Wal Mart biodiesel

[rv_safetyman]

Interesting thread.  We fueled up last week at a pump that had the 5-20% sticker on it.  Did not have a choice.  I was a bit fearful because of the gasoline/ethanol issues.  To my knowledge, this is the first time we filled up with a blended bio-diesel.

After reading this thread, I looked at my VMSpc data and we have used a bit less than 40 gallons since we filled up.  Our tank was a bit less than half full at the fill-up, so the bio fuel is diluted.  

We have a Fuel Pro 382 fuel filter so we can see when the filter needs changing (one of my best purchases for the bus).  I just went out and checked it and did not see any significant change in the fuel level (a measure of used filter capacity).

I did not notice any change in performance or fuel mileage.

I am not worried about my fuel lines, as I ran DOT tubing and Aeorquip AQP hose when I re-plumbed the fuel system.

If I get a chance, I will use bio-blended on my next fill-up and see if the filter capacity gets used up quicker.

The one issue that I am concerned about is gelling.  There were some horror stories a year or two ago about school bus fleets that could not start when the weather turned cold.  Many of the farmers in my wife's home town had problems.

Jim

[luvrbus]

I don't buy into the new fuel and the loose of lubricity of the low sulfur fuel stuck injectors on the old 2 strokes are just about a thing of the past very,very seldom does that happen now bet I have only had one here in the since 2008 it was a a common thing in the past with the old fuel not any longer with the 15 or less PPM fuel  

good luck

[Bill in KS]

Just a little more food for thought. 




thxs
Bill in KS

[TomC]

The interesting thing about the new ultra low sulfur Diesel (15 ppm) is that the engines that need to run that fuel have the tightest, highest fuel injection pressures ever.  Detroit Diesel's DD engines run 20,000lb of rail pressure and then the individual fuel injectors are HEUI injectors running off the high pressure fuel to bump the tip pressure up to 32,000lbs.  If Detroit thought that the fuel wasn't sufficient to lubricate the injectors, believe me they would be the first to acknowledge the problem and insist on using fuel additive (DD fuel injectors are $775.00 ea exchange!).  While it is true that fuel additive will boost performance a bit, and most importantly disperse water during winter, needing to add more lubrication is just not needed.  As compared to the new Detroit DD13, DD15, DD16, our fuel injectors are very loosy goosy with plenty of clearance to be lubricated by the new Diesel Fuels. Good Luck, TomC

[TomC]

Some interesting reading about how Rudolph Diesel envisioned using Coal tar to power his engine, but the technology wasn't there yet-hence his engines ran on vegetable oil.  Even then, Diesel didn't like the petroleum industry-making an engine that ran on vegetable oils.  Good Luck, TomC
http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi1435.htm

[Utahclaimjumper]

Bill in KC,, needs to do some more reading. Sulphur has NEVER, provided, or added to, the lubricity in diesel fuel.. The reason todays lubricity is low is due to the METHOD used to remove it.. The METHOD is what removes the lubricity, and therfore has to added later down the line.>>Dan

[Bill in KS]

I've attached a photo showing straight from the pump diesel burnt and the other tube is straight from the pump diesel that has been treated and burnt. 

Why would you want the byproducts ( carbon / nitric acid)  in your motor / exhaust when you can eliminate it / gain MPG and keep your motor &  oil much cleaner. 




thxs
Bill in KS

[Bill in KS]

Interesting article concerning sulfur in diesel fuel:
http://www.tdi-issues.com/problems-tac69/lubricity-of-ulsd-diesel-gap168.htm

Another interesting article:
http://www.biodiesel.org/pdf_files/fuelfactsheets/Lubricity.PDF

thanks
Bill in KS

[luvrbus]

Me I am going to set back and wait till all the commercial air line start using the Bio fuels if the jets don't fall from the sky maybe.

Jim I would be terrified of Bio where you live that why all the new trucks have a heater that run the Bio in cold weather climates here in AZ you cannot buy it after Dec 1 till Mar 30 and we aren't even cold except the mornings

good luck

[Busted Knuckle]

Me I am going to set back and wait till all the commercial air line start using the Bio fuels if the jets don't fall from the sky maybe

good luck

I like that one Clifford! Please just do us a favor and keep a close watch out for us as to who start using it first so we can hold off flying with them until it's proven safe!
  BK 

[Bill in KS]

Utahclaimjumper / Dan  : I stand corrected.  I will use the words : aromatic compounds . 


Thanks
Bill in KS

[wal1809]

You mean like this jet?

http://www.gizmag.com/go/8204/

[luvrbus]

Nope Wayne I talking about a real plane carrying 300 or 400 people the engine in that plane will burn anything combustible and a lot of it  lol

good luck  

[gus]

Because fuel lines fail a short time after beginning to use biodiesel is not proof that BD caused the problem. The fuel lines could have been on the road to failure BD or not. You will never know, this is not exactly good science!!

That is kind of like saying your cold got better because you took some kind of cold medicine when it probably would have gotten better on its own anyway!! You will never know for sure!!

I have no doubt that ethanol is a poor fuel but I've seen nothing yet convincing me that BD causes any problems.

[Charles in SC]

I started this thread because I read several years ago on this forum that bio was fine in the old Detroits but that rubber parts could fail such as fuel lines, seals, o-rings etc. It seems that the world has not ended yet and most of the responders so far are concerned about their mileage rather than their rubber parts. I replaced my fuel lines when I got my bus with new Aeroquip lines and I hope these are ok with the bio because pure diesel is getting harder and harder in my area. I have a new VW Jetta TDI and VW says not to use bio because there is no way to know what the bio part of the fuel is from, some are ok and some maybe not. Lets see 1 percent of 7 mpg is .07 mpg. I am not sure I can measure that.