does MPG increase with biodiesel?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 05-22-2009, 02:18 PM
KLWdesigns's Avatar
KLWdesigns
KLWdesigns is offline
Junior User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: east Mesa
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
does MPG increase with biodiesel?

B20 is about the same price as diesel right now at a local station. if I use some B20, say half a tankful, would I expect to see an increase in my feul mileage?
Any advice?
 
  #2  
Old 05-23-2009, 03:16 AM
aurgathor's Avatar
aurgathor
aurgathor is offline
Cargo Master
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Bothell, WA
Posts: 2,898
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Try: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum168/

I'm not running a diesel, but based on the chemistry, my guess is 'no'.
 
  #3  
Old 05-23-2009, 11:16 AM
BPofMD's Avatar
BPofMD
BPofMD is offline
FTE Legend

Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Millersville, MD
Posts: 65,314
Received 1,081 Likes on 983 Posts
But you sure will clean out your fuel system.......be ready with new fuel filters....
 
  #4  
Old 05-26-2009, 09:20 AM
jimandmandy's Avatar
jimandmandy
jimandmandy is offline
Post Fiend
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Running Springs CA
Posts: 5,228
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
There is a good correlation between density and heat content. So, if the API gravity spec of B20 is the same as straight diesel, the mileage is most likely going to be the same.

Jim
 
  #5  
Old 05-30-2009, 04:09 PM
binuya's Avatar
binuya
binuya is offline
Fleet Mechanic

Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,573
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
I have been running my homebrew, 100% (B50-60 in the winter) for almost a year now. My own rough estimates show around a 8-10% reduction in MPG. Feels like a corresponding percentage in power reduction. Doesn't matter to me though, knowing that it is better for my engine and its fuel system.

I found a BTU comparison:

-#2 pump petro diesel=140,000 BTU/gal. 48 cetane
-B100 soybean based=130,000 BTU/gal. 55 cetane
 
  #6  
Old 05-30-2009, 04:13 PM
binuya's Avatar
binuya
binuya is offline
Fleet Mechanic

Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,573
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
BTW, I've found running B20 resulted in no noticeable loss in power, and a negligible change in MPG.

I believe the lubricity gains with that quantity, however, are well worth it.
 
  #7  
Old 05-30-2009, 05:12 PM
wiingnut's Avatar
wiingnut
wiingnut is offline
Posting Guru
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Monroe, MI
Posts: 1,736
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I ran bio in my diesel probably 5-6 times and noticed a mileage decrease of about 10-15% like the other guy above
 
  #8  
Old 06-01-2009, 12:18 PM
KLWdesigns's Avatar
KLWdesigns
KLWdesigns is offline
Junior User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: east Mesa
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Bummer. At 11 mpg I don't want to get worse gas mileage.
 
  #9  
Old 06-03-2009, 08:21 AM
jimandmandy's Avatar
jimandmandy
jimandmandy is offline
Post Fiend
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Running Springs CA
Posts: 5,228
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
There are other biofuels under development that may get better mileage than petroleum distillates (diesel, jet, etc).

"Air New Zealand is coming out in strong support of alternative fuel, saying that more than 3,000 pounds of fuel can be saved on a 12-hour flight if that flight is flown on a jatropha-seed-oil biofuel blend instead of straight Jet A."

Jatropha Oil Biofuel Update

Jim
 
  #10  
Old 06-20-2009, 08:52 PM
pancreas's Avatar
pancreas
pancreas is offline
New User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by KLWdesigns
Bummer. At 11 mpg I don't want to get worse gas mileage.
Have you flashed you CPU or anything? I was seeing 14.6 mpg bought a bully dog and was shocked my c/h ave is around 21.1 atm at 3 months of daily driving. I run B20 as often as i can.
 
  #11  
Old 06-22-2009, 05:17 PM
KLWdesigns's Avatar
KLWdesigns
KLWdesigns is offline
Junior User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: east Mesa
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
mpg's

I have recently purchased a DP Tuner. My fuel mileage did go up a couple MPG's. Plus there's a whole lot more ppower!
 
  #12  
Old 04-20-2010, 09:06 AM
fuelman's Avatar
fuelman
fuelman is offline
Elder User
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Toulon,Il.
Posts: 891
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by KLWdesigns
B20 is about the same price as diesel right now at a local station. if I use some B20, say half a tankful, would I expect to see an increase in my feul mileage?
Any advice?
If the vendor is selling the B20 for the same price don't waste your money on it. You will lose MPG -n- power. The vendor is taking large profits due to the tax incentives on bio blending,when it should be cheaper than staight fuel. Many of states have as much as $1.50/gal on the bio sold through there pumps, these include state and federal incentives. Bio is cool if it is cheaper otherwise not really a value. I'm not against it just letting you know that most vendors are selling it only because of the tax incentives that make it profitable for them. Truth is without the government tax credits it wouldn't be around. Which we all pay for.
 
  #13  
Old 02-22-2011, 09:15 AM
Red Monkey's Avatar
Red Monkey
Red Monkey is offline
Senior User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I've not noticed a drop in mpg using b-20 and I 'hand calculate' my mpg after each fill up. I ran b-20 until the local station raised the price, now B-20 is about .15 cents a gal more than #2 diesel and #2 is WAY to expensive as it is...It don't look like that 'Hope and Change' is working out so well. Or is it?
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
KCJackson1
2017+ Super Duty
59
08-15-2017 02:54 PM
djmichael24951
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
2
08-17-2013 03:39 PM
MyBrokenJeep
1999 to 2016 Super Duty
4
09-30-2012 08:22 PM
Johnlwlr
Modular V10 (6.8l)
18
04-06-2011 03:10 PM
ryanh1235
1983 - 2012 Ranger & B-Series
3
10-24-2010 01:14 PM



Quick Reply: does MPG increase with biodiesel?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:14 AM.