Biodiesel remnants/sludge
 

So, I've been running about a B20 mix, topping tank off with B99, for about two years. I hadn't changed my stock fuel filter in about 5000 miles and the 2mic in about 10,000 miles. Anyway, pulled the stock filter and found this sludge/goop snot looking whitish gunk in the bottom of the fuel canister. I poured some Seafoam in, dissolved it, and drained the canister. Everything is cool and fuel pressure is at a steady 22 psi. Anyone have any idea what it was? Something left over from the bio?

PS, this is commercial bio, not home brew.

sid

somewhere i was told or read it, the stuff is a wax type substance that is suppose to be the lubricant supplement for the ULSD. the problem is if that is true it is seperating itself from the fuel which tells me that the fuel no longer has the ability to lubricate things like the IP and injectors. kinda has me scared. and this problem seems to be a bigger issue on colder weather.

could be soaps left in the biodiesel?
did you make the biodiesel or was it commercially made?
could also be cold biodiesel..what were the temps like?

-dkenny

It's commercial bio and temps are 40's at night, mid 60's during the day.

sid

Even with commercial bio I've heard of quite a few bad batches causing plugging problems.
Outfit in my area that supplies a B20 offroad mix to farms had to spend a month pumping out farm tanks after just a couple days of delivering the bad batch.
It only took a few complaints to realize what happened.
Check with your supplier and see if others are having similar problems.

sounds like a soap issue or blend of higher melting point oils. biodiesel made from peanut oil will still gel around 50F. palm even higher. partially hydrogenated..higher yet..check with the supplier to see if they know the oil type and blend..you could also ask them about the cold pour point and cloud points of the biodiesel.

I go through this issue every winter...I make my own and try to as high a percentage of biodiesel as possible.

-dkenny

Thanks for the info. Are you guys running any additives? I still run Stanadyne every here and there. Also, what's the best why to ensure the fuel blends. Pump bio 1st or #2, does it matter?

sid

it doesn't matter which is pumped first. just make sure you drive the truck long enough.
no additives. the biodiesel cleans and lubs everything.

-dkenny

SOAPS...
i make my own and got a LOT of that white sludge you speak of , it was one bad batch that i took a short cut and didnt wash...
turned me away from Bio untill i realized it was my own fault and now i have a better proceedure and QA...
Go Biodiesel

B100 commerical bio
 

I don't know if you guys have commerical produces that are selling B100 bio?If you do, what price are they charging per gallon?

Opps ignore this statment...wanted to make a separte tread..[duhhh]