Biodiesel: Ford's respnse to my ?

[SUPERDUTYSPV]

I recently wrote Ford regarding whether or not I could use biodiesel in my rig. I was curious, and wanted an official response, as I can not afford to replace my engine etc. Today, I received a response. I hope you guys find it helpful!!

Thank you for contacting the Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center regarding the use of biodiesel fuel.

Fuels containing no more than 5% biodiesel may be used in Ford diesel powered vehicles.
There are still some unresolved technical concerns with the use of biodiesel at concentration greater than 5%. Some of the concerns are as follows:

- Special care is required at low temperatures to avoid an excessive rise in viscosity and loss of fluidity
- Storage is a problem due to higher then normal risk of microbial contamination due to water absorption, as well as a higher rate of oxidation stability which creates insoluble gums and sediment deposits
- As it is hygroscopic, the fuel tends to have increased water content, which increases the risk of corrosion
- Biodiesel tends to cause higher engine deposit formations
- The methyl esters in biodiesel fuel may attack the seals and composite materials used in vehicle fuel systems
- It may attack certain metals such as zinc, copper based alloys, cast iron, tin, lead, cobalt, and manganese
- It is an effective solvent, and can act as a paint stripper
- It tends to loosen deposits in the bottom of fuel tanks of vehicles previously run on mineral diesel.

Should you require additional information about this matter, please contact the service department at your local Ford dealership. To locate a Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealership, please visit www.genuineflmservice.com.

We consider the satisfaction of our customers one of our most important objectives. If you have any other inquiries or concerns, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to address them for you.

Sincerely,
Maisha
Customer Relationship Center
Ford Motor Company

[Andy]

Very interesting. I think it is cool that they wrote you back.

[SUPERDUTYSPV]

I do too!! I was actually quite surprised by the fact that they DID write me back!! And they responded fairly quickly!! I figured it would be helpful to any one who was curious, like me, about running biodiesel.

[tyrfryer]

Kinda makes me nervous about running it. Running 5% wouldn't hardy be worth the trouble it takes to make it, I'm thinking.

[Veggie-Destroyer]

ok look ppl yea bio diesel is made of three thingies (i never made it )i burn veggie straight

# 1 veggie oil .... rubber hosed can be made of natrual ( like as in pps there goes another rubber tree"
natural veggie oil can melt natrual rubbed hoses
#2 methanol alcohole melt all sort of stuff and is supposed to chemcally react so only small amount are in the system. but it melts some systhtic rubber too
#3 lye is corrosive.
I know of some older vehicals that have ran biodiesel or 1000's of miles. i have also heard of newer 2000+ that have had melted fuel lines.
personally a have all fuel lines upgraded to USCG A1 marine grade fuel line alchole and gas with a two min burn rateing.
most ford vip own oil stock. they r good ole bois worken to get our dollars
dream of free fuel and know dream can come true
ok so u replace the fuel systm no biggie .
im personally hopen my injectors clog .. so a can get the next bigger one's
but no luck
do alot of research on bio diesel its got issuses but it will be here for the next 100yrs or so but what about the dinodiesel i give it 10 yrs max then at 6.50 a gallon somthing will give the wallet or the closed mind . you will be the one to choose

[99Smokin73Stroker]

Yeah that's quite amazing that they wrote you back like that. I have written companies before and never have gotten a response back. I think it's rude when you put your time into something like that and it gets ignored.

[wesjones]

very cool that they wrote back, but 5 %...you might as well use regular fuel....i am surprised that they sadi it was ok at all though...the owners manual does very nastily state that no injector cleaners or additives sould be put in the fuel at all.

wes