Sep 28 2007 09:39 pm
Anyone Looking for Biodiesel?
We are now the proud owners of a black, 1994 Chevy 2500 Diesel 4×4 truck. We have named the truck, Beast 2, because we will be using it to tow Beauty, our travel trailer. The truck gets about 18 miles to the gallon, which is 10 miles to the gallon more than the original Beast, a 1987 Ford Club Van XL.
Click here to find biodiesel in the Austin area.
So now we have our dream vehicle, one that can run on biodiesel. Now, there is something new to think about, biodiesel mixtures. B20 is a mixture of 20% biofuel to 80% diesel fuel. This runs in your diesel truck with no problem. However, you also may find B99, almost pure biodiesel, for sale. There is nothing wrong with this fuel. You should download the following document and read it before using any mixture higher that B20.
Right click here and “save as” to download Use of Biodiesel Blends above 20% Biodiesel from the National Biodiesel Board (NBB), a national trade association representing the US biodiesel.
If you do not want to read it, here is Eileen’s summary . . .
There are biodiesel blends, like B99,which is almost pure biodiesel. These blends may cause some performance problems in colder areas. It is always good to measure the cold flow properties of a biodiesel blend to insure it will perform adequately for climate and altitude in which it will be used. With fuel mixtures above B20, cold flow properties can start to gel around 32 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Care must be taken to be sure the blend will not gel and clog the fuel filter.
Petrodiesel leaves a deposit in the bottom of fuel lines, tanks and delivery systems over time. Biodiesel acts as a cleaning agent and dissolves these sediments. This can result in the fuel
filter becoming clogged and the need to change filters more frequently until the sediment is cleaned out. The cleaning action of pure or “neat” biodiesel may cause fuel filters to clog more often.
B100 will soften and degrade certain types of elastomers and rubber compounds over time, like natural or butyl rubbers. Blends of B20 or lower have not exhibited problematic elastomer degradation.
Industry experts recommend that biodiesel be used within six months of manufacture to ensure that the quality of the fuel is maintained.
Diesel engines convert the energy in biodiesel into work with same efficiency as petrodiesel, so fuel economy, peak horsepower and peak torque are directly related to the energy content of biodiesel. On average, B20 will have 1-2% less BTUs compared to petrodiesel, and B100 eill have 7-9% less BTUs per gallon than petrodiesel.
Due to the slightly higher viscosity and density of biodiesel, blends higher than B20 may cause more unburned fuel to pass the piston rings into the oil pan. Engine oil change intervals need to be shortened if using high blends of biodiesel. The viscosity and density of B20 and lower blends are very similar to that of the pure petrodiesel, so no changes in engine oil intervals are needed with B20 or lower.
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Posted by CyberCelt under Alternative Energy
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