My 99 CTD has problems with cold weather. Anything below 30 degrees I can't keep fuel pressure above 5 idling. 0-3 driving. Pressure is same at filter and injection pump. I run 11% soy diesel blend with power service mixed in. When outside temperatures warm into the 40s all is normal. I threw a blanket over the motor with a heater under the truck and pressure was normal. I changed the fuel filter and no gel. Lift pump is about 2 years old. Will a 2nd lift pump help me or do I try to find straight petro diesel. Most has soy blended with it. Sounds like a easy problem but many trucks run b11 all winter. We run it in our tractors all winter with no problems. Thanks in advance.

 

sounds like your lift pump is a little weak. Do you have a pressure gauge on it to see what it is pushing. I run B20 most of the year with no treatment till it gets to about 30 then i blend half tank b20 and half regular # 2 diesel till it warms back up but I have an air dog with their low fuel pressure light on it that will let me know when filter are getting plugged or gelling. my stock pump could not keep the pressures up.

 

No way would I run bio or blended using the factory LP. It's marginally adequate to run reg diesel much less anything else. 12v yea....24v nope. It's way too easy to run low fuel psi and fry your VP44. I would highly recommend gauges...check out my thread on "Shell & 20% bio" in the "Other" thread section.

 

My truck did the same thing.... it would drop under 2 psi at idle with the factory lift pump. It would do that with 50% of B100 and 50% #2 diesel. I put in the holley blue and it fixed the problem. I have 17 psi at idle and 11 w.o.t. Now I can run B100 during the warm months with no problems.

 

How do you spell AirDog or FASS? You should look into either.

 

Not only the factory lp don't like it, but it's lethal bullet for the VP44. I've found out the hard way, that any savings from any alternative fuel you'll loose in repair or replacement of the VP44. This is also confirmed by Blue Chip Diesel.

 

Where?
Don't remember that on their website?
Any %.... or just 100%?

RJ

 

I would suggest the lift pump is going..just like some of the others.
as for the VP..does it have the steel insert replacement? I would think these should work fine with biodiesel.
biodiesel provides much better lubrication than diesel.

yes I put my money where I'm typing..I was going where my mouth is but that's not quite right either.
yes I make my own..so I know the quality. and yes I run anything from 2% to 100%..this depends on weather and supply.

try this..take a sample of the fuel from your tank and put in the fridge? what happens..it should be clear..your only using B11..at the temp you listed..B75 should be fine.. I have 4 jars sitting on my deck..they're a current blend of diesel and biodiesel..0% to 100%..I have this to know when I might have a problem with biodiesel..yes it cold temps to gels!!!

someday I should take pictures..its a clear picture of the problem.

are you sure the biodiesel is soy based? other oils gel at higher temps?

I should add..are you sure the 11%biodiesel is high quality? what if its not..so you have 11% junk fuel( not against biodiesel here, just bad fuel)? and bad fuel is just that...BAD!

-dkenny

ps if it helps I've been using/making biodiesel since '04.

 

RowJ, you ask where, here's what I was reading.

http://www.bluechipdiesel.com/alternativefuels.html

 

The VP44 is marginal even with regular #2. I would stay with regular diesel fuel. Why risk a $1000 VP44?
I run some 2 cycle also, which is made to burn and lubricate, with ULSD.
Just my $.02!

 

I don't read that as a condemnation of bio diesel, per se. Talking more, IMO, about home brewed Bio.
Chemically speaking, properly blended Biodiesel should not be a problem in any way..... especially if no stronger than B20!
And it has very nice lubricity and detergent advantages over #1 and #2 diesel.

RJ

 

I'm going with the fass ddrp. Easy replacement and better than what I have. Priced right I guess. Wish me luck