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Old 08-17-2015, 12:03 PM   #1
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Diesel in Colorado

Hi there, was reading on the forums about the Mercedes Benz diesel engine and biodiesel fuel. I am from Colorado. Joshua, if you're reading this, could you tell me whether I'm going to have problems finding biodiesel in Colorado that is a low enough percentage so that I don't harm the mercedes-benz engine? Or will it be recommended that I drive to another state to fill up. Or has anything changed in the mercedes-benz BlueTEC engine that will allow me to use the 20% biodiesel found in Colorado?
Thanks

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Old 12-30-2015, 12:52 PM   #2
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Bio diesel not 100 percent shure but I think 20 percent bio is to much maybe others can chime in.


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Old 12-30-2015, 03:54 PM   #3
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You can go up to 20 percent, but there are caveats. Search for latest info. from MB brochure on diesel fuel.
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Old 12-30-2015, 09:32 PM   #4
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A couple things on biodiesel; one, if you can avoid it do so, two, if you can't try and use the least content as possible. Third, from what I have learned from other posters, which have been quite informative, past 10% bio seems to be getting into the nobody knows really what the effects are realm, and what the long term effects might be. And, it doesn't seem the gov't ever moves on a problem, unless there is overwhelming loss that is documented. So, when in doubt, employ one or two if possible. Just sayin'
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Old 12-31-2015, 04:45 PM   #5
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The Government created the problem. Refineries are pressured t use as much Bio as passible. It costs to blend the Soy butter with fossil fuel The goal is 100% Bio
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Old 12-31-2015, 05:21 PM   #6
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The Government created the problem.
The enviro-freaks created the problem. They finagle the gov't into requiring bio diesel even though it's bad for diesel engines. Of course, THEY don't drive diesel engines. They just read about some idiot running his car or french fry oil and get stars in their eyes and force the gov't to make the rest of us do it.

The fact that the guys engine crapped out 6 months later never makes the news. And when your engine craps out, it won't make the news, either.

They've taken us gassers down the same road with 10% ethanol, and they're now trying to make it worse, with 15%.
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Old 01-02-2016, 06:36 AM   #7
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Biodiesel isn't bad for engines. Where did you hear that? I've run biodiesel from B20 to B100 for years in my VW TDi's and my 06 KJ CRD.

The reason that biodiesel may be harmful to newer engines has to do with EMISSIONS! Stupid gov't demanded Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) in 2007 and stupid automotive engineers decided to save $$$ by cleaning the DPF with fuel injected into the exhaust by the fuel injectors during the exhaust stroke. This causes some fuel to leak past the rings into the oil causing oil polymerization. If the bean counters weren't involved, a separate fuel injector in the exhaust would have been better so that fuel dilution wouldn't be an issue!
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Old 01-02-2016, 09:24 AM   #8
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Look both your points have merit. But, think about your comment regarding post 2007 emmisions requirements. Most will admit that diesels burning cleaner and not emitting that black soot or nox out the exhaust is a good thing. How they achieved it, with the DEF injection and the DPF is where the science went. Thats done. What's not done is the gov't mandating biodiesel resulting in the failure of the cleaner burning diesels in some cases. What the simple, but impossible solution, is right infront of them. They will not change unless;

Fact; we now produce more oil than Saudia Arabia. We have, through good old American ingenuity, invented a way to tap untold amounts of oil, at depths unthinkable only a decade ago. Fact, fuel prices are lower in part by two major factors, one that invention, and two, the Saudis are flooding the market with oversupply, thus driving the price to levels so low, as to collapse the production in the US market. This move WILL happen, and the price will increase. When is still up for debate, but the slowing of well drilling is already beginning in North Dakota and the tar sands in Canada.

Fact, it costs more to grow the soy beans, refine the bio that is then added to diesel, than leaving it pure refined 100% diesel. The PC mentality has taken hold so tightly, that ALL of this will not end well. So, if that needs to change, guess who needs to change it, US. I'll draw an analogy and call it the stop sign. We all can recall an intersection where a stop sign was added. An intersection where for years we just cruised through. Then wella one day, poof a stop sign. What you don't realize is so much action was put into place to have that installed. The reason, injury and property damage. The point of this analogy is gov't rarely acts until there is failure, failure on such a scale that the powers to be act. (i.e. stop sign) The gov't will not stop meddling into our lives until, we the people, tell it stop. So, the days of sitting on your duff continue, EXPECT more of the same. Happy New Year!
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Old 01-02-2016, 10:10 AM   #9
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Bio IS good, lubricity has been taken out of the diesel fuel 9-10 years ago, a bio blend is the most useful form of lubricity for the high pressure fuel pumps today's diesels run at. The problem is some is good doesn't mean more is better. Exhaust after treatment systems may suffer, most will handle B20 with no problem.
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Old 01-02-2016, 11:13 AM   #10
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Hi,

The issue is what dealers and manufacturers will do when the warranty sets an upper limit, and they test the fuel in your tank (as they investigate your problem) and find you have gone above that limit.

