bio-diesel

MikePA · Jun 22, 2002

I ordered 5 gallons from the place in Mass. It arrived in about 1 week. Some observations;

1. The 5 gallon can isn't much good for anything else after it's empty of Biodiesel. /w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif I thought if all else fails, I'd at least have a nice 5 gallon can.

2. You can not pour right from the biodiesel can into your fuel tank, unless you want to make a big mess. I had a half full container of regular diesel, so, using a funnel, I poured half the biodiesel into it, poured the other half into a half empty tank on the tractor, again using a funnel.

3. The biodiesel is light yellow in color versus the clear of regular diesel.

4. The warnings on the can indicate it should not be stored in temps under 40 degrees F. Bummer. Others have mentioned that some of the anti-gelling additives used with regular diesel fuel don't work with biodiesel. I assume if you find an additive that works, you could use and store biodiesel over winter.

ncengr · Jun 22, 2002

Haven't tried bio-diesel yet but some of the school systems are using in their buses. Thought you might like to see my fuel storage system. Just recently built the rack so my fuel dealer could setup the tank he rigged up for me. Very convenient and beats the 5 gal. container system.

MikePA · Jun 22, 2002

Great looking set up! I assume you don't get temps below 40 degrees F?

banjobj · Jun 22, 2002

Just curious how much did it cost?

MikePA · Jun 23, 2002

Here's a operational issues in cold weather.

Ozarker · Jun 23, 2002

Since there is no supplier in your area, you may want to consider making it yourself using used oil from local restaurant fryers. A web search will give you a number of recipes and methods.

ncengr · Jun 24, 2002

Haven't gotten bill yet as this was a Fathers Day gift from my wife and children! Not sure if I will see the bill. Drum was used but clean unit the fuel supplier had and they added the fuel filter, hose, and nozzle; set it up on my stand and filled it with diesel.

Yes it does get colder than 40 F here in winter (typically 20 - 25 F is about coldest). Do you think I will need to put any additives in fuel for winter use? I'm not sure how much I will be using tractor in really cold weather as I mainly use it for mowing and vegetable gardening. Thanks!

MikePA · Jun 24, 2002

Steve, I misunderstood. I thought you were using biodiesel. Any delivery of diesel you receive in winter should already have the proper additives for use in cold weather in your area. A problem might arise if you get a delivery in early Fall, before winter additives are blended into the fuel, and this same fuel sits in the container into winter. This 'problem' is not unique to the neat setup you have, all of us have this issue. That's why it's a balancing act between having enough fuel on hand so we're not running to the filling station every week but we don't have the fuel sitting for too long. What I did last winter was dump some diesel fuel conditioner into my summer diesel fuel. Didn't have a problem. You can do the same by estimating how much fuel is left in the 55 gallon drum and adding the appropriate amount of fuel conditioner or by cutting the diesel with kerosene. You should also ask your fuel delivery company about how they handle winter fuel deliveries.

hazmat · Jun 25, 2002

Mike,

How is your tractor running on the bio-diesel? Does it reduce particulates as advertised? What blend are you trying to achieve. I'm getting ready to "pull the trigger" myself on 5 gallons.

MikePA · Jun 25, 2002

How is your tractor running on the bio-diesel? 

It's running fine. I was using it this past Sunday to set some T-posts with the FEL and do some mowing with the rotary cutter. I didn't notice anything unusual.

Does it reduce particulates as advertised?

Hard to evaluate. I got a little puff of dark smoke at start up, which was there with regular diesel, but not much after that. A few times I reduced the engine to a fast idle when I had to get off the seat to do something. When I pushed the throttle up to start the mower up, no smoke.

What blend are you trying to achieve.

I'm probably at a 30-35% blend in the tank right now. The web site indicates that almost all of the benefits of biodiesel can be achieved at a 20% blend.