Some people say this is the highest amount of bio you can run in an 05. is it true?

 

A B60 mix has been the highest concentration I've run in my truck. I got 17.8 on that tankful; it was last February. It gets pretty chilly here in MD and I had no issues with gelling, starting, etc.... I am not sure if there's any appreciable difference between our trucks WRT Bio issues.

There are lots of threads on what you can or should run; and what the owners manual says. My manual says B5, but I've been usually running at least B20 since last December. I thought I read here that the newer trucks owners manuals bumped the percentage up - but I cannot confirm that.

I'd say you'd be ok to run B100 if you wish, but your wallet may feel the pinch - then again, Bio may be priced less than Dino diesel these days.

 

I have a hard time figuring out biodiesel prices. Everything i read online shows that biodiesel is much cheaper than diesel. So, 1. Why is it that its MORE expensive at the pumps? Kind of defeats the purpose, doesn't it? And 2. Why should I pay more money for biodiesel than dino diesel? Like I said, kind of defeats the purpose of using a "cheap fuel" if it costs more.

I plan on getting the supplies together to make bio myself, and install a couple aux. tanks in the back of my truck.

Jim

 

I work in BD research and would say yes but you might be pushing it. What we've found is that high temps and pressures in the common rail system alter the molecular structure of BD, it becomes "stringy" under a microscope. This doesn't cause a problem right away as the fuel will pass though the injectors. What happens though is the return fuel to the tank will clog your filters on it's next trip though. The higher the percentage of BD the faster it will happen. We were barely able to go 1000 miles on B100 before the filter clogged. This was not the result of #2 sediments being broken loose, brand new truck. Since then have put on over 30k miles with B20, no problem, but have not tried anything higher as B20 is the next step down from B100 in my area.

Cummins says not to go over B5, think they are covering their butts though.

 

Infidel ... Does this occur with WVO? Filtered and heated to at least 160* ahead of the IP. Thanks ... Ken

 

Ken, I really have no idea. The BD that caused problems for us was refinery made from virgin soy and canola oil.

 

So I guess that I sholdn't run anymore b100? I have run 2 consecutive tankfuls in the 03 and 1 in the TDI. Kinda sucks, B100 is .29 cheaper than dino.
Mileage is down about 10% on the TDI and about 15% on the cummins compared to straight dino.

 

Midway though the third tank was when the filter plugged on our '05.
Don't know what type of injection system your TDI has, if it's not common rail you'll have no problem.

Here's a more technical discussion of what happens with a common rail engine and B100.
http://www.boulderbiodiesel.com/foru...m=1&thread=632

 

10% of $2.90 a gallon? sounds like you may be breaking even? I'm suprised that the bio is cheaper anyway? We have seen a nice drop on #2 locally, down at @$2.60 again.

 

I get B100 straight from the refinery for $2.46 a gallon. #2 starts at $2.75 around here. so at a 10% mileage loss, I break even, but am supporting local farmers and cleaner air, and buying a product that needs to be purchased.
But I guess I need to cut it.

 

I would give an American farmer $2 before I gave a raghead $1.

 

Right, Right.

If any of the stations around me had the sense to offer it a lot of people would choose.

 

I think theres 2 or 3 places in Florida where you can get it. Closest to me is a couple hundred miles

 

EXACTLY.

 

I don't ever recall it being a "cheap" fuel. I understand it as an alternative, and cleaner. If you make your own out of WVO it's cheap, but commercially available is not the cheap alternative to #2. Unless you can get it straight from the refinery.