Decrease In MPGs With BioDiesel B20?

[c dog]

Any one notice a decrease in MPGs while running BioDiesel B20? I ran a hand full of tanks of B20 and seemed to get better MPGs with regular diesel+2 stroke oil. If I remeber correctly regular diesel burns hotter than BioDiesel? I like the fact of BioDiesel cleans the fuel system and not having to add 2 stroke oil but probaly wont run it again due to MPGs

[ScottyP5947]

I'm a huge proponent of biodiesel but yes, I noticed a pretty good drop in MPG running B20 and beyond. It's not a huge drop, but if you are paying any more for the B20 than normal fuel - not worth it IMO. I run it now and then, to clean things out, but that's it.
Good luck -
Scott

[c dog]

it is cheaper or the same as regular diesel

[ardlanish]

It has a lower calorific value, same as wvo - have you tried a cetane improver

[SuperCrutyPS]

I saw roughly the same MPG with B20 and running DieselKleen at the same time. Around here the Biodiesel price drops lag dino-diesel. At times, it's .10/gal more. I'll run dino-diesel until the price catches up.

[vegginpsd]

Originally Posted by ardlanish

It has a lower calorific value, same as wvo - have you tried a cetane improver

Thats the first I have ever refered to as such. Did you mean BTU's?
The difference between Quality B100 and D2 for me is negligible.

The difference between B100 and WVO is tremendous in my vehicles. I will never run WVO again, ever.....Thats a whole different debate. Sorry if I am hijacking.

[beyondbiodiesel]

Originally Posted by vegginpsd

Thats the first I have ever refered to as such. Did you mean BTU's?
The difference between Quality B100 and D2 for me is negligible.

The difference between B100 and WVO is tremendous in my vehicles. I will never run WVO again, ever.....Thats a whole different debate. Sorry if I am hijacking.

I am sure that the caloric value, which is typically measured in BTUs per unit volume, is greater for biodiesel and any vegetable oil over petroleum diesel; however, if measured in units per mass, then it is the other way around. Nonetheless, we burn fuel by volume, not by weight, so the MPGs, should be greater for biodiesel, and waste oil, over petroleum diesel, as long as it is burned properly.

I have read numerous reports on alternative diesel fuel forums of a loss in mileage when burning biodiesel at even as low a concentration as B20, regardless of the diesel engine running it. So, I am curious, vegginpsd, when you run B100, are you running it in your heated two-tanks system. If so, then heating biodiesel might be the solution for improving its combustion in a diesel engine.

[ardlanish]

vegginpsd - we used to have BTU but going metric changed a lot of measurements - having said that I still think inches/feet and pounds/hundredweights

[beyondbiodiesel]

Yes, ardlanish, going metric means we are now talking about joules/Liter, or per kilogram, but I was raised both in the USA and in the British Common Wealth, so I am familiar with chains, roods furlongs, penny-weights, drams, etc. as well.

I think vegginpsd is on to something burning biodiesel in a heated fuel system. It is common practice in Europe to install a flat plate heat exchanger (FPHE) to improve the combustion of WVO and biodiesel. Perhaps it should become common practice here as well.

[vegginpsd]

Originally Posted by beyondbiodiesel

I think vegginpsd is on to something burning biodiesel in a heated fuel system. It is common practice in Europe to install a flat plate heat exchanger (FPHE) to improve the combustion of WVO and biodiesel. Perhaps it should become common practice here as well.

I dont think it makes two squirts of piss (pardon the blending pun)difference EXCEPT one major factor....which may come as a surpise to a guy living in the dessert...

Biodiesel gels at +/- 32*F. This morning at -11*F, traveling at 60 MPH I dont think I could develope 65 PSI and have adequate volume any other way but a heated system. A 100 FPHE would not be the answer either. A heated tank, TIH and a good pump and hot filter is required. In addition, in temps sustained over 32*F, I merely turn a ball valve on the system and cut the heat (coolant).

SOOOOOOOO, with temps above the gel point, heat is not required. Thus I dont believe your theory means a damn thing.

Sure wish I could say I missed you in your all too brief absence, Jeff, because I didnt, not even a lil bit.