California
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2004
- Messages
- 14,617
- Location
- An hour north of San Francisco
- Tractor
- Yanmar YM240 Yanmar YM186D
Here's another recent thread that veered off-topic to discuss biodlesel. One of the participants seems to have a background in chemical engineering and participated in a biodiesel startup a decade ago, so he has remained interested in recent developments in better quality BD from modern refineries.Has anyone experience of HVO in their tractors, especially older ones, and views.
After considering his advice I concluded the high quality Nesle (not Nestle) - BD from a real refinery, available locally, would be fine for a car but isn't suitable for my small scale farm use because I store diesel a year or more before it is used. I think this is the HVO you are inquiring about. That thread has links to articles describing Nesle's overseas refineries.
Apparently what I learned years ago is still relevant: BD is an alternative to diesel IF you recognize the need for more frequent maintenance, and upgrade hoses and gaskets for it. Then consume it fast enough to stay ahead of quality deterioration. So there has to be a cost saving to make it worthwhile. (or a lot of idealism). I went back to off-road (no road tax) ordinary diesel after a year of hard starting on BD. As for home heating - you don't get re-fueled as often as an automobile so I don't know if it is suitable.