Bio here in Colorado is $3.60 and gallon, we must be getting ripped off.

 

NearBio.com is a good site to locate your nearest bio place. i get B100 here for $2.40 a gallon. Diesel is $2.59 today.

 

DFW Biodiesel off Long Street in Ft Worth, just down from Cummins Southern Plains, usually has B-20 that is competitively priced with #2. They usually post their price on gasbuddy.com and it's usually one of the cheapest. With bio I don't need to run any additives so there is more savings for me compared with #2. B100 is usually 20-25 cents cheaper than #2. I've been running it for sometime now. It's a little out of my way, but with my aux. tank I only have to go about once a month.

That old Texaco station that sells BioWillie on Golden Triangle is a rip off, even for gas and diesel.

I think the reason biodiesel isn't much cheaper than dino diesel is that the commercial producers are using virgin oil to make it with, usually soy. Priced soy, peanut or even regular cooking oil by the gallon lately?? Everyone seems to think bio should be dirt cheap because they hear how cheap Bubba can brew up a batch in an old water heater using waste cooking oil from the local Chinese buffet. But there is a difference in bio that meets ASTM D 6751 and what comes out of most backyard home brew contraptions.

I'm glad to hear Cummins has approved B20, though it never phased me to use it for the last 2 1/2 years before they did. I like the stuff, it's cheaper, my engine is quieter and doesn't start knocking like it does with dino. And if it's better for the environment, helps a farmer, keeps a couple bucks from an Arab, etc... well that's good too.

OK done ranting now...Whew

 

You had better read up first!! Diesel Power mag had an artical on bio-diesel and the techincal reasons that newer fuel systems will take a dump using it. I would love to have an older rig that could use bio diesel. I'm not going to use it in this new truck.
Still waiting for the official Cummins confirmation that started this thread.

 

Although I agree that we need to be more energy dependent, OPEC only accounts for 28% of our oil imports.

 

Mixerman , could you post a link to this B20 ok from Cummins

 

bio is safe to run in the newer engines also but u first need to change all the fuel lines to synthetic ones, because bio eats up the rubber and then that crud clogs up the injectors as it passes through. i have also heard that bio makes a more energetic combustion in the chamber, resulting in better mileage and a bit more power. but this could be fiction. i havent confirmed this info. i just wanted to see if anyone has heard or read the same thing.

 

Follow the link and you'll see all the news articles on Cummins and B20.

http://news.google.com/news?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&channel=s&hl=en&q=cummins%20B20&btnG=G oogle+Search&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wn

 

Some of that is more of an issue with older trucks, with alot of miles and crud built up in the lines/tank...


There are lots of guys running bio in their 3rd gens, many with 150-200k+ miles with no problems. As long as you change your fuel filters, and maybe do a smaller mix if you dont feel its safe, it should be fine.
My problem is there is no where close that sells it, closest station is 20 miles away in a not so nice part of town, so its not worth the drive...

 

Cummins Announces Approval of B20 Biodiesel Blends



For Immediate Release
March 21, 2007

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (March 20, 2007) - Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) today announced the approval of biodiesel B20 blends for use in its 2002 and later emissions-compliant ISX, ISM, ISL, ISC and ISB engines. This includes the recently released 2007 products.

Cummins is able to upgrade its previous position on the use of biodiesel fuel, which limited the use to B5 blends only, up to B20 for three key reasons. First, the American Society of Testing Materials specification ASTM D6751 now includes an important stability specification for B100 biodiesel. Second, the availability of quality fuels from BQ-9000 Certified Marketers and Accredited Producers is growing rapidly; and third, Cummins has completed the necessary testing and evaluations to ensure that customers can reliably operate their equipment with confidence using B20 fuel.

'We have completed exhaustive analysis and test evaluations which enable Cummins to provide the necessary guidance and information to our customers for the proper and successful use of this fuel in our engine,' said Edward Lyford-Pike, Chief Engineer - Advanced Alternative Fuel Programs. 'This will enable our customers to have a choice that includes renewable fuel.'

The popularity and use of biodiesel fuel continues to climb. Recent studies predict that, by 2008, 1.2 billion gallons of B100 biodiesel will be produced in the United States. Cummins will continue its efforts to ensure that future products will be compatible with biodiesel fuels, and will continue to participate in industry efforts aimed at the development of consistent quality throughout the biodiesel industry.

Further information about the use of biodiesel for both on-highway and off-highway Cummins products can be found on the Web at everytime.cummins.com.

Cummins Inc., a a global power leader, is a corporation of complementary business units that design, manufacture, distribute and service engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation systems. Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana (USA), Cummins serves customers in more than 160 countries through its network of 550 company-owned and independent distributor facilities and more than 5,000 dealer locations. Cummins reported net income of $715 million on sales of $11.4 billion in 2006. Press releases can be found on the Web at cummins.com or everytime.cummins.com.










--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expiry Date :: February 25, 2106, Publish Date :: March 21, 2007, Author :: cb154, Approver :: cb154




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©1995-2004 Cummins Inc., Box 3005, Columbus, IN 47202-3005 U.S.A
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It varies, but yes OPEC imports currently sit just under 30%.
60% of our oil is foreign (if Canada counts as foreign).

See:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mer/pdf/pages/sec1_15.pdf

Anyway, the point is Bio-D "should" keep your money closer to home, instead of lining the pockets of insanely rich Sheiks and Big Oil Execs. Do I pay a little more for Bio-D? Yes, sometimes. Depends on the mood I guess. Truck sure seems to like it.

 

The NTPA (as well as my local pulling association) has recently put out some new rules regulating the mixture of bio to B5... There is apparently quite a little power boost; enough to give someone the edge over the competition. Probably raises the cetane rating, which increases the fuel's performance at higher compression/boost levels.

 

You shouldn't even consider "Being closer to home." That's like a politician telling people there's going to be a "Revenue Enhancement", which is a tax but makes the masses feel better.

All paying more for "Closer to home" does is lighten you pockets and drives prices even higher. Think about this.. If a home brewer can make Bio-D at 70 cents/gal, a refiner of Bio-D should be able to do it for less.

Let's say a refiner makes it for 70 cents/gal and they sell at 100% profit for a total of $1.40/gal. Then add 50 cents taxes and 10 cents for the retailers profit. You're talking B100 then selling for $2/gal.

What I'm trying to tell you is that you shouldn't worry about feelings because all it's doing is fattening someone else's pockets and this being a global economy, those extra dollars you spent doesn't mean it's staying in the US. Nor does it say anywhere, the extra cash you spent won't be used where you don't want it to go.

Just because we can make Bio-D here doesn't mean the Soy oil used to make it came from a farmer in the US. The Soy could have come from anywhere, just like crude oil but you're willing to pay extra because of a feeling.

If anything, we as consumers need to demand lower prices and if B100 sold for $2/gal and became plentiful, I'll bet #2 diesel prices would drop. And if fuel prices drop, it has the same effect on OPEC as using less of their crude. Ultimately, it reduces their revenue stream while we keep out wallets full.

I hope you get what I'm trying to say here....

 

No conspiracy from "big oil" it's called supply and demand.

 

Never mind the cost of Bio. Where can I find some here in South East Massachusetts? Found a place in Rhode Island, over a hour from my house, not worth the drive.