fuel color question

[93GMCSierra]

Actually the Bio-diesel is good, it relubricates the fuel, when they stripped out all the sulfur they lost the lubrication, and gives back some of the power.

[gimpyhauler]

In many parts of the country, the color is important. One color for road worthy vehicles which includes road taxes. Another color for Farm/Ranch use only. Meaning, for equipment that doesn't put the rubber on the roads. If you get caught with the farm fuel on the road, it can be very, very expensive when the government finds out.

[jhornsby3]

Not to mention the time it takes to get the red dye out of your tank. I used some a couple years ago to get me to the station to fill up and my fuel is still red. Now mind you I don't drive all that often but after at least 12 to 15 tanks later it still is red.

As for the bio, I had to put some in one time and my mileage went through the floor. Going from 19.8mpg to around 12 was a shocker when doing a 110 mile commute a day.

John

[93GMCSierra]

Not to mention the time it takes to get the red dye out of your tank. I used some a couple years ago to get me to the station to fill up and my fuel is still red. Now mind you I don't drive all that often but after at least 12 to 15 tanks later it still is red.

As for the bio, I had to put some in one time and my mileage went through the floor. Going from 19.8mpg to around 12 was a shocker when doing a 110 mile commute a day.

John

I have never heard of bio dropping fuel mileage, increasing it because the fuel has more power I have seen.

[convert2diesel]

I have never heard of bio dropping fuel mileage, increasing it because the fuel has more power I have seen.

Depends on who was doing the blending. If the bio was garage made B100 than anything could have affected the mileage. If the fuel was not washed (methanol removed) the B100 could have up to 20% methanol in it. Properly processed bio has a slight loss in power density (about 5 %) from #2 but will allow you to add timing negating much of that loss.

If you bought the bio as a commercial mix, B5 - B15, a cheap trick used by some of the blenders is to get rid of their #1 stock left over from the winter as the base for their blend. This may have been the situation here. Have encountered kerosene in the fuel as late as mid August when buying B10 in New York.

As a general rule, properly blended B10 should have little or no effect mileage wise but does negate the need for any lubricity additives. Just keep an eye on your fuel filters.

Bill

[CoyleJR]

I agree 100% with John. I stopped using bio about four years ago because it seemed to have less power than standard diesel, cost more and it provided less MPG. I check my fuel mileage every tank full when I am pulling my 5th wheel and there is absolutely no doubt that bio is a bad deal. I generally drop at least two MPG with bio.

[jhornsby3]

That was a few years ago, now. For some reason I want to say it was B-20 or something like that. Anyways, I won't use it at all now. I know someone that has used B-100 in his burb and I have his old injection pump in the garage with sensors gone bad in it. And I have seen first hand what B-100 does to the injectors and such after not that long of being used.