Biodiesel, High Performance Fuel
If you run a diesel engine are familiar with biodiesel fuel
blends you might already know from experience already be aware
that they perform almost identically to conventional diesel
fuel. The national biodiesel board claims that there is only
1.73% difference in economy, torque and horsepower between B20
blend biodiesel and Diesel No. 2 fuel
Somehow biodiesel fuel got a bad rap as a low performance fuel
when actually the opposite is true. In fact biodiesel fuel
blends are typically added to a diesel engine to improve its
performance. The fact is that biodiesel fuel blends perform very
similar to low sulfur diesel fuel in terms of power, torque,
haulage and fuel consumption without and major modification to
diesel engines!
Biodiesel fuel lubricates your diesel engine far better than
'straight' petroleum diesel fuel. According to the national
biodiesel board, lubricity tests that compare of biodiesel fuel
and petroleum diesel indicate that there is a marked improvement
in performance after biodiesel is added to conventional diesel
fuel.
Even biodiesel levels as low as one percent can provide up to a
65 percent increase in lubricity in petroleum distillate diesel
fuels.
However like most diesel fuels, biodiesel is not perfect.
Perhaps its biggest drawback is that it is not compatible with
all engine components. Although many manufacturers have or are
in the process of creating a diesel car or diesel engine more
compatible with low sulfur diesel fuels such as biodiesel not
all diesel engines can handle it.
Biodiesel's mistaken reputation as a bad diesel fuel probably
originated with individuals who were trying to run certain older
diesel engines on pure biodiesel. Keep in mind that all
biodiesel fuel is not created equal and that it is usually a big
mistake to pour pure biodiesel into any engine. Pure biodiesel
is 100% vegetable oil. The best biodiesel that is compatible
with most diesel engines is one that is a combination of both
diesel fuel and vegetable oil. The confusion comes from the idea
that the term biodiesel fuel also covers 'blends' with diesel.
Pure vegetable oil is pure biodiesel and that is rarely used in
any diesel car, truck or engine.
The main problem with putting pure biodiesel fuel into certain
models and older machines is that pure biodiesel will soften and
degrade certain types of elastomers and natural rubber compounds
over time. Undiluted biodiesel can destroy certain types of
gasket, hose, and seal compounds like natural rubber.
Unfortunately these materials are what most fuel hoses and fuel
pump seals are made of and of course if you pour pure biodiesel
into a diesel engine or diesel car you are going to get poor
performance.
Most manufacturers recommend that natural or butyl rubbers not
be allowed to come in contact with pure biodiesel fuel One way
around this is to replace your hoses and fuel caps with a
material that is compatible with biodiesel or stick to using a
blend of biodiesel which will not cause as much wear and tear on
your hoses and sealants. Once you have done this, you will be
achieving high performance with biodiesel fuel every time.