B-20 BioDiesel

[geo6]

I have a 03 camalot with a isc 8.3. Are there any issues with running the b-20 from flying J, only thing they now have in calif.

[Air Baron]

Some will say yes, others will say no. What do you think? I try my darndest to find any place (that I can get into) selling regular diesel fuel. Probably should be using an additive for lubricity, since ULSDF supposedly causes premature fuel pump failure. Cummins says nothing higher than B5 with 2002 and older engines. I have had fuel restriction problems after putting in a few tankfuls of B20...requiring a number of filter changes and algaecides to remedy the situation.

PS: Do you want an order of fries with that?

[timetogo]

I don't know if it would be a problem, but I wouldn't buy it. Plenty of fuel available without it.

[Ray,IN]

If B20/20% biodiesel harms anything it is unrecognizable to me. It hasn't made any difference to any of my diesel engines, the newest of which is an 01.
Read up, educate yourself about biodiesel. Diesel fuel today virtually all contains B2, which replaces lost lubricity during refining required by the EPA to remove sulfur (sulfur BTW is not a lubricant).
Wikipedia quote:
"
Sulfur is not a lubricant in of itself, but it can combine with the nickel content in many metal alloys to form a low melting point eutectic alloy that can increase lubricity. The process used to reduce the sulfur also reduces the fuel's lubricating properties. Lubricity is a measure of the fuel's ability to lubricate and protect the various parts of the engine's fuel injection system from wear. The processing required to reduce sulfur to 15 ppm also removes naturally-occurring lubricity agents in diesel fuel. To manage this change ASTM International (formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials) adopted the lubricity specification defined in ASTM D975[14] for all diesel fuels and this standard went into effect January 1, 2005.[15] The D975 standard defines two ULSD standards, Grade No. 2-D S15 (regular ULSD) and Grade No. 1-D S15 (a higher volatility fuel with a lower gelling temperature than regular ULSD).
The refining process that removes the sulfur also reduces the aromatic content and density of the fuel, resulting in a minor decrease in the energy content, by about 1%. (Citation needed) This decrease in energy content may result in slightly reduced peak power and fuel economy."

[MnTom]

I have run more than a few tanks of B-99 in my 1996 Cummins with absolutely no problems. What I have seen is the smoke is no longer black, but grey at WOT, the power is slightly less (you don't notice it until you fill a near empty tank with diesel), my truck produces a haze at idle, mileage is slightly less (maybe 2 mpg less), it runs way smoother (noticeable right away), and it is a lot slippery feeling in between fingers. All these problems with plugging fuel filters is nothing more that the bio cleaning you fuel system. Bio does not plug the filter, the contaminants in your fuel system plugs the filters.

[Dutch Star Don]

My 05 Diplomat with an ISL 400 said 5% max. My new 2014 ISL 450 says 20% max. Hopefully, the oil war will bring back more straight diesel. Personally, I feel biodiesel is a rip off. You pay the same price and get less BTU's, equating to less MPG. I'm been running a fuel additive (OptiLube) for over five years now. I don't trust that diesel fuel meets minimum government specs at all stations.

[Gary RVRoamer]

The only opinion that really matters is Cummins, and they approve B20 use in highway engines made after 1/1/2002, Here is their actual statement:

B20 – In the on-highway market, Cummins MidRange
and Heavy-Duty engines that are certified to EPA ’02
emissions standards or later are approved for the use
of B20 biodiesel, along with ISL, ISC and ISB engines
certified to Euro III or later.

For more info see Cummins Engines

[Gary RVRoamer]

Fuel pricing and the oil companies have no effect on the amount of Biodiesel at the pump. The EPA is charged with implementing a law passed by Congress (quite a few years ago) requiring continuous improvement in the amount of renewable energy fuels used in on-highway applications, both gas and diesel. Since biodiesel is the only renewable fuel alternative for diesel available today, you will see more and more blended diesel at the pump, no matter where you go and what brand you buy. Every year or two the required percentage of biofuels is increased (at the wholesale level), so retailers have no choice - the only diesel available in quantity is some degree of blended biodiesel.

Whether this national legal requirement is a good thing or not, I will leave to you, but address your complaints to your Congressman rather than the fuel companies. The fuel companies have no choice. Nor does the EPA, for that matter - they are working under a Congressional mandate.

[geo6]

Thanks everyone for the imput. Some of you say it's all right some say no. I think I will use straight diesel if possible and B-20 in a pinch. Thanks again

[Triker56]

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

I feel biodiesel is a rip off. You pay the same price and get less BTU's, equating to less MPG. I'm been running a fuel additive (OptiLube) for over five years now. I don't trust that diesel fuel meets minimum government specs at all stations.

I have used OptiLube Summer blend for several years myself.
But with Pilot/Flying J using Bio(a Lube) at most of their stations. No added lube is needed. So I am switching to OptiLube Boost. And see if that picks up the loss MPG from the Bio.

All the Pilot/Flying J's I fill at are using B10 so far.

[Ray,IN]

Triker56, B100/neat biodiesel reduces mileage about 10%, B20 biodiesel reduces mileage about 2% according to Biodiesel You might want to calculate cost of an additive to improve mileage vs not spending your money for a fuel mileage enhancer.

[Bipeflier]

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

Triker56, B100/neat biodiesel reduces mileage about 10%, B20 biodiesel reduces mileage about 2% according to Biodiesel You might want to calculate cost of an additive to improve mileage vs not spending your money for a fuel mileage enhancer.

My actual mileage was much lower than the 2%. On a trip from mid Nebraska back to mid Missouri mileage dropped about 16% from normal. No unusual speed, load, or wind. I stay away from it unless there is NO alternative.

YMMV.

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

My 05 Diplomat with an ISL 400 said 5% max. My new 2014 ISL 450 says 20% max. Hopefully, the oil war will bring back more straight diesel. Personally, I feel biodiesel is a rip off. You pay the same price and get less BTU's, equating to less MPG. I'm been running a fuel additive (OptiLube) for over five years now. I don't trust that diesel fuel meets minimum government specs at all stations.

Biodiesel costs more to produce than dino diesel, but we'll never see it go away because it is govenment-mandated, like ethanol in gasoline.