Question: Biodiesel in Cold climates??

[travistim_69]

Ok so I am looking into starting to make my own biodiesel and I want to know what issues people are having running B100 in colder climates.
I will be moving back to Alaska here shortly and I realize during the coldest winter months I will not be able to run B100. So at what temperatures are people running into issues with biodiesel?

 

[02greysixer]

Wish I could answer that for you, but in Fl I dont really have to worry about it . The booklet I got with my kit suggests this "Power Service Arctic Express Biodiesel Anti-gel" when in colder climates. It lowers the gel point by 20-40*. My book also says that B50 is a common ratio in colder climates. It says the best thing to do is just keep a little bio in a jar near your truck/processor and if it looks cloudy to probably go back to pump diesel. Have you considered a truck bed mounted tank with a heater? You could start the truck on regular diesel and let it and the bio warm up then switch over to your bio. Just have to remember to switch it back to regular diesel before you shut it off for a long time.


Sint frum tha orijinul smert fone

 

[super diesel]

Ok so I am looking into starting to make my own biodiesel and I want to know what issues people are having running B100 in colder climates.
I will be moving back to Alaska here shortly and I realize during the coldest winter months I will not be able to run B100. So at what temperatures are people running into issues with biodiesel?

Put your batch in a jar in the freezer with a temp gauge in it. Check it every now and again to find the cloud and jell points. Racor use to make some good stuff to help this when I use to make it back in the 90s, but I don't know if they do any more. I wouldn't do anything more than 10% in Alaska during the fall and spring (dependent on where you are) with some mineral spirits or Karosene (which usually offsets the cost of making it anyway unfortunately).

 

[travistim_69]

Wish I could answer that for you, but in Fl I dont really have to worry about it . The booklet I got with my kit suggests this "Power Service Arctic Express Biodiesel Anti-gel" when in colder climates. It lowers the gel point by 20-40*. My book also says that B50 is a common ratio in colder climates. It says the best thing to do is just keep a little bio in a jar near your truck/processor and if it looks cloudy to probably go back to pump diesel. Have you considered a truck bed mounted tank with a heater? You could start the truck on regular diesel and let it and the bio warm up then switch over to your bio. Just have to remember to switch it back to regular diesel before you shut it off for a long time.


Sint frum tha orijinul smert fone

Thanks I will check out the "Power Service Arctic Express Biodiesel Anti-gel" and see about using that stuff. Unfortunatly a bed mounted tank is not an option due to that fact I use my bed space a lot.

Put your batch in a jar in the freezer with a temp gauge in it. Check it every now and again to find the cloud and jell points. Racor use to make some good stuff to help this when I use to make it back in the 90s, but I don't know if they do any more. I wouldn't do anything more than 10% in Alaska during the fall and spring (dependent on where you are) with some mineral spirits or Karosene (which usually offsets the cost of making it anyway unfortunately).

yeah thats what I was thinking that I wouldn't beable to run much more than 10-15% bio unless it was summer time which doesn't make it as much of a money saver..... now if I could only find the wife a diesel SUV then I would be set!

 

[02greysixer]

The U.S. is getting the diesel grand Cherokee in 2013. I told my girlfriend when she was done with nursing school she had to ditch her Hyundai for one of those . And I have a little container of bio I'll throw in the freezer an see what it does for ya :thumb:


Sint frum tha orijinul smert fone

 

[travistim_69]

The U.S. is getting the diesel grand Cherokee in 2013. I told my girlfriend when she was done with nursing school she had to ditch her Hyundai for one of those . And I have a little container of bio I'll throw in the freezer an see what it does for ya :thumb:


Sint frum tha orijinul smert fone

Well the US had the diesel grand cherokee before but because it couldn't passs emissions in some of the tougher states crystler took it off the market. I have been searching high and low for one but they are always so damn far away

Thanks I appreciate you putting a jar of biodiesel in the freezer for me.

 

[Dozerboy]

Not really going to do much good since the quality of the bio varies a lot and that greatly affects the gel point. I've had good luck with Howes diesel treat and bio.

 

[travistim_69]

Not really going to do much good since the quality of the bio varies a lot and that greatly affects the gel point. I've had good luck with Howes diesel treat and bio.

Thanks I have heard good things about Howes diesel treat before