuel systems? They also forced the use of some "aerated" gasoline that is also supposed to burn cleaner.

In both cases, MPGs take a hit and the cost per gallon is of course higher. Should be a real coup for road tax and carbon tax revenue.