biodiesel

[N1ST]

Anyone running biodiesel in the CG23.. or have any words of wisdom about doing so? How does MF feel about it? I didn't see any mention in the manual about it (no surprise there).

 

[DEWFPO]

I"ve been running B20 mixed down to B5 since I got my GC2300. One small fuel hose swelled and leaked during the winter, but I was able to tighten the exisiting clamp and add a second clamp (double clamp) and it stopped dripping. Hasn't leaked since. We'll see how it does this winter. I use BlueSun Biodiesel made here in CO so it's winterized already and I like the added lubrication benefit of the Biodiesel especially since I use mine all winter to blow snow so all my winter starts are cold starts.

DEWFPO

 

[N1ST]

I don't know much about biodiesel. Is B20, 20% bio? How and why do you mix it down to 5%? Do the fumes smell different?

 

[monkeymonk]

I run it in my L48 smells very very sweet!! quite pleasant.

Beats the he** outa sucking diesel fumes

 

[D7E]

We've just joined a group of 20 farmers and local buisness men farming 60'000 acres who are building their own bio-diesel plant ,and should be running next august ....I'll know more then ?

 

[DEWFPO]

I don't know much about biodiesel. Is B20, 20% bio? How and why do you mix it down to 5%? Do the fumes smell different?

Yes, B20 is 20% bio-diesel. I mix it with straight diesel to get 5% BioD. It does smell a little better, but I really like the lubricating quality of the fuel. Around here, there's only one station for over 150 miles so it's 20 cents more per gallon than reg. diesel.

DEWFPO

 

[N1ST]

Ok on mixing it - sounds like you might use it at 20% if it wasn't more costly than regular diesel.

My MF is still under warrenty - are there any issues from the company with using BD ?

 

[DEWFPO]

Mine is still under warranty as well and haven't given it a thought.

DEWFPO

 

[jbrumberg]

Some manufacturors have not endorsed the use of biodiesel fuels under warranty yet. Biodiesel will also tend to dissolve the accumulated sludge in the fuel tanks and lines in older tractors that were using LSD and off road diesel leading to clogged filters and injectors. Biodiesel has a high gell point which could lead to cold weather operational "challenges". Jay

 

[jeepcj7]

MF released a service bulletin approving the use of B5 on Iseki engines. Upto B20 would probably work just fine. To be safe, anything over B20 would require changing the filters and engine oil more frequently. Biggest issue with biodiesel is lack of standards that everyone has to adhere to making it difficult for the engine mfg's to know exactly what is going thru their engine without affecting longevity. Once biodiesel becomes more standardized (particularly in a worldwide market), it would be safe to assume that everyone will start producing B100 compatible engines. On gas engines, Ethonal is strictly regulated and is nothing more than a chemical chain (C-H3-C- H2-O-H) that remains the same irregardless of how it is manufactured.

 

[DEWFPO]

I started using BD in my tractor after I had it for about 6 months and when it had only about 25 hours on it so I wasn't concerned about sludge.

DEWFPO

 

[jbrumberg]

DEWFPO:

It is the older tractors that ran older diesel formulations that are experiencing problems with fuel line, filters, and injector problems when using biodiesel. I also believe ULSD does this as well, but to a lesser extent. Biodiesel still has a high gell point. I would not recommend it for extreme cold use. Jay

 

[DEWFPO]

DEWFPO:

It is the older tractors that ran older diesel formulations that are experiencing problems with fuel line, filters, and injector problems when using biodiesel. I also believe ULSD does this as well, but to a lesser extent. Biodiesel still has a high gell point. I would not recommend it for extreme cold use. Jay

I was concerned about the gelling but BlueSun BD is made here in CO and is supposedly winterized for this climate. But I also add a PowerService Diesel Fuel Supplement in the winter to make sure it doesn't gel and I plug the block heater in. I can't afford for it not to start.

DEWFPO

 

[DuaneW]

Have been running B-20 in both my little massey (1428) and my Oliver 1650, since I have gotten my massey, the Oliver sees more sit time than use. Started the Oliver up yesterday to move the gravity wagon and noticed the sediment bowl was brown, not clear like usual. Took it apart and cleaned it, was full of fine particles, sticky and hard to get off of stuff. Put it back together, started the tractor and looked good. Then I moved the tractor, bowel immediatly filled with gunk again. Attempted to drain the tank today, while draining was swishing the fuel around ( rolling tractor back and forth ), and getting lots of 'gunk' out in the fuel. Then, no more flow... , will have to try air to blow gunk out of lines and all over me ( i know thats where it will go so might as well make it a goal ). Good news is, fuel system will be clean, bad news is getting the thing running agian takes time I dont have.

DuaneW.

 

[D7E]

We ran two 300hp cummins motors on a bench and dynometer test for 100 hrs , one with bio and one with farm dyed diesel and emissions were less with bio and power was more and bio motor had a totally different "sweeter" note to it , when using highway diesel the power was same as bio but still ran nicer and fuel efficiency was incredibly better, This was a new engine but we've done some tests with 1950' 1970's tractors and only a few have had pump or injector problems Older jd's and some perkins with rotary pumps gave a little trouble . But in longer tests the optimum performance for most engines was a 50/50 mix of bio and highway diesel , Some tests were done in the uk and the dyed is a better quality (just dyed highway diesel) , so the benifits were only emmisions and economy (not power)
I was against it initially from experiments in the 90's with bio and mixes and had some big problems with it (JD) but i cannot argue the facts now ?

 

[D7E]

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