Yup, biodiesel made my Suburban start rusting out! And in the most unique areas like behind the rear wheels, around the windshield, on the hood, on the roof.... It's most incredible. :>

Come on, I want to try that new "Bio-armor". The new liquid wax and water repellent made from all natural products.

8,000 + miles on a 2008 6.7L 2500 Dodge Ram with no problems at all. Most miles are on B100 with some B50 miles a couple of months ago (when it was colder).

Grey

Update:

quote:

So far, (knock on wood), nothing - no fuel related problems.

Ok, now I have had an issue. Luckily, the car ran OK the whole time, but I don't like the light on... This is with the TDI.

So, a few issues came up at the same time, so I don't know for sure what was the cause...

Issue: Check engine light comes on a few times, particularly when tank is low and not parked inside. The code it threw was "literature", except for the last time which was glowplug #3.

Causes?
* Cold temps., for here anyway, around 30F.
* Had not drained oil settle drum, so saturated fats started to get into fuel.
* Had started experimenting with slightly less complete wash

Solution:
* Fill tank with full load of clean fuel, plus some injector cleaner.
* Have mechanic reset code
* Go on 5 hour drive without stopping.
* Warmer weather might have helped too.
* Leaned lesson about stalling on draining sludge from oil settle tank

=bump=

2004 Duramax Silverado 3500
Little over 11K Miles on B100 since October of last year.
Change Fuel filter everytime engine oil life ends per the computer.
No problems at all, it eats it like candy!

All sounds familiar.

2002 Chevy Silverado Duramax

Several pluged fuel filters early on in the learn curve - none for over 3 yrs now

Problems with water in the fuel early on- fixed

Had to have the fuel tank pulled and cleaned twice due to a white powder that built up in the fuel tank. I suspect that it was fryer oil conditioner/cleaner that some of the restaurants I was getting my oil from were using and not completely filtering out. I implemented 1 micron filters, one nominal bag filter and a one micro absolute canister and no longer get oil from that source. No problems since.

Treated my fuel tank with Killem (anti-fungal/bacterial) which cost me another trip to the shop to have my tank pulled and cleaned - not recommended. I now treat the fuel in the holding tank once in a while which seems to work fine.

One on my friends who runs his two Jettas on my fuel had to replace the fuel pump seals in both vehicles. The mechanic said if could have been the BD but it could also be that they wore out at the sames time and that he replaces a lot of them on both diesel and BD vehicles. Nothing conclusive.

For the past 2-3 years neither my wifes 2002 Passt or my Duramax have had any issues. We both run about 90% in the warmer months and about 20% or less during the colder months.

Great Topic Graydon, thanks

I am curious as to what happened to require dropping the tank after you treated with a biocide.

My first filter was an engine oil filter not good, knew they by passed just never dawned on me how soon! 7 pounds to be exact a tank full of un filtered fuel in the duramax ran good for a few miles then had to pull the tank and dump it and new filter and filter the fuel right (now have a 25 micron before a 10 micron filter then into a tank with another 10 micron on it) All filters are absolute on the micron rating so it is filtered now.
The 90 dodge has close to 300k on it this is my grease wagon it had a leak on the low pressure side of the injector pump when I got it but bio healed it so living on borrowed time but working! So far around 15k on B100 and another 3k or so on B20
The Duramax has 20k on B100 and B20 and only one filter since the mess the Dodge has just had one. The Chev has an edge 100 horse chip and 4 inch exhaust I have the attitude (the monitor) which is nice to monitor the EGT's and such
The 12 valve is just the old dodge with the getrag 5 speed and she just loves the bio very little smoke unless it is just stood one do like that and the smell is just a bonus.

quote:

I am curious as to what happened to require dropping the tank after you treated with a biocide.

The dead bugs in my fuel tank formed into little globs of "snot" that plugged two filters before I had to take it in to get cleaned out. Expensive mistake!!

gee where to start.

first vehicle to get biodiesel..the reason I start making BD to being with.
for those who don't know.
its an '84 Blue Bird school bus with a Detroit Diesel 8.2L turbo..that's right an oil leaker..
but it runs..problems..the only thing was the old fuel line. I suspect they were original to the bos and 90% clogged before biodiesel..that was a painful learning curve..would on diesel ok and biodiesel sometimes..but not all the time..limpped home a couple of times. not much fun. finally torn the fuel lines out starting at the main tank..oops..keep in mind these fuel lines are BIG! 3/4"-7/8" outside diameter..I could not get a 3/16 rod more than 2 inches into the fuelline..the inner diameter is almost 1/2"..not good!! so I replace the first flexible fuel line..no fuel problems since..unless you count plugged filters..I would also add less problems since adding a 2 micron final filter before pumping to storage.

ok enough of the 'BUS'..

next vechile.

'06 jeep liberty..only MAP censor plugging, but what lousy engineer thought feeding diesel exhaust back into the intake was a good idea?? WRONG. a couple of filter but these were before the 2 micro final filter..did you know the Liberty uses a 3micro filter? I didn't..oops..

'99 dodge ram diesel.
only issues dirty fuel system and plugged filters..lift pump suck-but this isn't related to biodiesel. bought it and found out it has the dreaded P0216 code..IP pump death code..well that was almost 8k miles ago..just changed the filter and added a 2nd lift pump in series.. fuel pressure 15 WOT.

today no injectors, no injector pumps. the bus doesn't have an injector pump, but I did have to adjust the injector timing on one cylinder( most likely normal wear).

-dkenny

96 f-250 400,000 miles 200,000 on b100. soft fuel lines going to the mechanical fuel pump after about 150,000 miles with b100. fuel tanks rusted out after 402,000 miles. one clogged fuel filter. filter had 50k on it b4 it plugged. ya I know it should be changed every 15k miles.

2000 f350 about 80k miles on it with b100 200,miles total changed the fuel pump at 100,ooo miles and i think it needs tires. the fuel filter has 40k on it and no problems yet

a ford tractor and 2 dozers no problems.