Bio-diesel Question

[Anonymous-0]

I know that if one burns ethanol in an older vehicle that has not had ethanol in it, one will have to replace a couple fuel filters until the tank and lines get cleaned out. My question, does bio-diesel do the same thing? The reason I am asking is because this summer I changed the fuel filters on my combine at the start of harvest like I always do. I have NEVER had to change filters DURING the harvesting season due to the new filters at the start. This year we put in about 75 gallons of bio-diesel on a fill, and in about 6 hours we had to replace the filters, and about 10 hours later we had to change again. Was this caused by the bio-diesel cleaning out things or something else? Just curious?

 

[JK-NY]

I have heard that bio-diesel will tend to loosen up deposits that settle out of diesel fuel and keep thm in suspension - which is what causes the filters to plug.Not sure if wvo has the same effect. It is amazing how much "stuff" will accumulate over the years. I got a used fuel tank a few years ago and decided to put a few gal og kerosesne in it and slosh it around and empty it before filling it. The kerosene came out the color of used motor oil.

 

[Bob N.Y.]

It is the residual methanol in the biodiesel that has the cleaning effect.

 

[IaGary]

Yes it will do that till you get your tanks cleaned out.

The one on the combine and the one you fill the combine out of.Does your supply tank have a filter on it? It should.

If you start with a clean system you will have no problems with filters.

I have burnt Bio for about 5 years now and just change my first filter on the combine this fall in 6 years and 1250 hours.

Once you get it clean it will be fine.

Even if you don't burn bio eventually you will have problems if the tanks are that dirty.

Gary

 

[dangerdoc]

Was the bio diesel commercial or home brew? Part of the processing of oil to home brew is seperating the different fats and esterfying the oil so you don't end up with solids in the fuel.

If you are buying commercial fuel, I would expect them to do a reasonable job. With home brew, the chemistry can be off.

 

[DJM75]

I make biodiesel for a living and yes it will clean everthing it will also remove paint. It was originally sold as paint and decal remover before they knew what they had. And no it is not the residial methanol we strip that out you would be lucky to find any methanol in it.
Don

 

[RickL]

sounds to me like you have other debris also floating in your tanks. I have been running ethanola dn biodiesel 60% and have never had to change plugged filter yet. Bought a 79 4440 last summer and filled it up thinking would have to change filters probably on it but as of this day I have not yet. BUT I HAVE ALWAYS HAD TANK FILTERS and kept it clean. Maybe just lucky but have never had plugging problems with the NEW fuels. Wanting to go 100% bio next season.

 

[John M]

Depends, was it homebrew or store bought? Store bought, I kinda dought, it would take a while on store bought even at high blends, unless you had some pretty serious issues to start with.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Yes it will clean out fuel system!

 

[Clarkbug]

The esters that are part of the bio-diesel have a cleaning effect on any of the gunk that may be built up in your system. They do a great job of cleaning out tanks and sometimes eating rubber fuel lines too...