Bio-Diesel: Is 5% blend the maximum?
 

If I read my manual right, it says that bio-diesel can be used at a maximum of 5%. That's nothing. 10% is only 3.5 gallons. Am I missing something here?

I have actually found one store in the San Diego that carries it, and it's a few cents more than #2. I kinda want to give it a shot.

From everything I have heard or read on the Internet, you should be able to run up to a B50, or 50% in an 05 with no problem. Some folks would say you could run B100 or 100% bio without any problems.
Most service stations that market bio sell B20 which seems to be becoming the "standard" for mass-marketable bio.
http://www.b100supply.com is one of the better sites I have found for info on Bio, but do a google and you'll get all the info you need to make an informed decision.

I dont know what, if any, effect running a higher percentage than the manual says is acceptable may have on your warranty.

From the things that I have read (and depending on who you trust) you can run B100.... it's the weasel attorneys that put the b5 in the manual. With fuel prices rising as they are I have been looking at bio myself...

I'm a little confused here. Does this mean that I can fill my truck with the bio, or should I just pump in 5 gallons of it along with 30 or so gallons of #2?

You can put in any % you want , it only maters for trucks made before about 94 becouse of high %[ sbove 20%] making the rubber hoses & seals soft sfter 94 no problum. This university did a lot of testing with the 5.9 cummins
.http://web.missouri.edu/~pavt0689/biofuel.html
Biodiesel-Biofuels Research

We experienced problems running B100 in our '05 at work. Major part of my work is BD research. What happens is that the higher pressure of the common rail changes the structure of the BD returned to the tank. It makes it stringy so that on it's return trip though the filter it tends to clog.
No problem running B20 though.

At public pumps it's a premix percentage with regular #2. Example, B5 = 5 % Bio diesel blended with 95% #2. B20= 20% and so on. DC and most manufacturers say that a 5% blend is all that is safe to use (to still be covered by warranty).
If you have B100 Pump you will need to do the math if you don't want to run 100%.

Thanks PJ. Now I understand. I'm pretty sure that our (1) station sells B20. So, is it okay to fill up or just go half and half to bring it down to 5% or thereabout.

If you run any of the Bxx diesel mixtures, and you have not done it before, should I still add my PS+MMO mixture???? The bio is supposed to have much better lubricity and cetane correct???? What do you all think???

i've run B20 in my truck wth no issues... other than it costing more :(

I have to stay out of the specifics on Bio, I don't have a pump within 50 miles and have never ran it. I just know some of what most folks on DTR know, through reading articals and threads. Good luck with it, (from what I've heard) it's nothing to be afraid of, it's our friend!:D

With BD you can skip the MMO but should run PS or any other anti gel additive in the winter. Since BD gels a few degrees higher than straight #2 the general recommendation for protection down to minus 35F is to increase the amount of anti gel by the same percentage over the recommendation on the jug as the percent BD you are running.
i.e. if you are running B100 add twice add much anti-gel, if you are running B20 add 20% more than the label says.
If you live where it doesn't get cold skip the additives entirely.

What plugs the fuel filter is the accumulated dirt from the petro diesel , after maybe a couple of tank fulls and couple of filters the system would be cleaner than any fuel system cleaner, the next is if you get into cooler temps. then you need regular additives for anti gell.

This is true but not the case with a common rail. We did extensive lab work to determine what was causing filter plugging when running B100, the high pressure/heat was causing a physical change to the structure of the BD that was readily apparent under a microscope. This was with refinery produced BD, not backyard stuff.

Thats anougther reason I like the older cummins, and counting.
This site may be of help if your doing research , unless your only doin it for those newfangled CDT.
http://web.missouri.edu/~pavt0689/biofuel.html
Biodiesel-Biofuels Research