Are any of you running biodiesel in your NH tractor?

WTA · Apr 1, 2009

I'm about to finally. The company says it's good for B100 and that's what I am getting delivered. It's only 10 cents cheaper than dino diesel but a dime is a dime and I do go through a lot of it during the haying season!

I only got 500 hours on my tractor now and the fuel system is clean as a whistle after the fiasco with the dealer last year. Rebuilt injector pump, new fuel pump, all new hoses, REALLY clean tank. I don't think I should have any problems but just wondering if any of you are using it.

Hooked_on_HP · Apr 1, 2009

I don't run it in my tractor but we run it in everything at work because of the tax credit. I have just about convinced my boss that we spend more money on injectors.fuel pumps, filters and poor fuel milage than we get for the tax credit.I don't know where you are located but, if it still gets cold at night, dont switch over yet. Plan on changing your fuel filters more often. When you do change your fuel filter cut open the old one and see what the inside of the filter looks like.
Bill

mdunaway · Apr 2, 2009

run b20 nearly year round.cheaper than dino here.higher than off road,of course.at first without p/s and in extreme cold,i had an incident with
filter plugging.p/ s white solves that problem.happy to do my little part to help soybean farmers and the envioronment.always used bio in my ford
diesels.a little less heat perhaps in high power demand situations.mileage
i am happy with. michael

Ford850 · Apr 2, 2009

WTA,
You've probably researched already, but here's a link to the CaseIH site regarding biodiesel. Anything over B20 is risky, and this is coming from an Ag partner/supplier. Avoid copper, brass, tin, lead in tanks and fittings. Keep tanks protected from sun or frost. Do not use in temperatures below 41 degrees. By the time you add the extra additives, and lose up to 8% energy and 12% power and torque, it makes you wonder how good it is.
BIODIESEL EQUIPMENT - Case IH

LBrown59 · Apr 2, 2009

mdunaway said:
I run b20 nearly year round.cheaper than dino here.higher than off road,of course.

Are you buying on or off road b20?

Hooked_on_HP · Apr 2, 2009

mdunaway said:
.happy to do my little part to help soybean farmers and the envioronment.michael

If you could be sure you were getting soy oil life would be great. Bio is made from all different types of products including animal fat. I think any of the vegie oils are good but the other things they put in arent good.
Bill

mdunaway · Apr 2, 2009

bio here in eastern va. is produced in west point,va using soy oil.plant was visited by bush in 2005 or so.i am able to buy on road only.b20 is dyed a vivid yellow.i am acquainted with the faulkner family that founded the business.

mdunaway · Apr 2, 2009

b20 at the bayco stations is at 2.05 as of today.had been 1.93 for previous month.regular unleaded is at 1.93 currently.all other stations price on road around 2.35 here.

WTA · Apr 3, 2009

With my 95 horse new holland I don't think I can afford to lose much power. I wasn't aware it gave a power loss over regular diesel. Thanks for telling me.

In my two powerstrokes I really can't afford to lose any power. I'm pulling nearly 30,000 pounds on and behind one of them regularly.

I still want to get my own production gong on it sometime this year though. If diesel hits 5 bucks a gallon again I won't have any choice but to run it. Last year about ruined me here! Our hay fields are very intensively managed, lots of fertilizer and irrigation, and my input costs exceeded what I was getting off of it for a couple months. Thanks to high fuel and fertilizer prices.
My plan is to grow a crop, or turn an existing crop, into oil for making my own diesel. I'm still researching all the things we grow that are suitable for it.

When I was a real little kid, most of our neighbors were distilling their own fuel. We were fortunate in that we only had to put up hay to fuel our tractors. six big draft horses that we farmed 100 acres with. We grew corn mostly to feed chickens and cattle through the winter. Those were the days.