A big scare is on at the moment over here in the UK automotive industry.
Apparently, if a thorough cleaning program of the storage tanks for this bio-fuel stuff isn't followed, gelatinous gob's of a jelly like substance starts to grow, by bacteria forming in the bio-fuel.
This will cause massive problems in fuel systems of cars and trucks by blocking injector and fuel lines and filters etc.
We all know just how much penny pinching goes on in the world, so you can imagine that retailers and wholesalers alike, will cut corners and not follow through withthis preventative maintenanceon tanks etc.
Have any of you guys in the States come across this??
Will bio-fuel retailers have to put something like a weed killer into the fuel, to stop these bacteria blooming and forming in the fuel??
Al.

 

in America we call people that use bio Fuel "hippies"

no I live in the mid west and I know of NOWHERE you can buy bio fuel. but then I have never looked for it since I have never owned a diesel truck.

 

Here in Michigan, there are quite a few places that sell Bio Diesel at the pump. Actually, Bio Diesel is being blended at many places at about 10% with petroleum diesel (you can tell when they do this by looking for 'B10' stickers on the pump). Depending on the area you're in, you can find places that sell B99 (99% Bio Diesel).

As far as the danger of bacteria growing in diesel, that's not just limited to bio diesel, it can (and does0 happen with regular, petroleum-based diesel, as well. I can see the bacteria growth being a problem for the guys out there that make a cleaning/seperation station in their garages if they aren't careful, but as for the actual industry, I just don't see it happening. A biocide is part of the typical additive package in all diesel fuel, and I would imagine is a bit higher in concentration in straight Bio Diesel.

I work in the fuel industry as a transport driver, and see on a daily basis the storage tanks at both the racks & refineries we load up at, and the filling stations we deliver to. I have yet to ever see a problem like the one you've described.

 

Here's a site that shows a list of distributors :

http://www.biodiesel.org/buyingbiodiesel/distributors/

I'm tempted to try a 5% biodiesel mix, but I'm not entirely sure how this works. Are these distributors fueling stations where I just pull up with my truck?

 

That's some interesting stuff you wrote there UP_Boilermaker.
Maybe it's just a press thing...........you know?
They make up headlines to sell papers and stuff and blow it all out of proportion, just to sell copy?
Al.

 

I have a friend with a 2005 CTD 2500, and he's run 100% home-brew bio-diesel in it many times. He used to be a service tech at a Dodge dealership, and is very familiar with the CTD's. He's told me many times that bio diesel is far cleaner to the engine than regular Diesel. About the only problem he's noticed is that the exhaust smells somewhere between french fries & burnt hamburgers!

 

So much for that. I called just about every dealer in my area and even though they list "all" as their blend, all of the distributors only sell B20. Dodge only approves of B5 blend. As much as I'd like to try biodiesel, its not worth losing my warranty over.

 

It is called Algae and feeds off of the moisture that is in fuel. If you keep the moistureto a minimum, you can reduce the chances of growing algae in the fuel.

 

Just a small correction. Algae does not and cannot grow in fuel tanks. No light -- no algae. What does grow in the tank are microbes, which feed on diesel fuel. This is what clogs the fuel lines and fuel filters.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel#...s.2C_and_water

 

Well hell how on earth do you go wrong with that? Thats the 3 things I live in life, My truck, french fries and burgers. Roll them up into one thing and life is perfect!!![sm=gears.gif]