High Performance Biodiesel Fuel
If you run a diesel engine are familiar with biodiesel fuel blends you might already know from experience already be aware that they perform almost identically to conventional diesel fuel. The national biodiesel board claims that there is only 1.73% difference in economy, torque and horsepower between B20 blend biodiesel and Diesel No. 2 fuel
Somehow biodiesel fuel got a bad rap as a low performance fuel when actually the opposite is true. In fact biodiesel fuel blends are typically added to a diesel engine to improve its performance. The fact is that biodiesel fuel blends perform very similar to low sulfur diesel fuel in terms of power, torque, haulage and fuel consumption without and major modification to diesel engines!
Biodiesel fuel lubricates your diesel engine far better than "straight" petroleum diesel fuel. According to the national biodiesel board, lubricity tests that compare of biodiesel fuel and petroleum diesel indicate that there is a marked improvement in performance after biodiesel is added to conventional diesel fuel. Even biodiesel levels as low as one percent can provide up to a 65 percent increase in lubricity in petroleum distillate diesel fuels.
However like most diesel fuels, biodiesel is not perfect. Perhaps its biggest drawback is that it is not compatible with all engine components. Although many manufacturers have or are in the process of creating a diesel car or diesel engine more compatible with low sulfur diesel fuels such as biodiesel not all diesel engines can handle it.
Biodiesel's mistaken reputation as a bad diesel fuel probably originated with individuals who were trying to run certain older diesel engines on pure biodiesel. Keep in mind that all biodiesel fuel is not created equal and that it is usually a big mistake to pour pure biodiesel into any engine. Pure biodiesel is 100% vegetable oil. The best biodiesel that is compatible with most diesel engines is one that is a combination of both diesel fuel and vegetable oil. The confusion comes from the idea that the term biodiesel fuel also covers "blends" with diesel. Pure vegetable oil is pure biodiesel and that is rarely used in any diesel car, truck or engine.
The main problem with putting pure biodiesel fuel into certain models and older machines is that pure biodiesel will soften and degrade certain types of elastomers and natural rubber compounds over time. Undiluted biodiesel can destroy certain types of gasket, hose, and seal compounds like natural rubber. Unfortunately these materials are what most fuel hoses and fuel pump seals are made of and of course if you pour pure biodiesel into a diesel engine or diesel car you are going to get poor performance.
Most manufacturers recommend that natural or butyl rubbers not be allowed to come in contact with pure biodiesel fuel One way around this is to replace your hoses and fuel caps with a material that is compatible with biodiesel or stick to using a blend of biodiesel which will not cause as much wear and tear on your hoses and sealants. Once you have done this, you will be achieving high performance with biodiesel fuel every time.
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| Biodiesel Fuel Plant Fire Injures 3 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:07:10 -0700 Three people were injured in a fire and explosion at a biodiesel fuel plant in an industrial section of Sparks near the Truckee River.
| | | City To Soon Require Use Of Biodiesel Fuel Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:18:36 -0700 The City Council agrees and passed legislation this week mandating all buildings in the city that burn heating oil use at least two percent of biodiesel fuel mixed in with regular diesel.
| | | Local biodiesel plant looking at new green fuel Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:53:44 -0700 A new process for converting waste into synthetic diesel fuel is being given serious consideration by Global Fuels LLC of Dexter which currently produces biodiesel from chicken fat. The new process...
| | | New legislation requires biodiesel in home heating fuel Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:49:00 -0700 HARTFORD Governor M. Jodi Rells signature of Senate Bill 382 on May 26 enacted several regulations, while setting the table for more sweeping reform over biodiesel and home heating fuel. Those reforms open the door for more biodiesel to be used in traditional oil heaters seamlessly.
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