20% Bio Fuel at Flying J/Pilot

Raften wrote:
Jnharley, that is a lot of stuff to replace, what truck do you have? With the exception of injectors, I have a hard time understanding why.

From the Cummins website: What materials are incompatible with biodiesel?

Natural rubber, butyl rubber and some types of nitrile rubber (depending on chemical composition, construction and application) may be particularly susceptible to degradation. Also, copper, bronze, brass, tin, lead and zinc can cause deposit formations. The use of these materials and coatings must be avoided for fuel tanks and fuel lines. Fuel fittings and connectors are acceptable due to the small surface area in contact with the fuel.

Storage problems,"Use biodiesel fuel within six months of its manufacture date. Biodiesel has lower oxidation stability compared to petrodiesel. Avoid storing equipment with biodiesel blends in the fuel system for more than three months."

This Cummins article discusses the problems with bio-diesel, particularly with older engines...Cummins and bio-diesel

Like down home said, use a biocide. I forgot to last winter and payed the price in clogged fuel filters. Except for the very basic diesel engines a fuel pressure gauge is a very important item, bio diesel or not. Around 8,000 gallons of B100 run thru my Dodge and others, no problems other than the ones I caused.

We had biodiesel available here but I don't see the sign any more. Government/ArgiBusiness has determined we will have to get use to it though.
When that is all we can get winter operation, we may have to add a fuel heater. Our 05 does not have one.
Biocides are going to have to be a real consideration, for vehicles that sit a bit with biodiesel in the tank. I put some in every year.
When it starts showing up in storage tanks, at Retailers, it will be a nightmare.
I wonder if they are including any biocide in their fuel?

hooligan wrote:
Since there is government assistance (subsidy) provided for distributors selling biodiesel, its availability will continue to increase.

For Flying J/Pilot you can check fuel prices and biodiesel levels here: FlyingJ fuel

Plus, both corporate and family farmers have been getting more money per acre to grow crops for biodiesel than for food products. Notice the rises in prices of corn, soy, etc.? Plus the rise of cereals, etc.? Been going on for several years now.
:(

We do not use bio diesel period. And yes, Dodge will deny a warranty claim based on bio diesel usage. The government is trying to reduce the use of foreign oil and does not care what it will do to your vehicle.

Most of this stuff is the same sort of malarkey that they said, or are still saying, about ethanol. This B.S. about new injectors, lines, filter, and stuff is just someway for someone to make easy money off of you. You may have to change you filter out at first. That's about it.

But, by now you have been running bio-diesel in your rig and never even knew it so I'll bet you have the system acclimated by now. A fungicide is a good idea though. Especially for RV's that set around a lot and don't get used.

I live on the farm. We have used 1000's and 1000's of bio diesel in every type of diesel engine without issue. But, we do put a fungicide in the storage tanks.

"First of all it is not the ONLY thing available in a town. Second is if you are going to be lazy and put it in your truck then keep on using it and don't switch back and forth from B20 to B5 or straight diesel as this will cause the most problems. Second is to use a fuel stabilizer in every tank of biodiesel though at reduced concentrations as compared to having the vehicle stored."


Wintersun - This is a fine solution if you do nothing except drive around one city. But keep in mind many of us travel across many states so this flat won't work. Especially in some western states where there may only be one or two choices for fuel when you pull of the highway after driving all day. I have run some of all the different blends this summer - could not be avoided.

Tim

After reading this thread, and looking around the web, it looks like most diesel will be B20 withing a year or two. I am wondering, if the State you are passing through mandates B20 at the pump, and you cannot get anything else, how can a manufacturer deny warranty claims? It would be different if you had a choice, but it looks like most states in 2015 are mandating B20. I did learn one thing, carry a spare fuel filter, it is not the B20 itself that clogs them, but all the other junk that has collected in the system prior to you using it, I guess B20 really cleans up the fuel tank and lines.

Jnharley, that is a lot of stuff to replace, what truck do you have? With the exception of injectors, I have a hard time understanding why.

New injectors, additional filters, new hoses and seals, and an additional fuel heater are just some of the things required to convert our B5 truck to B20. And regular fuel us not available in lots of places. It is difficult to find non bio diesel in Illinois and Minnesota has mandated B15 statewide starting 1 May 15.