Is Biodiesel OK ?

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Travis

I was wondering if the use of 20-50 percent biodiesel is ok for use in a 1983 yanmar. I thought that it might cause some trouble in these older engines. Your thoughts ?
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Check out this site.

Travis: Check out this site. www.cytoculture.com The one thing that they do point out is you can sometimes have problems with the fuel lines. He recommends that you switch you fuel line to a type 1-A. This stuff is not cheap ($2.50-4.00/ft). I have not seen ANY negative feedback on Bio-diesel fuel with the exception of the hose and the additional cost. Many of the municipal bus fleets are using it to cut down on soot and other pollutants. I have run it in my H'31 with a 2GM20F. They claim that it adds lubricants to the engine, which have been diminished with the newer formulated fuel (low sulpher content).
 
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Bill O'Donovan

Whoa!

I agree with everything Steve Dion says except this. Mack Boring, major supplier for Yanmar, recommends against bio-diesel. A recent episode of "The West Wing" touched on a unique problem. The White House guys were riding in the back of bio-diesel pickup that ran out of fuel. The driver had to hitch a ride back to the farm to reload. How far will you be from the farm when you run out -- on the water?
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Yanmar sponsered 35000 mi trip on bio.

Bill: Generally the mfg does NOT recommend that you add anything to your fuel or crankcase oil. We know that they do not even recommend biocides in your fuel. Now I know you have attended these Mack Boring classes but did the instructor fail to mention their test? This is an excerpt from the CytoCulture paper... " Warranties and Engine Manufacturer Endorsements" "Marine diesel engine manufacturers in United States, Europe and Japan have all recognized the growing role of Biodiesel as a viable fuel additive, and in most cases, as a complete alternative fuel (100%). Two of the sponsors of the SUNRIDER expedition of 1992-1994 were the marine diesel engine manufacturers: Mercruiser (inboard/outboard diesel engine) and Yanmar (outboard diesel engines), endorsing Biodiesel as a suitable alternative fuel to power Bryan Peterson’s 28-ft inflatable Zodiac boat around the world. This 35,000 mile adventure remains the most famous and most publicized demonstration of using Biodiesel in marine engines. Over 18,000 gallons of donated soy methyl ester Biodiesel was provided to SUNRIDER at various destination ports and rendezvous locations (including a mid-ocean fuel transfer from a ship). Bryan started out from Pier 39 in San Francisco in 1992 and returned under the Golden Gate bridge on September 8, 1994, powered by 100% soybean Biodiesel. Brian’s last 100 gallons of Biodiesel were donated by CytoCulture when he stopped in Santa Cruz on the final leg up the coast of California. At that point, he remarked, "The Biodiesel works….No problems." This may not apply to our inboards, so I suppose we need to make our own decisions about using a 20% mixture of Soy to regular diesel. The real beauty of using Bio-diesel is you do not need to do anything to your engine to start using it and if you run out you can just use the regular ol' stinky stuff.
 
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David

Nothing

goes into my fuel tank except diesel fuel until the manufacturer recommends otherwise!
 
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Dave Ullman

Be Careful

April 2003 issue of "PassageMaker" magazine has an interesting article about biodiesel. Biodiesel may sound good to Green Peace but to the folks who actually buy and use diesel, there are real-life issues to confront. Cheers
 
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Debra B

Bio desiel isn't just corn oil

It is really desiel fuel. Aside from the fuel lines, and cleanning the tanks, no change. Less of change than running gasoline/ethanol mixes in your car. If you run out, fill 'er up with regular desiel. Finding bioD may be easy in CA, but for the rest of us its theoretical. Surprised they have it in Biloxi. That said, Yanmar hasn't spoken on the issue. Cummings, Detroit, John Deere, Caterpillar and International have accepted it....as long as it meets ASTM D-6751 (In the US, the industry organization that defines the consensus on fuels is the American Society for Testing and Materials)
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Debra, they didn't endorse 15-40 wt oil either.

Debra: Yanmar is a very strange company. It takes them for ever to take a stand on a product. It was only in the last few years that they even endorsed 15-40wt oil (go figure). They also do not endorse biocide in your fuel. I really wonder why they have not made a statement on the product. Most of the rest of the world lives on this stuff. Even though it is not Mazola it is not far from it.
 
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Jay Eaton

Chesapeake

Biodiesel used to be available both in bulk and in 5 gal cans at one or two marinas on the upper Chesapeake Bay. I used in my H31 (2GM). Apparantly, it was not economically viable on the Bay because it is no longer available from these sources.
 
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