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Technical Reference

Fuel Filtration - Biodiesel Fuel

What is Biodiesel? What are some of the common problems
Biodiesel is a clean-burning alternative fuel made from and solutions to help, reduce or eliminate
renewable resources. Biodiesel can be made from soybean problems related to Biodiesel?
oil, other vegetable oils, recycled frying oils and animal
fats. The term ‘biodiesel’ refers to the pure, unblended A specific user may have one or multiple causes to their fuel
alternative fuel and is referred to as B100. The term “diesel” system problems, including:
refers the all petroleum-based diesel fuel. (1) biodiesel, (2) petroleum diesel fuel, (3) various types
of contamination and deposits, and (4) problems with
storage vessels and fuel delivery system components
Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended with
petroleum diesel in any percentage. Biodiesel blends from 2 including improper filters or the lack of filters in the system
percent to 20 percent can be used in most diesel equipment or any number of similar problems with vehicles. To help
with no or minor modifications. reduce these problems it is best to ensure the fuel you
are receiving is of the highest quality and that the storage
Are there standards for Biodiesel? tanks (bulk and on the truck) are clean and free of water.
Also double check that all the fuel filters in the system
There are standard setting bodies such as the American are sized properly and agree with the manufacturers
Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and specifications recommendations.
such as Biodiesel Specification, D6751, that define strict
quality standards that biodiesels need to meet for approval What should you consider when switching
for distribution as fuel to ensure trouble-free performance. to Biodiesel?
There is also a new standard for biodiesel blends, ASTM
D7647 for B6 through B20; ASTM D975 covers petroleum • Is the fuel system compatible with the biodiesel blend you
diesel with blends of biodiesel up to B5. will be using?
• Are you going to be operating in cold weather?
What is not Biodiesel? • Do you have a reliable source for qualified biodiesel?
ENGINE LIQUID FILTRATION TECHNICAL REFERENCE
Unprocessed, raw vegetable oils and animal fats are NOT • Is the storage tank clean, free of water and compatible
biodiesel — they can cause deposits and engine damage. In with your biodiesel blend?
addition, these substances are not registered fuels approved
by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). • Are you going to use up the fuel in your storage tank
within six months of the original manufacturing date of the
How do you know if fuel contains Biodiesel? biodiesel?
• What does the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)
Biodiesel blends are indicated by a “B” with a number recommend?
following the “B” that represents the percentage of
biodiesel in a gallon of fuel. The remainder of the gallon What is the Cloud Point?
can be No. 1 diesel, No. 2 diesel, kerosene, jet A, heating oil
or any other distillate fuel. If the biodiesel concentration is The temperature at which the first solids form and are
higher than B5 the fuel pump should have a label disclosing visible to the naked eye. This is the most commonly used
the biodiesel content. measure of low-temperature operability; fuels are generally
expected to operate at temperatures as low or lower than
How do you know if your diesel equipment their cloud point. Biodiesel typically has a higher cloud
can use Biodiesel? point than petroleum diesel.
Biodiesel blends higher than B20 require special handling What is the Cold Filter Plugging Point
and may require equipment modifications. As a result, (CFPP)?
higher level blends are not recommended except in
cases where human exposure to diesel particulate matter This is the temperature under a standard set of test
(PM) is high and health concerns merit the additional conditions (ASTM D6371) at which the filter plugs. The
attention to equipment and handling (e.g., underground sample is cooled and tested at intervals of 1°C until the wax
mining). Before switching to a biodiesel blend it is best crystals precipitate out of solution and are sufficient to slow
to contact the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to or stop the flow of fuel through the filter.
make sure the desired level of biodiesel will not void the
warranty.

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