I've recently discovered that at station near me is selling B20 (not sure if it's actually on a pump), and I've been thinking about giving it a whirl. I'd like to know the pros and cons of running it mixed, or a full tank.

Do I have to worry about lubricity (i.e. using an additive), what does Cummins think of it, etc.? Any words of wisdom?

 

Lots of reading on that one here on this site. My conclusion is that I will run B20 and not look back, once I can get my hands on it.

IMHO:

Pro's - better lubricity and it's NOT coming from the Middle East.
Con's - local availability.

Matt

 

Having not done a ton of research on how well it lubricates, is it safe to assume that it at least matches that of standard diesel fuels, or does it act more like a standard diesel with an additive included? I'll have to go a bit out of my way to give this stuff a shot, and I want to determine if it's going to be worthwhile overall to give it a shot.

Anyone else with any input for good or bad? I think I'm going to fire off an email to Cummins and see how badly they'll berate me if I give it a whirl.

 

do a search in the "general diesel" section. it has been covered at length. I just recently started running B20. I buy B100, and add 5 gallons of BIO, and 20 gallons of diesel.

As far as it being a lubricant, YES IT IS. they say even a mix of B03 more than doubles the lubbicating factor of straight deisel.

Dodge and, or Cummins says a mix up to B05 is perfectly safe to run in our trucks. They stopped at that limit because they have not done any extensive testing with this fuel. to cover thier backs. the guy i get it from has a PSD, and has been running B100 since new. almost 50,000 miles. The only problem he had is that B100 has a jell point of about 20 degrees. He had his truck freeze up on him , he now cuts it with Kero in the winter.

You will notice it run quieter with the BIO in there. At B20 there is no performance drop off and MPG seems to be the same. I did run it strong 1 time, maybe B75, and it did seem a litttle(verry little) slugish.

This is the way off the future(i hope) , and any conventional diesel enginbe can run it. If you do decide to run it, you will want to do a fuel filter change after a couple of tank fulls. The BIO will clean out the system, and all that dirt will be in yer filter.



I am no expert, and i`m sure this thread will get better responces than mine. Lets keep our $$ here, and help the American farmer out as well.

 

If Willie Nelson is behind it so am I!

On the road again.......

All PROS and no cons.....

 

LinearX, I've run b20 since 2001 with zero problems , and even ran b100 in my TDI for 35,000 miles straight. Do not fear b20, you are so lucky to live near it. It's good down to about 0F or so, if you live in a colder climate, add some antigel additives. As mentioned above, biodiesel has many many times the lubricity of regular diesel. Plenty of folks just add 2% instead of a fuel additive. Biodiesel also has a much higher average cetane, so it will boost your overall mix as well. Enjoy burning the bean, and supporting the american economy while doing it!

 

Wasn't there a website that shows locations of where biodiesel is sold, I can't remember it but I did see it once. Also what's b20, b75?

 

Mark, its Biodiesel.org. there will be a map of all the retailers in the US. As for whats B20, B75...thats the percentage of Bio to Diesel. B20= 5 gallons BIO to 20 gallons Diesel.



TRY HERE------>http://www.biodiesel.org/buyingbiodi...s/default.shtm

 

Hey, thanks for that link. I found a place right in my town.

 

Is it safe for me to assume that any standard diesel anti-gel additive will work ok with B20? I don't live in a particularly cold climate (southeast), but it does get down into the teens or single digits during some of the winter.

I think I may go give it a whirl after I'm done with this tank of fuel. Thanks for all of the responses, guys.

 

Any additive will work.

 

What kind of price are you guys paying for bio diesel? I'm all for keeping the $$ here in the states, & I haul for an oil co. I know of another oil co. in Medford that is dealing in it. The more popular this stuff gets the more available it will be & the price should be more competitive with foriegn oil.

 

Actually, there is a specific B20 additive made by powerservice, that's designed for b20 winter use. That said, other anti-gel additives will work, but just not as well.

 

i pay 2.80 a gallon for B100.

My wally world doesn`t have the Bio antigel, i use regular power service

 

So could I fill 1/2 tank with normal diesel and 1/2 with the bio stuff?