Ok, prices are getting to where I am seriously considering buying one of teh kits available online and starting to make my own bio...
Researching this on the web, I have read several different articles that talk about possible seal and o-ring problems with natural rubber seals.
So how do I tell what seals I have, or do I need to have the pump rebuilt to make sure I have synthetic seals in it before I run the bio.
Also, if any of you guys are running bio now, I would be curious to know what percentages of bio/petro fuel you are running and any problems and any change in your gas mileage when you switched to bio.
If I decide to do this, then it would make sense to me to run as high a percentage of bio as possible.
Not at all certain I am going to do this yet, but I would like to have enough info to make a informed decision.

THANKS in advance....Chris

 

All diesel engines after '93 for sure have seals and hoses compatible with BD.
Your '91 would be questionable.
If you don't go over B20 (20%) you shouldn't have a problem.

I've been running B20 for several years and have found if I go over this I lose mpgs and power.

 

That I have a 91 is why I have the question. Even at $3 a gallon, I could buy alot of fuel for the price of rebuilding the pump....

 

Typically you dont start having seal or hose issues until you're running b100, and even then it takes time to degrade them. I'd say you could pretty easily run b50 with confidence. Power and mpg are lower proportionately as you go up in blend, but that doesn't always mean anything. Who cares if you are getting 2-3 less mpg running b100 if it costs you 70 cents/gal?

Chris are you considering the appleseed processor?

 

I was looking at the one at http://www.b100supply.com/kits.html
It is a " basic" kit....but it will set me back about $400 total..
There's a better looking one at https://shop.planetbiodiesel.com/categories.asp,
but it runs just under $3000

 

How many gallons can the $400 kit make?

How many gallons of waste to make a gallon of bio?

When will I learn and understand all of this so that I can quit paying $2.75/gallon ?????

 

Chris, believe it or not, the cheaper kit you linked to, is a FAR FAR better processor than the expensive fuelmeister that you also linked to. The reasons are many, but the appleseed processor that you linked to from b100supply is the way to go. You can buy one or build your own. If you google appleseed processor, there are detailed instructions on what parts to get and how to build your own from a used water heater..

 

Thanks.... what I liked about the more expensive kit is that it included a washer and all the pumps and heater, testing supplys and scale.
The basic kit is a hot water heater, and the plumbing is sent with it, but not set up. You provide the heater, mixing container, and all other peripheals...
Sharpmachine, this site gives the clearest explanantion of making Bio that I found while searching the web. Basicaly 40 gallons of wate veg. oil will produce about 38 gallons of Bio.
http://www.planetbiodiesel.com/making.asp

 

Making Bio
Check out the article on making Bio-diesel in the June / July 2005 issue of Home Power Magazine. This guy is using a electric water heater as the reactor vessel.
This looks like it might be the design link to the ones they are selling.
You have to register but the issue #107 is free to download. (You want the sample issue incase you get lost.)
http://www.homepower.com/magazine/do...mple_issue.cfm

Jim

 

WOW, after doing some more reasearch over the weekend, I found horror stories galore about the FuelMeister system. There are reports of fires caused by the methoxide fumes leaking, fluid leaks, all kinds of problems.....mostly due to the plastic tanks expanding with teh heat of the reaction.
I think I am in the market for a 80 gallon water heater and a couple 55 gall. drums......

DISCLAIMER: i am merely reporting what is posted on other web-site devoted to producing bio-deisel. I have no personal experience with this system.

 

i am really thinking of doing this...not because the fuel prices, as much, but i like the fact that i could divert my measly fuel dollars from going in the pockets of these opec countries...and i'd like to see people all of a sudden get the urge to get some french fries. lol anyway, am i going to have any mechanical problems with running 100% bio in my '05 dodge cummins? that's the only thing that worries me...

thanks,

brad

 

No no problem running B100 in an '05. The issue is with older trucks like mine that have all rubber seals and hoses. Biodeisel can degrade and soften them over time.
Newer trucks( 94 and up) use Vitron seals and hoses, and have none of those problems.
Again, not personal experience but what I have learned here and other sites.

The issues with running B100 seem to be cold weather related, I have read one thread that talked about it getting stringy in the cold weather and gumming fuel filters, however runing an additive woudl prevent that.

 

Chris I wouldn't be so quick to say there are no problems running b100 in an 05. Have you personally tried it over a variety of miles, or are you pigeon holeing yourself into believing the biodiesel marketing that is perpetuated on the web and biodiesel forums? No offense, but I get a little leery when people start making assumptions. I think infidel mentioned they have experienced some problems running b100 in an 05. I believe he said the high pressure injection was changing the b100 on a molecular level, maybe he'll expand on my comments.. No problems with b20.

 

i sure wish that somebody would do some heavy research on this! i don't know if i would worry about the cold weather so much, though...i'm in texas, and it usually doesn't get very cold, here. maybe i could run this stuff in fall, spring, and summer and run petrolium diesel in the winter or something...or maybe a 50/50 in the winter...

brad

 

By Infidel: 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.


________________________________
That is from another thread. however everything else I have heard or read says that Bio is safe for an '05. I have been doing research on this, both on the web and at the library since I can not personaly afford to spend even 400$ on a system and then have it cause problems with my truck. Nor can i afford to have my truck dead-lined for days having things rebuilt, so i am seriously studying this. I dont have the knowledge to do labratory quality tests personaly, however I dont beleive I am jumping to conclusions either.
The concensus is that bio is safe to run in 94 and newer engines, up to B100, without causing any problems.