10% biodiesel in Minnesota

[cdru]

Minnesota has mandated 10% biodiesel. How is that going to affect the engines? It will go to 20% later on. cdru

[rowekmr]

Interesting info. I wasn't sure on this and asked the last mechanic who did the work on mines and he said to avoid the stuff but I have pulled into some gas stations that only carry bio diesel. I thought I read somewhere that it has better lubricity than the standard diesel fuel is this true? How is it's cetane rating compared to standard diesel?

[Redsky]

And is Ryanw821 offering to pay your repair bills or the cost for an attorney to go to court to get Chrysler to reimburse you? If not he should shut up.

GM starting in 2011 had a fuel heater and other modifications so that their engines could burn B20 fuel. But any problems caused from the use of B20 is not covered under the manufacturer's warranty for the engine. Above all else do not switch back and forth from biodiesel and regular diesel. Stick with one or the other.

Per General Motors for their diesel engines:

Owners who have very low fuel usage or who have vehicles stored for extended periods of time should avoid the use of biodiesel. Storage at hot ambient temperatures will accelerate biodiesel degradation.

When vehicles will be stored for extended periods of time (greater than one month), they should be run out of biodiesel to below 1/4 tank, refueled with conventional Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel, and driven several miles before storage.

Biodiesel gels sooner than conventional diesel fuel at cold temperature, and biodiesel fuel requires proper blending for winter time operation. Fuels improperly blended for cold temperature operation may result in restricted fuel filters and degraded vehicle performance.

Your vehicle is equipped with a fuel heating system to provide a level of protection against filter plugging from gelling (waxing) of conventional diesel fuel and biodiesel blends. However, the system will not prevent all cases of plugged filters if the operating temperature is far below the temperature at which gelling or waxing of the fuel occurs (cloud point). Use of biodiesel blends greater than B5 (5% blend) should be avoided in cold temperatures.

Vehicles operated for extended periods of time on conventional diesel fuel and then switched to biodiesel blends may experience premature fuel filter clogging and require more frequent fuel filter service.

With long term use of conventional diesel fuel, gum and varnish may be deposited within the tank and fuel system. These deposits, while not problematic with the use of conventional diesel fuel, may become loosened with a sudden switch to biodiesel blends and cause fuel filter plugging.

This vehicle is equipped with a fuel filter restriction monitoring system that will alert you if the fuel filter requires service, but it will not prevent damage caused by poor quality biodiesel.


Avoid biodiesel as much as possible and make use of a fuel stabilizer for diesel if the truck is not going to be used for weeks at a time.

[ryanw821]

retispcsi wrote:
My 2012 says no more then 5%. I wrote to Chrysler (Ram) and they sent me a very long email back saying bad stuff will happen to my motor and it would void my warranty. In the area I live in I use to buy a lot of fuel at Wal Mart but again they are selling up to 20% bio. Glad I got an aux tank and there are plenty of places selling 5% and less fuel. Been to Minnesota many times no need to go back.

Chrysler sent you complete a bull**** letter then. Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act.
A vehicle’s warranty cannot be voided solely due to the use of biodiesel. Even if the manufacturer recommends a blend of 5% biodiesel and a customer uses a higher blend such as 20% or 99% biodiesel, this does not void the warranty. If a customer uses a blend of biodiesel that is not recommended, that in and of itself, does not void the warranty. If the biodiesel is not the cause of the engine or parts failure, the warranty must be honored (assuming the failure is not the result of another external factor).
I feel the same way about Florida, if it weren't for family there I would NEVER go back.

[retispcsi]

My 2012 says no more then 5%. I wrote to Chrysler (Ram) and they sent me a very long email back saying bad stuff will happen to my motor and it would void my warranty. In the area I live in I use to buy a lot of fuel at Wal Mart but again they are selling up to 20% bio. Glad I got an aux tank and there are plenty of places selling 5% and less fuel. Been to Minnesota many times no need to go back.

[powderman426]

Robin1953 wrote:

powderman426 wrote:
I look for it but don't see it much in Ohio. My Cummin's loves the stuff.

My 2011 Cummins' owner's manual says no more than 5% biodiesel. How much have you run before without issue? Thanks.

I have used up to B20 with no problems, but then mine is an 05. It seems the higher the bio percentage the quieter it runs.

[ryanw821]

Robin1953 wrote:

powderman426 wrote:
I look for it but don't see it much in Ohio. My Cummin's loves the stuff.

My 2011 Cummins' owner's manual says no more than 5% biodiesel. How much have you run before without issue? Thanks.

Owners manual on my VM powered Jeep says no more than 5% too, but 100% has been just fine in ours, it's more of a cover their @$$ move for when some moron uses poor quality home made bio-diesel in the tank, if you are using ASTM certified bio-diesel fuel, you really shouldn't have any big problems.

You might have some little problems, like more frequent fuel filter changes as the B100 cleans the diesel sludge from the tank, but at only $20 for a filter I don't consider that much of a problem.

[Robin1953]

powderman426 wrote:
I look for it but don't see it much in Ohio. My Cummin's loves the stuff.

My 2011 Cummins' owner's manual says no more than 5% biodiesel. How much have you run before without issue? Thanks.

[FishOnOne]

starlord wrote:
Gee, I don't know, my Ford 6.0 says I'm flat out not to run biodiesel. Not only that but Ford says that bio is what caused my fuel tank to de-laminate (which I think is Bull).

Your truck is rated for B5. Depending on your bio diesel source it can become acidic and can cause some real bad stuff.

[starlord]

Gee, I don't know, my Ford 6.0 says I'm flat out not to run biodiesel. Not only that but Ford says that bio is what caused my fuel tank to de-laminate (which I think is Bull).

[Lynnmor]

Wouldn't it save a lot of energy if we would just send a personal check to a farmer specified by the government?

[therink]

I am in the petroleum business and know that in New York State, fuel distributors can add up to 5 percent bio diesel to conventional ultra low sulfur diesel without even posting it at retail sites. There is no bio diesel mandate yet in NYS but any bio diesel added does provide a tax break to distributors that they likely do not pass on to retailers.
I am confident that today's bio diesel blends are for the most part safe to run in any late model engine.

[powderman426]

I look for it but don't see it much in Ohio. My Cummin's loves the stuff.

[phenrichs]

Thanks for the heads up. I am taking a trip to Wisconsin next month. I will be sure to truck across MN without topping off.

[ryanw821]

I've run B100 with no issues, short of harder cold weather starts, and don't foresee that being an issue going from the current 5% to 10%.