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  #16  
Old 07-17-2005, 08:24 PM
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Location: Exit 191, I-25
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B100 has less energy content than dino. that's why we experience a slight drop in mpg.
it very slowly disolves natural rubber fuel lines and eventually will start "seeping" through. not a sudden failure. when you check you oil, take a close look at the fuel return lines on the injectors. they may start seeping but are easy to replace. a little more difficult but not bad is the short line from the tank to the main fuel line underneath. watch for "spots" on the driveway.
my homemade B100 has quieted my 300 quite a bit and stopped the compression knock at idle.
there is gobs of info on line on using biodiesel. tests, emissions, power, lubricity, etc. more than you ever wanted, or had time, to read.
have a wonderful day,
roberto

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  #17  
Old 07-17-2005, 08:29 PM
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Rust? What rust??
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  #18  
Old 07-19-2005, 12:03 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
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I took the plunge today! I went to crystalflash of GR, and that place is like a fuel oasis! Pumps everywhere with all kinds of goodies!! B2 Pumps, B20 Pumps, B100 Pump, gas pumps with gas all the way to 98 octane!! 5 choices! and they even have this "soygas" stuff. Wow! So I managed to squeeze 12.4 gallons of B20 soydiesel into my tank, then I filled up two big 5 gallon yellow diesel jugs I got at lowes earlier in the day. So with that mixed into my tank it'd mean I am using approx B12, and I noticed the engine is even quieter at idle! amazing! It also has more "push" in 4th gear, I can go from 40-45mph and accelerate on up to 60-70 in no time, quite a bit more than before....maybe this is because its 58 cetane fuel? The exhaust smell! very interesting! Enjoying my switchover.
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'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
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  #19  
Old 07-19-2005, 12:35 AM
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I created my first B20 mixture today with the 5 gallons of B100 I purchased upon my last fill with already blended B20. United Energy has B20 at the pump and B100 from one of those large distribution tanks.

My MPG's have skyrocketed. On this last tank of B20 I logged 210 miles of combined city and highway, and also on the same tank made a trip from Columbia to Savannah, GA and back on teh same tank. Even with sprited freeway traveling I averaged 30mpg. Absolutely AWESOME. Total on this tank was 595.1, and the reserve lamp was not on too long either, turned on earlier today.

The car runs so much smoother, it's like another car!
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  #20  
Old 07-19-2005, 12:47 AM
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I was averaging about 24.2 to 25.6 mpg average on regular diesel from the station up the street....if I see even a 1-2mpg increase I will be happy! The biodiesel is a few cents per gallon cheaper so that combined with the higher mpg means some savings. Most of all I just like how smooth it runs, its truly awesome, I can pull up next to cars in traffic with the window down and barely hear the car anymore! And thats only on my "B12ish" mix. Also when coasting in the car with no radio/blower/windows up etc...I can't hear the engine anymore either, its really weird! I'm just not used to driving a MB that quiet Then there's that substantially increased power it has now in 4th gear...I like that a lot too, makes passing much easier and no kickdown needed!
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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
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  #21  
Old 07-19-2005, 12:57 AM
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I would assume the increase in power comes from the cetane boost? Guys am I correct. Also the Bio cleaning teh injection sytem must help?
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  #22  
Old 07-19-2005, 01:15 AM
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Yeah the power is from cetane boost, a long time ago I dumped an entire jug of "Cetane BOOSTER" from Autozone in my tank just to see what would happen, I poured in the bottle (meant for 100 gallons! ) into my tank and filled it up....it had a dramatic increase in power but the stuff was like $4-5 a bottle so I un-hooked myself from that real fast.... I must have been over 60 cetane with that stuff in there...
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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)
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  #23  
Old 07-19-2005, 09:43 AM
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Boxscar is right when he says that biodiesel has LESS energy content per gallon than diesel. I'm a chemist, and I've read several (about 10) journal articles written by academics in the US who's experimental techniques seemed to be sound. All of the researchers are in agreement that fatty acid methyl esters (FAME, AKA boidiesel) return approx 5 to 10% less mpg than diesel. The methyl esters are the cheapest to produce, and luckily have the best overall properties in terms of viscocity, pour point and energy content. The methyl esters aren't the best for all properties, but they are the best compromise. You guys who are getting better MPG than diesel are absolutely the exception to the norm. Not saying that it's not true in your case(s) by any means; I just don't want people to think that biodiesel generally gives increased MPG over diesel. It does, in general, have higher cetane than diesel (depends on the source of the triglyceride veggie oil starting material before it's trans-esterified into biodiesel), so your vehicle may very well run better, but it souldn't run farther.
Brian
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  #24  
Old 07-19-2005, 11:37 AM
Brandon314159
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On a comment about the fuel lines...
I have run B100 on many occasions (home brewed...non-washed) in my 280K+ Mile 300SD and had no fuel line issues as of yet. I keep my eyes on things obviously but there is no reason to get paranoid about it.
When you start noticing drips or dampness around the hoses...replace them. (only really applies to non-washed bio). The nice thing is...when the fuel leaks on the ground or you spill some...you can wash it away just like veggie oil

No more rainbows.

I would run b100 if you really want to...my 24 year old fuel lines don't seem to mind.

(BTW I am a chem major so I am familar with the degredation issue...just throwing out my experience to hopefully settle some fears)
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  #25  
Old 07-19-2005, 12:06 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
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As you can see, there is some debate as to the effect of B100 on rubber. If this is your only concern though, and for most people it is, swap them out and enjoy. www.greaseworks.org can hook you up with pre-cut hoses and instructions, take you no time at all to switch to Viton.
And if you homebrew, I recommend washing. As we see here, some people feel it's unneccesary, and to their credit they run miles and miles on unwashed fuel, but lacking the means to visually inspect our injectors and whatnot very often, I like to play it safe and wash.
B20 is a great thing for 'weaning' people on to biodiesel. Not everyone's willing to take the whole leap at once and I understand that, but calling B20 biodiesel is like putiing 20% champagne into 80% water and calling it Dom Perignon.
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  #26  
Old 07-19-2005, 12:25 PM
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Well said Brandon & Kalanu.
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  #27  
Old 07-19-2005, 12:39 PM
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Not being sure exactly what polymer the MB hoses are made of, I can't speak definitively of them, but it is not only the methanol that degrades rubber. Methyl esters will most certainly degrade rubber as well. Methanol probably speeds up the process, but the ester by itself will do it as well.

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