20% Bio Fuel at Flying J/Pilot

See Cummins service bulletin 3379001

C-Bears wrote:
I am no engineer or diesel mechanic, but while using B20 in California I know I lost an average of almost 1mpg. I added fuel additive during that time. I guess my point is if you have to purchase B20 it should be priced accordingly, like about $3.20 a gallon.

I haven't noticed a difference, but may depend on engines. In fact before we left on our last trip I had a full tank of B20, other couple had a full tank of regular diesel. At the first fuel stop we both took the same amount of diesel within 0.2gallons on a 20 gallon fill, This was a "regular B5 diesel fill" At the next stop, again abou 20 gallons both within 0.2 gallons of each other. In both cases he was in the lead, I followed, exact same route and speeds.

So, from that one experience, my fuel economy was the same with B20 or B5.

Unlike ethanol, Biodiesel has very close to the same energy content/gallon as regular diesel. And it has better lubricity and higher Cetane is also higher. much less clatter when the duramax goes from pilot to normal injection at higher RPM.

C-Bears wrote:

Just Lee wrote:

My question is do ALL the Flying J/Pilot's now have 20%? If that's the case they have lost me as a customer..

Thanks Lee......

Getting back to the original post for a second.....pulling my 5th wheel through the west this summer I was not seeing any B20. I only use Pilot, Flying J, and once and while Loves. As soon as I crossed into California....first Flying J had B20. I kept going and next station was a Pilot....B20. The rest of my time in California (about 2 weeks) the only fuel I found at any Pilot or Flying J truck stops was B20. I had been averaging about $3.75 a gallon until I crossed into California and started paying $4.10 or more for French fry grease B20!

It is just California. I have been in 22 other states during 2014 and used those stations and have never found B20.

Reasonbly common/easy to find B20 in Oregon as well. No fuel tax on it so it is generally $.24/gallon less expensive than the state mandated B5.

I am no engineer or diesel mechanic, but while using B20 in California I know I lost an average of almost 1mpg. I added fuel additive during that time. I guess my point is if you have to purchase B20 it should be priced accordingly, like about $3.20 a gallon.

What exactly would be the negative effects of bio diesel blended fuel in California's climate?

Just Lee wrote:

My question is do ALL the Flying J/Pilot's now have 20%? If that's the case they have lost me as a customer..

Thanks Lee......

Getting back to the original post for a second.....pulling my 5th wheel through the west this summer I was not seeing any B20. I only use Pilot, Flying J, and once and while Loves. As soon as I crossed into California....first Flying J had B20. I kept going and next station was a Pilot....B20. The rest of my time in California (about 2 weeks) the only fuel I found at any Pilot or Flying J truck stops was B20. I had been averaging about $3.75 a gallon until I crossed into California and started paying $4.10 or more for French fry grease B20!

It is just California. I have been in 22 other states during 2014 and used those stations and have never found B20.

GoPackGo wrote:

hotpepperkid wrote:

GoPackGo wrote:
Murphy stations also have a sticker on the pump stating there could be 'up to' 20% biodiesel in there diesel fuel.

Which means we don't know what the percentage is in our fuel

True.

But what it really means is that if your vehicle cannot tolerate B5 - B20, then you better not fuel up from that pump.

What it really really means is the gov is going to stuff bio fuel down our throats like they did ethanol and tell us its for our own good

hotpepperkid wrote:

GoPackGo wrote:
Murphy stations also have a sticker on the pump stating there could be 'up to' 20% biodiesel in there diesel fuel.

Which means we don't know what the percentage is in our fuel

True.

But what it really means is that if your vehicle cannot tolerate B5 - B20, then you better not fuel up from that pump.

GoPackGo wrote:
Murphy stations also have a sticker on the pump stating there could be 'up to' 20% biodiesel in there diesel fuel.

Which means we don't know what the percentage is in our fuel

eheading wrote:
That is strong evidence. Thank you, that eases my mind considerably.

Cummins suggested using special filters, do you do that in your trucks, or do you just use the regular fleetgard filters (or other "standard" fuel filters - you can tell I have a Cummins)

Ed Headington

Regular filters. I really do not know of specific bio fuel filters.

When bio diesel first came out, there were some problems. The bio tends to "scrub" out systems. So, when put into vehicles, or storage tanks, that had used regular diesel for years, it tended to "clean out" the accumulated crud. And plugged filters. However, once the system had had a couple filter changes, all was well from then on. I never had this problem, but some did.