[AT] synthetic oil - gas versus diesel trucks

Tue Nov 22 10:39:39 PST 2016

That would be "B10" biodiesel, a common mix, because most modern diesels can use it without modifications.  If you try to use B50 or B100 in cold weather, you can have problems with gelling.  Also, as mentioned, the bio cleans out deposits in the fuel system, so the first few tanks full can clog up filters as the sludge and dirt are flushed out of the tank and lines.

I had plans to modify a vehicle to run on pure waste veggie oil for a while, did lots of research, bought some parts, but never got it done.  The biggest problem with straight veg oil (used) is water content.  It can be difficult to truly dewater the oil, and any tiny water particles can erode away surfaces in the injection pump.  So it feels like you're doing fine, saving lots of money, then after 50k miles (or less) the pump gives out.

People set up elaborate systems, with settling tanks, sometimes solar-heated, for dewatering, some even use centrifuges (expensive but effective.)  A quick run through a filter will not do it.  The source of the veg also has a lot to do with the water content - tossing frozen foods into the fryer gives high water content.

Scott in Penfield NY

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of charlie hill
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2016 11:44 AM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Subject: Re: [AT] synthetic oil - gas versus diesel trucks

Brad,   I have a friend who is an oil jobber.  I don't know if he would want 
me to
say who his contracts are with but he has a couple of huge contracts to provide bio diesel on government contracts.  Over the years I've done a good bit of work for him painting, insulating and heat tracing his bio tanks.  Being at the bio terninal for 10 to 12 hours at a time it didn't take me long to figure out how it works and I confirmed it with his drivers.
He has tanks full of bio fuel, some tanks are veggie oil and some are animal oils.  Tanker trucks from his own company and other jobbers in a large area will come into the terminal.  They have a credit card like card that allows them to start his pumps and it records what they get.  Here's the typical case.  A tractor trailer tanker will come in carrying 6,000 gallons of conventional diesel fuel.
He'll hook up the hoses and pump 600 gallons of bio oil into the tanker. 
He'll drive away and it mixes
it's self while the load goes down the highway.  I don't mean there is some mixing pump or agitator.
It just mixes.  That is bio-diesel!

Simple as that.

Charlie

-----Original Message-----
From: Gunnells, Bradley R
Sent: Monday, November 21, 2016 11:25 AM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] synthetic oil - gas versus diesel trucks

Well comparing the old 6.9/7.3 in the Fords and 5.9 Cummins in Dodge to some of the more recent diesel offerings are quite different from a noise perspective. I’ve walked by a few as they were running and did a double take to see the badging. Couldn’t believe how much quieter they are.

As for the exhaust odor, that is an issue for many people. For a while when I was driving mine on a daily basis to work, during the summer months I’d go by my local cooperative and get bio fuel. I had a director where I worked that was big into renewable energy and was touting it in his VW car. I forget how he labeled it (dirty mix?) where you’d just take and top off your fuel tank in your car with bio for whatever percentage you wanted. So I’d wait until I was down to half tank and then go by and top it off for a 50/50 ration. At one point I ran it at close to a 100% for a little while in my 02 Ford with the 7.3. The only negative during that time was I plugged a fuel filter with all the cleaning that took place. On the plus side you could stand by the tailpipe and it had an almost sweet smell to it. And nothing that would make your eyes water.

Then diesel took a steep rise ($4+ a gallon) and the bio was too rich for my blood so I stopped using it in that quantity. I still take great interest in those that use old fryer oil and make their own fuel.

I don’t drive my diesel now unless I need to pull my 5th wheel camper or haul a tractor/skid loader somewhere. So it sits most of the time. I think at some point I’m going to find a rust free box from down south and have the thing repainted. With only 142K on it there are many good miles left. 
Besides I can get a lot of work done to it for only a few payments on a new rig. And as Steve O would say…I wouldn’t be a part of the “science fair project”.  ☺

Brad

On 11/20/16, 6:56 AM, "at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com on behalf of 
John Hall" <at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com on behalf of 
jtchall at nc.rr.com> wrote:

    The noise and smell are my 2 biggest knocks against diesel vehicles. Why
    on earth diesel engines in vehicles have to be so %&*$ loud is beyond
    me. We've only had 4 pcs of diesel machinery here on this farm--2
    4020's, 4430 and a 6620 combine. None of them at full throttle make the
    racket a diesel pickup idling does. Lets be honest, Semi-trucks are
    quieter than pickups. And then there are the idiots that have to get
    more HP and change the exhaust to make it louder. Whatever happened to
    walk softly and carry a big stick? Love the durability and longevity of
    diesels, just wish Detroit would quit marketing to the same old
    defective gene that causes males in this country to "compensate" for
    their inadequacies.

    John Hall

    On 11/19/2016 6:58 AM, Cecil Bearden wrote:
    >
    > For a daily driver, the gasoline is just more adaptable to start and
    > stop driving while working or running errands, and the noise of a 
diesel
    > is a pain in city driving while running errands, and going through
    > drive-thru facilities.

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