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RalphVa
Super Member
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2003
- Messages
- 7,873
- Location
- Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Tractor
- JD 2025R, previously Gravely 5650 & JD 4010 & JD 1025R
Can't believe how my original thread changed from blending up Stoddard solution to a thread on diesel lubricity.
An article in the recent Star magazine covered the use of biodiesel from an author who runs 4 vehicles with it exclusively and has done so for years. According to him, 5 to 20% biodiesel will considerably improve the lubricity of diesel, beyond what is needed by the ASTM spec. One thing that he's experienced though is that such a mixture will clean out the diesel system. He says to keep a couple fuel filters on hand when you first start using it because the crap will dissolve from the fuel system (mostly in your tank) and hit the fuel filter and foul it. After a change or 2, it's fine.
Minnesota is the first state to require that all diesel fuel be B5 (5% bio) blend. This makes it easier on suppliers. They won't need to install separate tanks. This was the problem at our local Southern States. They can't afford to install another tank system to provide us with biodiesel or mix. There's a biodiesel refinery making it from soy beans about 30 miles east of Richmond.
That business about needing sulfur for lubricity is a big ole wives' tale. Some of my lubie buddies in Exxon used to have this theory about sulfur in lube oil, as our research tended to show that a little bit of sulfur helped but that the worst (and easiest to get out) sulfur compounds were bad. However, the advent of hydrocracked and synthetic oils with NO sulfur blew this theory way out of the water. Suspect this is the very thing going on with "experts" claiming that the sulfur in diesel is needed for lubricity. BP has been supplying us with almost-no sulfur diesel fuel for quite a number of years. Bought some at a CitGo (that BP bought) station near New Orleans once. It was beautiful stuff, looked like water, no smell. Folks with vehicles in Europe operate with 40% of them diesel and have had this type fuel for quite a number of years.
Ralph
An article in the recent Star magazine covered the use of biodiesel from an author who runs 4 vehicles with it exclusively and has done so for years. According to him, 5 to 20% biodiesel will considerably improve the lubricity of diesel, beyond what is needed by the ASTM spec. One thing that he's experienced though is that such a mixture will clean out the diesel system. He says to keep a couple fuel filters on hand when you first start using it because the crap will dissolve from the fuel system (mostly in your tank) and hit the fuel filter and foul it. After a change or 2, it's fine.
Minnesota is the first state to require that all diesel fuel be B5 (5% bio) blend. This makes it easier on suppliers. They won't need to install separate tanks. This was the problem at our local Southern States. They can't afford to install another tank system to provide us with biodiesel or mix. There's a biodiesel refinery making it from soy beans about 30 miles east of Richmond.
That business about needing sulfur for lubricity is a big ole wives' tale. Some of my lubie buddies in Exxon used to have this theory about sulfur in lube oil, as our research tended to show that a little bit of sulfur helped but that the worst (and easiest to get out) sulfur compounds were bad. However, the advent of hydrocracked and synthetic oils with NO sulfur blew this theory way out of the water. Suspect this is the very thing going on with "experts" claiming that the sulfur in diesel is needed for lubricity. BP has been supplying us with almost-no sulfur diesel fuel for quite a number of years. Bought some at a CitGo (that BP bought) station near New Orleans once. It was beautiful stuff, looked like water, no smell. Folks with vehicles in Europe operate with 40% of them diesel and have had this type fuel for quite a number of years.
Ralph
