Biodiesel

[Rekken]

I'm currently doing a detailed research project on biodiesel and I was curious to whether you guys have a preference on biodiesel or petroleum diesel. I was also wondering if ya'll might have noticed a difference in performance when using the different types of biodiesels. If you have any other opionions upon the matter I'd be grateful.

[thedragon]

I never really noticed a diffrence between the two. My truck seems to run the same and everything else.
As for mileage I share the truck with another driver, and my company doesn't really say how well the milage is. They just say, fuel where it's cheaper.
Also living in Minnesota, and putting up with cold winters I have'nt noticed a diffrence in gel ups. But then again I've been lucky and haven't had any with either.
I just prefer Bio, cause it is renewable resource.

Good Luck on the report!!!!

[Truckerjo]

Well some of the older trucks do have issues burning Bio fuel, So, fuel mileage on the older trucks may be effected.

Newer trucks don't seem to be effected by Biodiesel, It is a cleaner burning fuel and I would think most really don't specifically look for biodiesel (unless it effects their older truck) They pretty much just buy whats there and drive on.

It is a good thing and is a step in the right direction. The problem is the new emission laws have decreased fuel mileage, I am not really sure what is better, polluting a little more or burning more fuel? a good fuel mileage truck would get around upper 6Mpg to low 7Mpg. now with the new emissions trucks only get mid 5mph to low 6mpg Max. So, it cost more for a driver and makes it harder on all of us out here. Sure helps the oil companies though.

I would think the direction they need to head is "increase" fuel mileage with better burning fuels and better engine designs to lower emissions.
But again that would cost oil companies less fuel being burned and lowering their profits.


Biodiesel? I think most would say they think its a good thing but not really going to go out of their way to get it.

[BigPappa]

Well the answer to the emissions is to keep the older trucks that don't require the new emissions a little longer until the technology improves so that the new trucks will get the 6-7mpg. Its just with anything. I remember when cars use to have high horsepower, but when the emissions came down hard, cars barely put out any power. 10-15 years ago the mustang had only 215hp. Now stock its 300hp and the same gas mileage as the 94-95 models. I am sure that the truck manufacturers will have the mileage issue taken care of within the next 5 years. I am no trucker myself yet but I think its possible to hold out a little longer to get a new truck that meets the emissions and still have good mileage. my $.02

[truckntim80]

I heard that Bio-diesel costs more, will the price ever go down? With fuel cost these days, I wonder how truck drivers are making ends-meet

[Truckerjo]

Originally Posted by truckntim80

I heard that Bio-diesel costs more, will the price ever go down? With fuel cost these days, I wonder how truck drivers are making ends-meet

Not sure if it really cost more but yes the fuel prices makes it very hard to make a decent living.

You have to count your pennies and make sure you make money on every mile. In the past you could take a loss on a short load to get you in an area where better paying freight was but now with fuel prices like they are you can't afford to do that.

[Caveman Charlie]

I work for a farmer in MN. We burn a bio-diesel mixture in all of our equipment and trucks. We have had no problems. BUT, when it gets cold we have a difficult time getting the bio diesel to flow out of the over head fuel barrels, through the filter on the barrel hose, and into the truck or tractor. Once in the tank it burns OK. It just a problem with getting it out of the fueling barrel on a cold day. The solution has been to burn a smaller percentage of bio diesel in the winter or remove the filter on the overhead barrel.

[Gas man]

They are different types of bio diese,one is made
from recycled vegetable oil,the other bio diesel is
made with fresh soy bean oil.Both are mixed with
methanol to help them burn,one drawback to both
types is bio diesel tends to be a great parts cleaner,
it tends to plug up the fuel filters sooner as it cleans
out a dirty fuel sytem.

Once it's been run for a while those problems tend
to go away and it seems to work fine,I've talked to
a few drivers in the past and some seen a slight
increase in power and mileage from bio diesel.It
can be hard to find in certain areas,the company
i worked for was the only one's selling it in the
Phoenix Az area but that was almost a year ago.

[Brickman]

When I had my own truck I would get a little bit better mileage from B20. And I would go out of my way to fuel with BIO as long as the price wasn't more than .05 a gallon more. At that point it wasn't worth it.
Some truck stops are getting to be same price, BIO and regular diesel. When you can find it.

[Revvy1337]

I think the best things going on with the eco-world products and such is the hybrid idea. I know the Sprinter van has been totally remodified to drive on electricity and gas. If they did that for American trucks, there would be a lot of happy independent contractors, I think.

Putting trucks aside, the Toyota Prius can be modified to drive 30 or so miles on just electricity and then if you deplete the larger battery, it switches back to an already impressive MPG of around 55.

Put that kind of technology in trucks and you can probably see some kind of savings that way... However, they would have to develop it to be a much more longer lasting battery than just 30 or so miles in order for it to be fully effective for the trucking industry.

Eric