The Citgo station about 3 miles from my house is now selling B20 diesel, put my first 1/2 tank in (couldnt wait to require a whole tank.. ) . The truck did quiet down, injection rattle seems to be less raspy (maybe not right word). Also, price was right, 2.49, regular diesel is selling around here for 2.44 to 2.48, so im not complaining. Now for the question, is b20 strong enough on the mixture to cause fuel filter plug-ups the first few tanks? Also, will b20 gell sooner at cold temps because on sunday the wife and I are heading to Hutchinson Mn for training on Countryside Biomass stoves. I know, fuel will be burned out before we get there but I believe in Mn. they have to have a minimun perct. on biodiesel in their fuel.

Duane W.

 

B20 will loosen diesel deposits in your fuel system but at a slower rate than stronger mixes. You might make it to your next scheduled filter change, then again you might not. Play it safe and least carry a spare filter and the means to change it. If you want to avoid a side of the road filter change install a new filter after three or four tanks.

 

Hey it's good to know that there's another station in Ohio that has bio-diesel. Have you ever used the McWherter Fuel depot in Deleware, Ohio? They have b-20 biodiesel but it's blended with diesel supreme so it costs more. The Citgo sounds like a very economical alternative. I've run many tanks of b-20 through my 3rd gen truck and have never had a gelling issue (lowest temps in low 20s). I also use an additive for every tank too, usually Power Service's white bottle. Straight vegetable oil gels at 40 degrees F but blended fuels will have much better/lower gel points. I don't think that you'll have to worry anymore than you would with straight #2. Although, I know in it's been bitterly cold in northern MN for a couple weeks now. I'd use a fuel addtive to be on the safe side, biodiesel or not. The advice and info stated in the previous post by infedel is accurate and sound. I started early with my 3rd gen so there was no "dirty laundry" to clean up. Your rig will. Hope you like it, keep us up to date.

 

Guys don't forget there is a pay at the pump b20 pump downtown Cleveland at E55th and Payne .. Good to see more pumps popping up. I've filled at mcwherter's many times, good stuff.

 

Eric, No I have never filled up at delaware, attempted to last summer when my duaghter played in a softball tournament in Delaware, just never had time to locate it. Today I made it all the way to Beloit Wis. on a tank (450 miles) with a full 1/4 left, averaged out to a little over 18mpg. On the next tank I made it to Hutchinson, Mn and still have just under a half, but this tank is not bio. Will head back on tues. evening. I the Fuel in Mn mandated to be a minimum amount of Bio?

DuaneW

Ps.
This is all with a brand spanking new cummins LP.

 

Lightman & DuaneWKKC,

I've found and used the station at Payne and 55th in Cleveland. Thanks for the reminder though. The Cleveland station is about 60 miles from the house in Ohio so it's not a regular stop either, just when I get that way. I've been headed south more than north lately, so I've hit Deleware, OH the most this year.

I added it up - since the first of this year I've burned 325.3 gallons of fuel, 90.2 gallons of that was B20. That truck has been driven 5507 miles which works out to be 16.9 mpg average. Roughly 70% of that was on the highway at legal speeds or faster. Since I don't have a local biodiesel pump I try to nurse the biodiesel out some. So if I fill with a tank of B20, the next fill up is before the tank's half empty. Then I have a tank of roughly B10 and then again before the halfway mark so I still have a B5 or slightly less.

Duanne, the Deleware fuel depot (not manned) isn't too hard to find. Do you know where JEGs is on 42 the SW side of Deleware? No - take 42/23 south from Deleware and get off to follow St Rt42. There's a light at that intersection of Jeg's driveway (south side) London Rd. (north) and ST RT 42 (even though 42 is a north-south state route it's running east and west at this point). Go north on London Rd. back towards Deleware, about half a mile on your right is the fuel depot, it has it's own access rd that it shares with a butcher. The B20 pumps are to the farthest to the east. Good luck, Enjoying MN?

 

Eric, not sure if you pass thru carrolton or not in your travels, but downward distributing is in carrolton, and they have bulk b100, 50 cetane bp diesel supreme, and blends upon request. Not sure if they have their b20 pump up yet, but that is just one more option fyi.

 

Lightman,
Didn't know about Downward Distributing. Carrolton's closer than Cleveland but not by too much. It would be easy to divert that way to go to Pittsburgh or WV though. Another good option, thanks again. I'm assuming I can 411 or phonebook Downward Dist. Didn't know that anyone in OH was doing B100.

I've been debating adding an in-bed tank to help extend the ranges and increase the ability to use the biodiesel. If I was rich I'd have a larger tank in the OEM's place AND an in-bed.