I know GM diesel owners share this concern, particularly those of us in the Midwest, where non-bio diesel or low percentage bio can be hard to find. Other brands may as well. I think it is reprehensible that the government and the auto industry put a major market segment in this situation.

FWIW.

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Old 01-02-2016, 11:33 AM   #11
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Biodiesel isn't bad for engines. Where did you hear that? I've run biodiesel from B20 to B100 for years in my VW TDi's and my 06 KJ CRD.

The reason that biodiesel may be harmful to newer engines has to do with EMISSIONS! Stupid gov't demanded Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) in 2007 and stupid automotive engineers decided to save $$$ by cleaning the DPF with fuel injected into the exhaust by the fuel injectors during the exhaust stroke. This causes some fuel to leak past the rings into the oil causing oil polymerization. If the bean counters weren't involved, a separate fuel injector in the exhaust would have been better so that fuel dilution wouldn't be an issue!
36 years at a nuclear power plant. NO BIODIESEL allowed in our emergency diesel engines (Cooper-Bessemer, 16 cylinder, turbos, about 3500 hp, expected to start and be up to full power in 10 seconds). Bio's not good for the elasotmers used in the seals, etc,. See other issues below.

We had to start using ultra low sulfer diesel (ULSD) about 5 yrs years ago. A lubricity additive is used to keep the lubricity in spec. Below is why we don't use Bio:

Bio-Diesel fuel is made from vegetable oils, used cooking grease and/or animal fats such as soybean. At a 20% Bio / 80% petroleum concentration, Bio-diesel fuel will clean the deposits from storage tank walls and the sludge from tank bottoms; at a 2% concentration the solvency effect is lost. At 5% concentration, Bio will attack clear-coat paint. Bio will form a gum if it contacts copper supply lines. A 2% Bio mix caused fuel filter plugging in trucks in Minnesota last winter. Bio-diesel has a very short shelf life, as degradation can begin in 7 to 14 days. Bio-diesel is hydrophilic and may pick up water in transit or storage over time. Off-specification Bio-diesel fuel can result in a black, tarry gum. Since Bio-diesel is non-polar and ULSD is polar, some dissolved materials may drop out, causing an increase in total insolubles.

So it might be "good enough" for your TDI, but not for us.
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Old 01-02-2016, 05:59 PM   #12
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Gee-whiz don't you just like fact based posts. Now, if only we could get our out of control gov't to be pro active, fat chance. Like I said, it's the stop sign effect in play.
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Old 01-02-2016, 06:28 PM   #13
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Rockfordroo, which Cooper engines did you guys use? What rpm did they run? CB made a few great engines and a few dogs...such as the Z-330. I'm mostly familiar with their older engines like the GMW's or the LSV or the V-250. Seems like they made a Quad at one time didn't they?
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Old 01-02-2016, 07:30 PM   #14
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We were in Colorado this past summer. Don't remember issues finding B5 or below. Is this a new issue?
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Old 01-02-2016, 10:18 PM   #15
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Rockfordroo, which Cooper engines did you guys use? What rpm did they run? CB made a few great engines and a few dogs...such as the Z-330. I'm mostly familiar with their older engines like the GMW's or the LSV or the V-250. Seems like they made a Quad at one time didn't they?
KSV-20-T (I mis-spoke on cylinder # above - 20 cyl).
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Old 01-03-2016, 08:36 AM   #16
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Did the ksv use "air in head" high pressure air to start? I'm amazed that these large bore/ long stroke engines can be online at full load in 10 seconds. That's incredibly hard on any recip engine, but I guess that when you need power and need it now, premature cylinder wear is not the most important issue.
We were in pipeline service, and after startup, we waited until jacket water and lube oil were up to 100 deg F before loading. Gosh, but we couldn't even get adequate pre-lube in 10 seconds.
Did you ever experience stuck pistons or scuffed cyl liners? I always found these huge engines fascinating.
The big turbines were interesting and we had several at 50,000 HP, but they are such simple beasts by comparison. Control systems are complex on all of them. Before I retired, we had implemented full system controls that allowed remote startup. Our pipeline controllers could crank and load a unit from anywhere in the world. Fascinating stuff.
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Old 01-03-2016, 08:40 AM   #17
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Oh yeah, did the ksv-20 have the flywheel in the middle? I've seen a few engines where they coupled two 12 cyl engines with a single flywheel. I think Ingersol Rand did that with their kvt's.
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Old 01-03-2016, 10:17 AM   #18
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Yes, air over cylinder starting. Flywheel on the end. Jacket water and lube oil heaters and pumps keep it >100 F at all times. Note that 10 sec is the limit. Most starts are 7-8 sec.
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Old 01-03-2016, 12:16 PM   #19
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We ran CAT and Detroit Diesel engines as standby generators for TV Transmitters. Poorly maintained but full block heaters and fuel conditioner was used when we remembered. Once every couple years offered the fuel free to local farmers for hauling it away, Always had a taker for 1000 gallons of fuel.
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