Does Anyone Have Experience Using Bio-Diesel?

I have used it in blends from 2% up to 20% for the last 5-6 years. The solvent effect of bio keeps my fuel system pretty clean. Can't really say that bio has a net increase or decrease in fuel mileage. The level of lubricity in Bio beats anything that you can buy off the shelf to add to fuel by a long shot. Will keep on using it.

 

The biggest issue we face is that there is no actual standard on how bio is produced, resulting in different types of bio, some wreaking havoc with older trucks.

Bio offers more lubricity, but has a lower Cetane (octane) which produces less power for the bang (buck) = lower fuel economy. For me, I've seen as much a 1 mpg difference using this crap.

It also tends to be thicker, making it more difficult to pass through fuel filters. I have seen this myself using a Davco filter system. With reg diesel, it will pass at the bottom of a new filter, however with bio it will climb to the half way point. My APU doesn't care for it either as it tends to clog up the primary filter quicker because of its thickness.

Another issue is sub freezing temps, bio will gel quicker.

Tenn will be all Bio soon and like it or not, it will be all were going to be able to get in the not so distant future.

 

I played around with it quite a bit. I bought b100 and tested different percentages. 7% worked the best for fuel economy. Higher than that the lower btu rating of the diesel fuel started to kick in.

I've never had a filter problem, but my system was chemically cleaned before using biodiesel. Gelling hasn't been an issue because I have managed to stay out of the very cold areas.

 

I agree with this.

So many small manufacturers of bio-diesel with no quality control has the product all over the place when it comes to quality.

The Midwestern bio-diesel that has been around for years is a different product than the bio-diesel they just started selling in the Southeastern states. I bought some B11 in IL last month that ran OK in my truck compared to the pure crap for fuel that I bought a few times last year in SC at 2 different truckstops.

I would buy the bio-diesel in the midwest, but it will be a while before I put the southeastern region bio-diesel in my truck again.

Note: The Bio-diesel in IL was a bright yellow color compared to the SC Bio-diesel was a very dark green to almost black color.

 

most of the issues with bio goes back to how much animal fat was used in the blend, fuel made from soybean, is high quality also SC is trying to make fuel from rape seeds that should be better than animal fats

 

I really don't know, but the National Biodiesel Board says that cetane is higher in bio blends. True, untreated bio will gel faster in cold weather. Regarding filters, I just took my last Davco filter to 60,000 miles before needing to change out. The truck got biodiesel for virtually all of those miles. No, truth be told, I run primarily the upper Midwest, so there is a higher proportion of soy based bio than the other types. That may be the primary reason I have had no negative effects from bio.

 

All the complaints on the lack of quality standards are simply misinformed.

Bio-diesel sold at the pump must meet ASTM standard D7467-08 for blends between B6 and B20, which is about all you can find without going out of your way. ASTM D7467 tests for and regulates
-Acid value
-Complete reaction
-Removal of glycerin
-Removal of catalyst
-Removal of alcohol
-Absence of free fatty acids
-Low sulfur content
-Cold Filter Plugging point
-Cloud Point

Granted, there are no restrictions of feedstock or means of transesterfication, but the end result is always biodiesel, and they all must meet the same guidelines mentioned above.

 

I believe you are correct.

 

Being from mn we have had bio for awhile i get better mpg running reg diesel then bio and bios cloud point is higher. I try to stay away from it if i can makes my wallet alot happier. I have had my trk gelled at 26 deg above using mn bio with anti gell aditives 12 miles from house truck ran for 2 hours before i left went threw four filters that day. Gelled up in kansa using ill bio and was using howes,powerservice,fppf and five gallons gas and still had to get towed in to dealership after 12 gours trying to keep it running. Now have fuel filter heaters,heated fuel lines and tank heaters with gen. Thank you mn gov mandated bio!