Kubota and Biodiesel

silez · Aug 28, 2005

Hello:

Was wondering what the scoop is (no pun intended) with kubota B series tractors being run on biodiesel? What are Kubota's feelings in regards to warranty?

Thanks

Eric

InlineDieselFan · Aug 29, 2005

I don't know about Kubotas warranty, but the stuff runs good in a Cummins diesel.

steve

Schultz · Aug 29, 2005

Don't know about the warranty either but my BX has been running on it all summer. Never noticed a difference, other than a little less smoke at start up. I've only been running B20, the only one that sells b100 is quite a ways out of my way and just haven't been it the area to get it. I don't plan on switching back, unless I have to in the winter.

cchoate · Aug 29, 2005

Ok, I'll be the one to ask... What is bio diesel? Cost more or less than regular diesel? Where do you buy it?

catvet · Aug 29, 2005

here is a link to Biodiesel info
biodiesel organization

mangoland · Aug 30, 2005

I don't know about warrany, but my 2710 runs great on it. It is the cheapest fuel out here in the Pacific, at least that I can access. There is another farm down the road that uses it in a couple of larger Kubotas, again with no problem. It is clearly not the answer for everyone, but if you can get it, try it. The 2710 engine is very clean burning, so odor is minimal, but the bio is preferable in any case.

v8dave · Aug 31, 2005

( Ok, I'll be the one to ask... What is bio diesel? Cost more or less than regular diesel? Where do you buy it? )

Well, I'm not sure where to buy it. The provided link above should have leads to where ready to use boidiesel is available.

Diesels will run on about anything that is flammable. However, most diesels need the lubricating properties of the fuel to lubricate the injection pump. So that leaves out the thinner products like gasoline, paint thinner, etc. But does leave in vegtable and animal fat oils.

Most biodiesel do-it-your-self efforts involve collecting deep fryer oil from restaurants and cleaning the heck out of it. In this case biodiesel is basically cooking oil cleaned up to keep debris, acids and water out of the fuel. Hence, the usual comment about a bio-diesel exhaust smelling like french fries.

Large volume commercial operations use both purpose manufactured and reclaimed vegtable oil as "Diesel." In California the commercial offerings were more expensive than petroleum Diesel (what with the recent run up in prices, I'm no longer sure that is the case).

Would you like fries with with your diesel today, Sir? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

v8dave · Aug 31, 2005

Forgot to say. Most of the cases I've read about, where folks are using bio-diesel, they use a mixture of bio and petro diesel to get the flow qualities they feel they need (it's subjective). In the summertime I've read reports of "off the grid" generator plants using 100% bio but needing up to 50/50 in the winter to keep the flow good. Most articles I've read have the users keeping about 20% petro-diesel in the mix.

Why the mix,you ask? Although not popular because it doesn't pour well, Crisco and other vegtable shortenings are vegtable oil and are used in some fryers. And when you're getting the stuff cheap (used to be free) you really can't be too choosy. So, you really do need to make sure the fuel tank doesn't jell up. Either kerosene or diesel will work to keep it thin.

rbcsaver · Sep 1, 2005

When Rudolf Diesel designed the Diesel engine at the turn of the century, it was designed to run on vegetable oil, not dino oil.
regards,
Steve

Schultz · Sep 2, 2005

Well I did happen to make it by the distributor that sells b100 to get some for my tractor. Accept they now sell B99. Apparently Bush has signed in a subsidy for blended biofuels. Each percent equals a penny refund/subsidy. So yesterday with the subsidy which the distributor takes care of the B99 was $2.30 ($3.29-.99) a gallon where regular off road diesel was $2.54 and B20 with the subsidy was $2.59 ($2.79-.20).

On a different note I asked about using the biodiesel fuel for my oil furnace. They mentioned they have been burning it for a year now and it burns substantial cleaner. Before they were performing monthly clean-outs on there old oil furnace. Now they only do it seasonally and it seems to only be black sout and not the white and yellow sulfur smelling stuff. But they have only used B20 with winter treatment during the winter months and couldn't recomend anything higher at this time.

have_blue · Sep 2, 2005

Does anyone know if bio diesel production is trending upward? I bet someone could make a killing if they are in position to get it out in quantity... at .25 less than petro diesel.

Given the current soybean and cottonseed oil yields and prices, and a large, efficient bio diesel refinery, I wonder what the economics are?

Unless I miss my guess, some day farmers will be as important to energy production as OPEC. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Berniep · Sep 3, 2005

These high prices on fuel are the best thing to happen to bio-fuels in a long time. I'd love to burn soybeans instead of dinosaurs. I'd love it even more if the station up town had a biodiesel pump.

ZackaryMac · Sep 3, 2005

( Unless I miss my guess, some day farmers will be as important to energy production as OPEC. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )

Imagine OPEC with major competition! Good for them! I believe you may be right on with your guess. People want and need their transportation and aren't about to give it up. People also want to make money and work, so this is a logical direction for the tides to turn to.

Farmers always were important, and this could be the boost in the arm they need (though I'm not a farmer, I live in farm territory).

LBrown59 · Sep 3, 2005

Somebody was talking in another thread about using used hydraulic fluid as fuel in their tractor.
They mix it half and half with regular diesel.
Would that work?
Would it harm the engine?
How about used Automatic transmission fluid and motor oil?

v8dave · Sep 4, 2005

Cleanliness is mucho important. If it was too dirty to run in your motor, transmission, hydraulics it is also too dirty for your fuel injection system.

New out of the can or darned well cleaned up flammable stuff will power your diesel engine. Just be sure it also has lubricating properties.

Some products, like transmission fluid, have lots more other stuff (like detergent) in it. While they may make power, what ever else they may also be doing may be questionable.

YMMV, it's your engine.

LBrown59 · Sep 4, 2005

Here is the thread where Jhb & KennyV were talking about it.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthreaded.php?Cat=0&Board=owning&Number=726579
Draining Transmission Case - How to Catch Fluid?

LBrown59 · Sep 4, 2005

( Cleanliness is mucho important.
*If it was too dirty to run in your motor, transmission, hydraulics it is also too dirty for your fuel injection system.)

````````````
Most biodiesel do-it-your-self efforts involve collecting deep fryer oil from restaurants and cleaning the heck out of it. In this case biodiesel is basically cooking oil cleaned up to keep debris, acids and water out of the fuel.

*Can't you clean this up just like the restaurant oil?

Schultz · Sep 6, 2005

I think it's on the rise. I also believe and hope we're just seeing the beginning of it. Currently there aren't any bio-refineries in MI, but I'm told there are two to three coming on line in the next year or two.

cchoate · Sep 6, 2005

Next question: Does it have to be used vegtable oil or can you use wesson right off the shelf? I have to believe it's got to be cheaper than the $3.29 a gallon /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I payed for diesel yesterday.

I would do just about anything to quit the oil companies games.