Are there any negatives to using biodiesel

[99' Powerstroke]

I know very little about biodiesel and was thinking about starting to run b20 and then b50 from the pump in my 99 7.3. I understand that I will probably need to change a few fuel filters when they get clogged, and the biodiesel might start to gel when it gets cold, but is there anything else that might make it a bad idea to run biodiesel. I heard something about the biodiesel eating rubber lines and anything else rubber that it comes in contact with. Is this true?

[vegginpsd]

with your truck you have little to worry about other than what you addressed above.
Remember, there is no substitute for QUALITY biodiesel. Make certain your source has passed the ASTM requirements.

[ianstew]

cant b50 eat the rubber and seals in the fuel system?

[vegginpsd]

Originally Posted by ianstew

cant b50 eat the rubber and seals in the fuel system?

Very little natural rubber still exists on modern production vehicles.
His specific application (99 PSD) will encounter few issues running quality B100 (besides the stupid in tank prefilter Ford designed in their devine and infinate widsom.....)


If he had a 1982 VW Caddy 1.8L IDI diesel, well, thats another story. If you keep your tennis shoes out of the fuel tank, degredationis no problem.

[99' Powerstroke]

So is it likely that the in tank filter will clog with crap after I start running biodiesel?

[vegginpsd]

Originally Posted by 99' Powerstroke

So is it likely that the in tank filter will clog with crap after I start running biodiesel?

It is possible and likely.
However, it is a a potential good thing too. The filters can and usually do reach the end of their service life long before the truck/engine/drive line do. It allows for the tank to be well cleaned by the biodiesel giving it a fresh start on YOUR schedule, not unexpectantly. Either drop the tank (or lift the bed) and either replace the strainers or eliminate them. Either way, they will cause problems; with or without B100 use.

Your stock pump will be happier without them. They are known to cause all sorts of misdiagnosed problems. Life is way better without them in my opinion.

On a side note:
QUALITY biodiesel is very important. Old, under-reacted, oxidized, or wet fuel will do lots of damage. Be sure what you are buying is an ASTM quality or better!

[vegginpsd]

Here is a link to the "Hutch Mod" to cure the prefilter failure.....

Welcome to guzzle's In-tank Hutch Mod Web Page

[7.3 Beast]

Originally Posted by vegginpsd

It is possible and likely.
However, it is a a potential good thing too. The filters can and usually do reach the end of their service life long before the truck/engine/drive line do. It allows for the tank to be well cleaned by the biodiesel giving it a fresh start on YOUR schedule, not unexpectantly. Either drop the tank (or lift the bed) and either replace the strainers or eliminate them. Either way, they will cause problems; with or without B100 use.

Your stock pump will be happier without them. They are known to cause all sorts of misdiagnosed problems. Life is way better without them in my opinion.

On a side note:
QUALITY biodiesel is very important. Old, under-reacted, oxidized, or wet fuel will do lots of damage. Be sure what you are buying is an ASTM quality or better!

Dang!! Where have you been the past 5 months!! I have a 99.5 SD F250, and we have ran into just a few ( or more) problems with the fuel pump in general. We live in a small town and good diesel is out of our way. Therefore we tend to use sub-par fuel. Resulting in FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS!! Just to let you in on quality of diesel, off road runs better than highway diesel.
It would have been nice to know the solution. Thanks.

[vegginpsd]

Originally Posted by 7.3 Beast

Dang!! Where have you been the past 5 months!! I have a 99.5 SD F250, and we have ran into just a few ( or more) problems with the fuel pump in general.It would have been nice to know the solution. Thanks.

Did you have the issue I previously mentioned?

[7.3 Beast]

Originally Posted by vegginpsd

Did you have the issue I previously mentioned?

A similar problem with trash in general. Like I said, the diesel in our area is sub par with the standard most are used to.