B20 or low sulfur diesel problems??

[CrAacKker]

I have heard rumors of this low sulfur diesel or b20 whatever its technical term is.... I have heard it can cause problems for your motor. I have a 2003 7.3, will it cause me to throw injectors or fuel pumps due to the loss of sulfur and lubricancy to the motor.
I don't know much about this stuff. Some one told me I can buy a conversion kit for my truck for $50 to make it safe to run this B20??

Does any of this sound familiar to you all??
Thanks

 

[Tx_Atty]

b20 and ULSD are two different things. B20 is 20% biodiesel and 80% petro-diesel combined by volume. ULSD is the new ultra low sulfur diesel. In a 7.3 I would not hesitate to run even 100% biodiesel. In fact, I do anytime I can get it. Save your $50, there is no conversion to be made. Just pump in whichever you choose to run.

There have been many "informed" opinions on potential problems running the ulsd - if you have concerns (I dont), buy some stanadyne or other fuel treatment and you will be fine.

 

[CrAacKker]

b20 and ULSD are two different things. B20 is 20% biodiesel and 80% petro-diesel combined by volume. ULSD is the new ultra low sulfur diesel. In a 7.3 I would not hesitate to run even 100% biodiesel. In fact, I do anytime I can get it. Save your $50, there is no conversion to be made. Just pump in whichever you choose to run.

There have been many "informed" opinions on potential problems running the ulsd - if you have concerns (I dont), buy some stanadyne or other fuel treatment and you will be fine.

I would love to run biodiesel, I have run it before. But its only 10 cents cheaper and a nice 20 mile drive to get. So I don't use it very often.
Thanks for your comments.

 

[Hoss 350]

I would love to run biodiesel, I have run it before. But its only 10 cents cheaper and a nice 20 mile drive to get. So I don't use it very often.
Thanks for your comments.

The problem that you speak of is lubricity. B20 is several times more lubricating than regular #2, so it is okay.

The act of removing sulphur from the diesel fuel does, indeed, remove lubricating properties. So, without treatment, Ultra low sulphur diesel is less lubricitous than regular diesel.

HOWEVER... and this is big, and I wish like heck I could just broadcast this to every diesel owner in America so they would stop worrying...

THE ASTM STANDARD for lubricity in diesel fuel HAS NOT CHANGED from #2 LSD to #2 ULSD. Therefore, if removing the sulphur lowers the lubricity below the ASTM standard that we've all been running since 1976, then the refinery is REQUIRED TO ADD LUBRICITY ADDITIVES to the fuel. Therefore, the fuel you are running has not changed in lubricity since 1976, just in sulphur content.

The fuel you buy at the pump, lubricity wise, is exactly the same as you have been putting in your truck since before you owned a diesel. Don't spend money on lubricity additives. Just fill your tank and go.

 

[RSG]

A supplement to Hoss' most excellent lubricity (can you say that word a few times fast ?) treatise ...
1. biodiesel *will* have stronger solvent action and if you have an engine with some miles on it, you should be prepared to change the fuel filter after some amount of BD use because it strips the gunk out of your plumbing. When to change the filter? I have no idea, but for sure follow the regular service interval if not sooner.
2. Lubricity and anti-gel are 2 different animals, so if you are in a cold climate the BD will increase gel temperature a bit and that is one reason to still consider some additive...

 

[99SD]

i heard that the ULSD will make the o-rings in the fuel system blow out. i dont know if it is true.

 

[aklim]

A supplement to Hoss' most excellent lubricity (can you say that word a few times fast ?) treatise ...
1. biodiesel *will* have stronger solvent action and if you have an engine with some miles on it, you should be prepared to change the fuel filter after some amount of BD use because it strips the gunk out of your plumbing. When to change the filter? I have no idea, but for sure follow the regular service interval if not sooner.

I think the problem is with the gunk in the tank. All the more reason to harpoon and hutch the tank. To see what is inside. After 60K, I did it and tank was clean as can be.