Your Car or Truck 

Biodiesel can be used in any diesel application - diesel cars, trucks, boats, generators, construction and farm equipment, and in furnaces that use home heating oil.

If I start using biodiesel, can I go back to petroleum diesel?

Yes! With biodiesel, you can easily switch back and forth between biodiesel and petroleum diesel, and between various biodiesel blends.

Why use biodiesel in my car or truck?

Biodiesel use has environmental benefits, provides energy independence, supports local and rural communities, and provides superior engine performance.  Petroleum diesel pollution is a serious health threat with more than 40 air toxins, while biodiesel significantly lowers emissions of sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and carcinogenic particulate matter.

Performance.  Sufficient fuel lubricity is necessary to reduce equipment wear and premature breakdown. Biodiesel has superior lubricity to petroleum diesel, especially ultra low sulfur diesel. Increased lubricity enhances engine performance and can prolong engine life and decrease vehicle operating costs. 

While biodiesel has slightly lower BTUs (energy content) than petroleum diesel, biodiesel has a higher cetane rating (47-70) than petroleum diesel (42-44). Biodiesel’s high cetane rating results in a more complete combustion of the fuel. This improves engine efficiency, can improve the power output of the engine, and nearly eliminates white smoke. This increased cetane also aids in self-ignition of the fuel for easier starting, smoother running engine performance and quieter, more reliable operation.  The lack of sulfur in biodiesel decreases the levels of corrosive sulfuric acid accumulating in the engine crankcase oil over time.

Do I need to take any precautions when switching to biodiesel?

Materials.  Vehicles made pre-1995 may have natural rubber fuel lines that are not compatible with blends of B50 biodiesel or higher and will slowly degrade over time.  These components can be easily be replaced with biodiesel-compatible materials such as Viton.  Vehicles made after 1995 already have biodiesel-compatible materials and require no modification.  Material compatibility is not a concern with blends of B20 or lower.

Filters.  Biodiesel has solvent properties which can dissolve the accumulated sediments in vehicle fuel tanks when the fuel is first introduced.  With higher blends of biodiesel (higher than B20), you can either clean the fuel system before you introduce biodiesel or you can change the fuel filters after the biodiesel switch.  Once the tank has been “cleaned out” this is usually no longer a concern.  Typically biodiesel blends of B20 or lower are too diluted to lead to any filter plugging.

Cold Weather.  Unlike gasoline, both petroleum diesel and biodiesel can gel at cold temperatures. If the fuel begins to gel, it can cause increased stress on fuel pumps and fuel injection systems. It can also clog filters or eventually become too thick to pump from the fuel tank to the engine. B99 gels at a higher temperature than petroleum diesel. Most B99 begins to thicken (cloud) at around 35°F. However, the gel point depends on what kind of oil the biodiesel is made from, what cold flow additives were added to the biodiesel, and how exposed the fuel tank is on a particular vehicle. 

Many Northwest drivers have used B99 year-round with no gelling issues.  As an extra precaution, some users switch from B99 to a blend of B50 in cold weather (below 35°F). B50 provides adequate dilution to prevent cold weather gelling. Other options for using B99 in cold weather include keeping vehicles in a heated garage, using fuel system heaters, or using winterized biodiesel (biodiesel with cold flow additives).

How does biodiesel impact my engine warranty?

Engine manufacturers’ warranties only cover the manufacturers’ parts and workmanship. These warranties do not cover fuel whether it’s petroleum diesel or biodiesel.  The use of biodiesel in diesel engines does not void these warranties, even if the blend of biodiesel (such as B99) is higher than what the manufacturer approves.  Engine manufacturers can not void an engine’s warranty due to the use of biodiesel under the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act.  If there are engine problems caused by a fuel (whether that fuel is petroleum diesel or biodiesel) these problems are the responsibility of the fuel supplier. If an engine problem is the result of faulty parts or workmanship and not resulting from the fuel, the engine manufacturer must honor the warranty.

What about fuel quality?

All commercially sold biodiesel in the Northwest is required by law to meet quality standards created specifically for biodiesel known as ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) D 6751. These technical standards ensure consistent, high quality fuel that will perform properly in diesel engines.

Want more information on biodiesel?

(Click on the subjects below. Downloadable PDFs coming soon!)

Biodiesel Basics

Marine Use

Health Benefits

Heating Your Home

Sustainability

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