[AT] Was:tractor shopping NOW:fuel

Brad Gunnells brad-gunnells at uiowa.edu
Wed Feb 25 07:33:16 PST 2009


Speaking of the new fuel requirements. How does biodiesel fit into  
the picture? Does using it as an additive (filler) help in sulfur  
reductions etc?

The reason I ask is that I filled up last night and they only have B2  
(2% biodiesel blend) where I fueled up. I noticed the sticker about  
the 2007 emissions on the pump and the B2 sticker and it got me  
wondering (and now this topic).

Before fuel prices skyrocketed last summer I was buying a lot of  
biodiesel from the local co-op. I was really pleased with the  
performance, and the fact you could walk past the tailpipe and not  
gag on the fumes was a great plus. It's supposed to have good  
lubrication properties which should be a plus as it seems the new  
mandated blends are getting more additives to replace properties that  
are refined out.

The only drawbacks I had from running the biodiesel (anywhere from 5%  
in the winter to 100% in the summer) was that I needed a couple of  
filter changes as they plugged which was a known possibility. This  
was on an 02 Ford. I also ran some in the 2640 Deere (tractor  
reference) with good results. However, now that one has developed a  
drip from the fuel shutoff control. I'm not sure if the seal didn't  
like the biodiesel or if it cleaned out some residue that kept it  
from leaking.......or the fact it's 25 years old and maybe it was  
just it's time. It drips when it's first started but will stop after  
the engine warms.

Brad

On Feb 25, 2009, at 9:04 AM, Dick Day wrote:

> One of my clients is a tanker company who hauls mostly fuel.  Even  
> they have
> had problems with diesel gel. They told me that because of the lower
> emissions requirements, that this new "low sulfur" fuel is  
> susceptible to
> gelling issues.
>
>




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