My first tank of BioDiesel

[BigTex]

Well I just filled up my 06 Cummins with some B20 fuel from BlueSun. I know there are alot of Cummins owners and those other diesel guys on this board so I will let everyone know of the performance of the fuel. Tomorrow I am going on a roundtrip 700 mile drive to western Colorado so we will see if there is any change in mileage and power!

[Hoofmann]

I'm excited to hear your results

[BigTex]

Just as a baseline I have been achieving close to 20 MPG on long trips where I stay in 6th gear for a long time. This is with very little load on the engine. Soon I will be able to test the fuel with a heavy load (buggy, gear, 28ft trailer).

[J.D.]

Take an extra fuel filter. I have heard that bio cleans out the fuel system so well that it will clog up your fuel filter. You probably won't have any problems since yours is an 06 and your tank is probably still nice and clean but it is a best to be prepared just in case. Let us know how is goes. We don't have any bio here in south jersey. I am going to try running some back home in a couple weeks.

[BigTex]

I've been told most issues of fuel filter clogging comes from percentages higher then 20%.

[jeepkid05]

Definitely let us know the results

[mcamish01]

generally speaking its a pretty good idea to carry a spare fuel filter anyway...


keep us informed about the B20, i'm considering going to B100 and refining my own but have never personally run anything over B15 in mine.

[Jeepin Jason]

Mine hasn't had Bio since tank #1 from the factory. I think they use B5 from the factory? Maybe that was just for the CRD KJs though...

I don't know any place around here that sells any kind of bio, but I'd certainly be interested in it.

My FIL's company has made a few batches for their work trucks and diesel generators, using cooking oil from a few of the local fast foods joints around them.

Wish I could pull down 20mpg in ours though, oh well, guess that's a Megacab with an auto and 35's for ya.

[mcamish01]

Originally Posted by Jeepin Jason

Wish I could pull down 20mpg in ours though, oh well, guess that's a Megacab with an auto and 35's for ya.

How many miles do you have on it though? I wouldn't expect top fuel economy until past 20k, it really takes a while to break a Cummins in. I've got 115k on mine with 35's and 4.10's and get 22-23 on the hwy empty.

[Jeepin Jason]

yeah, I keep forgetting that. We've got a little over 14K on it right now. We're probably pulling ~17mpg on the highway empty depending on how fast I'm cruising (mpg starts dropping once I get past ~63mph or so).

[xj_man_646]

Originally Posted by Jeepin Jason

yeah, I keep forgetting that. We've got a little over 14K on it right now. We're probably pulling ~17mpg on the highway empty depending on how fast I'm cruising (mpg starts dropping once I get past ~63mph or so).

is that indicated 63 or actual 63...or does it compensate automatically for the larger tires?

[Jeepin Jason]

~63mph as per our GPS unit. Because of changes made for MY2006 trucks, dealerships can only reprogram the speed sensor for tire sizes available from the factory (33's, vs our 35's), which means we're still reading about 5% slow on our speedometer vs GPS (interestingly, the overhead console's MPG reading appears to be off by 10% when compared to corrected miles divided by fuel pumped).

Bullydog has a new programmer specifically for calibrating late model trucks, we haven't invested in one yet though (mainly aimed at shops and dealerships).

By 70mph, I'm probably getting a full 1-1.5mpg worse than at 60mph.

[Hoofmann]

i get about 15mpg crising at about 80. i refuse to go slower. . . i love driving fast!

[bbaCJ8]

Originally Posted by Kebo

i get about 15mpg crising at about 80. i refuse to go slower. . . i love driving fast!

That makes me feel a lot better about the 16mpg I get with my 360 on 35" mudders at that speed.....'course that's with quite a few hills too.

[Hoofmann]

mine too

[Hoofmann]

<20k miles too

[Shane]

i get aboot 20-21 mpg at 70 or maybe a bit faster. 26 at 60

[Hoofmann]

I just filled mine with Biodiesel as well!

[xj_man_646]

Originally Posted by Kebo

<20k miles too

you have 4.10's or 3.73's? my dads gets about 15 or so with 4.10's, 235/85 tires at 80 MPH...the CTD is really singin at that speed. i topped it out at 105 once.

[Hoofmann]

mines got 3.92's according to the owners manual.
it tops out at around 100 as well

[xj_man_646]

strange...what size tires you runnin?

[mcamish01]

Well since we're going there....i've gotten my father's '02 w/ 3.55's to do 115 empty and 110 loaded (calm down it was in the middle of Kansas and i could see all the way to Colorado with no traffic), but mine with the 4.10's hits the red at 105.

[Hoofmann]

Originally Posted by xj_man_646

strange...what size tires you runnin?

235's, i think. . . they're stock tires.

[BigTex]

Ok here we go...

Advantages:
No Smoke
Better for the environment
No money going overseas for fuel

Disadvantages:
No Smoke
Felt like my Cummins had less power
Slightly more expensive

MPG: 21!!! The best I have gotten so far

[Hoofmann]

Advantages:
Renewable resource.

Disadvantages:
I paid 3.14/gal.

Wouldn't B20 still contribute to overseas oil? Seeing as how it's 80% diesel, I'd say it's not completely renewable and domestic product. Maybe I missed something tho.

[BigTex]

Blue Sun (the supplier) only buys from US producers or from Canada.

[Hoofmann]

good deal.

[Krazyxjkid]

Originally Posted by Jeepin Jason

Mine hasn't had Bio since tank #1 from the factory. I think they use B5 from the factory? Maybe that was just for the CRD KJs though...

I don't know any place around here that sells any kind of bio, but I'd certainly be interested in it.

My FIL's company has made a few batches for their work trucks and diesel generators, using cooking oil from a few of the local fast foods joints around them.

Wish I could pull down 20mpg in ours though, oh well, guess that's a Megacab with an auto and 35's for ya.

Jason there should be a couple of places near you i know in Dallas there is quite a few places that sell bio. Only downside the smell of it burning makes your very hungry for McDonalds for some reason.

[Jeepin Jason]

according to biodiesel.org, the nearest station that carries biodiesel is about a 20-25 minute drive north of us.

[Cobound]

Originally Posted by BigTex

Disadvantages:
No Smoke

Yeah, nothing is more fun that cruising past a group of bikers (kids on bikes or those weiners on crotchrockets) and blowin a lil black plague their way

[BigTex]

The truck also seemed to start up easier in the morning then with petro diesel. It wasn't warm out either, probably around 32*.

[Oregon_XJ]

I try to run a tank of B20 every other tank.
It does have a higher lubricity so it acts kinda like the additives for the ULSD.
Right now Bio at shell is the same price as regular diesel, cheaper than some places regular.

I have not noticed any significant changes in milage.
16-17 mix of highway and city and 22 on the freeway.

My rig has 265000 miles and I just started running bio at 262000
After the first tank I changed the fuel filter and it looked fine. I will be carrying a spare on trips though.

As far as freeway speeds and milage.

I get about 15 mpg at 75-80 mph

If I slow down to 65 I get 22mph.

I drive a lot slower in this thing than my honda, which gets 36 at 80

[XJ_FIREFIGHTER]

Originally Posted by Kebo

mines got 3.92's according to the owners manual.
it tops out at around 100 as well

[Jeepin Jason]

106mph and you're not wearing your seatbelt?!

[XJ_FIREFIGHTER]

yeah... not the brightest thing in the world. I turned off the stupid warning that goes off if your belt is not on. Now I forget to put it on.