Biodiesel - any experience?

[_RaT_]

All right no sales tax, but hows the property tax? Do they tax biodiesel? (had to get that topic in) No, never even heard of it. My neighbor, an old fart said a guy in Reno, Nevada holds a patent for biodiesel or biogas (isn't that just methane)? Wow, so Deleware has the most corporations, I guess thats good. California has the most people, but I don't think thats so good. But its big so thats good. But we have sales tax, thats not so good, but of course girls here wear nothing but bikinis and spike volleyballs, thats good. Again, I'm off the biodiesel subject. Bad, Rat, BAD...

 

[TomG]

I thought all diesel was bio. Just that some of it has been in the ground awhile. Never could figure out why it's called mineral oil. Wonder off? Don't suppose we'd show real well in a plowing match. Last big one around here was a fundraiser to pay for the 911 phone service. Yikes, I'm doing it too. Imagine farmers having to pay for a 911 service. The Post Office should have paid. Most people around here didn't have addresses, and now everything gets sent to the 911 numbers.

 

[rbargeron]

ok, ok, I get it. Thanks for only hitting me with the small sticks. Being "new" I didn't realize this was more of a stream-of-concious open line.

But I would like to know if anybody's fuel lines have dissolved or if any filters have pluggged from loosened fuel tank deposits or if any of the other horror stories them university types warn of are true.

How bout them Pacers

 

[richh]

will be going down to lower mi. today and IM going to stop and look at THE BIG DADDY tires on the way down.Found a guy thats got all 4 in stock sooooo. Biodiesel, whats that????????/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[_RaT_]

Go PACERS, unless of course they're playing the KINGS.
I'm pulling for the Pacers/Bird this year. I believe they have fewer tatoo's then anyone else in the playoffs. Not that there is anything inherently wrong with tatoo's, I just wouldn't hang that junk on my body much less my garage. Rat...

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Back to the subject - I have been around the use of bio-diesel - the Alexandria (Virginia) transit system did a trial several years ago. From their experience, if your diesel isn't new, be prepared to do a few fuel filter changes, the bio-diesel (20/80 mix) loosen the curd in the tank and fuel lines and it clogged up the filters, mileage was a little less. The cleaning effect was confirmed in conservation with bio-diesel people at Virginia State Fair. It is suspose to provide better lubrication than straight diesel. And I agree, it sure is nicer following a bio-diesel bus than a straight diesel bus. To degress - I had a pilot project with hybird electic bus under way in Falls Church (VA), (the buses still have not been delivered) they will have a diesel powered turbine generator running at 96,000 RPM - yes 96,000 - air cooled, air bearings and clean burning - they will keep the batteries charged. The batteries are for load balancing - high amps for starting - also need is they have regenerative braking - where the motors turn into generators to help stop the bus and recharge the batteries at the same time - real neat technology but a long way from the use in tractors.

 

[TomG]

I wonder if bio-diesel is anymore prone to fungus growth than petro-diesel. I hear that the stuff can create quite a mess and is difficult to get rid of. I also hear that the fungus source usually is from a supplier. Sounds like Halsey knows something about the subject and maybe will comment.

 

[rbargeron]

Speaking of tattoos, Kubota's Columbus office has apparently dropped their offer of free Pipe Fittings & Gears logo applied to the location you specify when you register your new tractor. It wasn't a real tattoo anyway because it was removable with biodiesel.

 

[JonE]

Everything you ever wanted to know about biodiesel http://www.biodiesel.org/overview.html How can you make your own you ask?
http://www.woodwind.com/dancing-rabbit/biodiesel/makeit.html
The reason some of this stuff is so volotile to various rubber/plastic materials found in fuel delivery systems is that one of the main components in biodiesel is methanol. Also, algacide is routinely used to prevent algae growth.
I hope to use it someday myself!

 

[TomG]

Sorry, I was serious. Haven't heard of any problems around here. However, apparently there is a fungus that grows in diesel. People here or on CTB who say they've had it describe it as 'not nice.' Another comment mentioned anti-algae additives, so I guess bio-diesel may have a greater problem than diesel with micro-organism growth. If methanol is a principal ingredient, its hard to figure what would grow in it.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I did not hear of any problems with the algae (fungus) in bio-diesel used by Alexandria - but they use filters of the tanks. From what Ford (trucks) says in their manuals is that the algea develops when water is present. So its important to keep water out of your fuel. From person experience, in my Ford truck (164,000 miles) is that when I change my fuel filter, I have a black accumulation of crud in the bottom of the bowl. I am told that this is algea. I rarely get any water out of the bowl (a few drops about a 1/4" in diameter) if any at all), check it at each oil change (2500 miles). With these small tractors that don't use much fuel, I could be a problem with condensation in the fuel tank. Just check your filter often.

 

[TomG]

Thanks. The fungus I mentioned I've heard described as 'black crud.' Black fuel filters are said to be the first sign. It probably actually algae, but small difference, it's a mess never the less. The notion about water condensation makes sense. From what I've heard, the problem usually is with old diesel.