Biomass based diesel vs biodiesel - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

sleepstar · #31 03-08-2015, 04:17 PM

oh i should mention this stuff cleaned out a bunch of crap somewhere in my fuel system and clogged up the primary filter, so anyone trying this out might want to make sure you have a spare filter. it didn't clog it up badly that i was stuck somewhere but there was a slow and steady loss of power over a week or two until i figured out what was up.

tjts1 · #32 03-11-2015, 10:44 AM

I'm on my 3rd tank of HPR. Both previous tanks returned the same 35.x mpg. So well over 1000 miles on the fuel without clogging the fuel filter... yet. I took it up to Tahoe this week for some late season snowboarding. I was hoping to see how it starts below freezing but at 6am its 43f up here. Oh well, at least its snowing this morning up above 8000 feet.

renaissanceman · #33 03-11-2015, 02:12 PM

The drought is a cruel mistress.

otto huber · #34 03-15-2015, 08:03 PM

I'm going to fill up with this HPR diesel at the Oakland Propel station sometime this week. For those concerned with the lubricity, this seems like an affordable supplement for Sulfur: Stanadyne Lubricity Formula Pint Bottle 16 oz., Individual Bottles. Treats 125 gallons diesel fuel per Bottle.

Does anyone have experience with the Stanadyne product?

sleepstar · #35 03-15-2015, 10:56 PM

stanadyne makes good products so i wouldnt hesitate to use that...

Cloudsurfer · #36 03-16-2015, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by otto huber

I'm going to fill up with this HPR diesel at the Oakland Propel station sometime this week. For those concerned with the lubricity, this seems like an affordable supplement for Sulfur: Stanadyne Lubricity Formula Pint Bottle 16 oz., Individual Bottles. Treats 125 gallons diesel fuel per Bottle.

Does anyone have experience with the Stanadyne product?

It's decent, but has been proven to not be the best stuff as far as lubricity additive. Star-Brite and BioBor MD have been proven more effective.

I've been mixing some veggie oil into my Jet-A that I burn in my E300, but when I've run the Propel HPR, I've added a healthy amount of BioBor MD.

BillGrissom · #37 03-18-2015, 03:42 PM

A caveat after switching to Diesel HPR.

I noticed slow seepage from the hose that runs from the lift pump to the spin-on filter in my 1985 300D. I installed smaller "fuel injection" type hose clamps, but the hose rotates fairly easy at both ends. I don't recall wetness previously. The original nylon tube cracked a few years ago (always w/ diesel). I replaced it with rubber fuel hose (1/4" fuel injection type I recall), which may not be compatible w/ bio fuels. The leaking fuel seems to smell like old grease, but just has a faint smell. I also must watch for drips onto the motor mount since that rubber doesn't appreciate bio fuel. The engine runs so smooth on Diesel HPR, and it is cheaper, so I would rather fix the hose issue than give up on it.

I'll try to find better hose. A search suggested Viton is best but costly. Clear nylon (even from Home Depot or Ace?) may work fine. Polyurethane is another choice. Some say Goodyear fuel injection hose w/ a blue liner works, but others not. Mosts posts found were about 2008. Does anyone know if a consensus has formed since? Best function to cost ratio?

otto huber · #38 03-18-2015, 08:06 PM

I've driven about 40 miles with 13 gallons of HPR and maybe 4 gallons of B20 in the tank. The idle is actually a little rougher now and the car has less power on the freeway. I'll fill up a the Berkeley Propel station next time before I pass judgement because the car never ran well on the B20 that I got at the Oakland station. I'm starting to assume that there might be fuel containment issues at that station. I don't mind sacrificing a little bit of power on the freeway in order to burn renewable, low emission fuel, but I put a lot of time into getting that car to idle like a rock. I just put 6 oz. of diesel kleen in the tank, we'll see if that helps at all.

tjts1 · #39 03-18-2015, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by otto huber

I've driven about 40 miles with 13 gallons of HPR and maybe 4 gallons of B20 in the tank. The idle is actually a little rougher now and the car has less power on the freeway. I'll fill up a the Berkeley Propel station next time before I pass judgement because the car never ran well on the B20 that I got at the Oakland station. I'm starting to assume that there might be fuel containment issues at that station. I don't mind sacrificing a little bit of power on the freeway in order to burn renewable, low emission fuel, but I put a lot of time into getting that car to idle like a rock. I just put 6 oz. of diesel kleen in the tank, we'll see if that helps at all.

They warn against mixing HVO and biodiesel. Since HVO is all parafin and no aromatics, it can cause the biodiesel to precipitate out impurities, clog filters etc at temps above freezing. In your case it sounds like you have less than 1 gallon of biodiesel in a 17 gallon mix. How old is the B20? That stuff has a limited shelf life.

otto huber · #40 03-18-2015, 08:45 PM

The B20 is only a couple of weeks old. I'd like to know if other people have had issues with the fuel from that Oakland station.

tjts1 · #41 03-18-2015, 08:50 PM

Odd. The Oakland station was one of the first to switch from B20 to HPR back in mid January.

BillGrissom · #42 03-19-2015, 01:12 AM

I ran across this report on Diesel HPR:
Biodiesel Magazine - The Latest News and Data About Biodiesel Production

Besides quieter, it does seem that my engine runs better when cold and has more power the first 1 mile of driving. But, it is getting warmer each morning.

To answer my question above about hoses, I found later posts that PEX tubing survives well if you can work it on the fittings (heat the ends) or Gates Barricade brand hose (at NAPA). On more thought, it could be that the spin-on filter has partly clogged from gunk loosened by the Diesel HPR, which causes higher pressure and the weeping. The pre-filter looks fairly clean other than a little black grit bouncing around.

tjts1 · #43 03-20-2015, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Called diesel HPR, the fuel is made from components imported from Vietnam and Australia and refined in Singapore, and is 70 percent less carbon intensive than regular petroleum diesel. It is made from recycled animal grease and tallow, vegetable oils and 1 percent diesel, which has to be added for regulatory purposes in California.
...
This fuel is only being sold in Finland and California. The fuel is produced by Neste Oil of Finland. The only reason it is being sold in California is because of California's low carbon fuel standard, said Stanley Young, director of communications with air resources board.

Propel Fuels promotes renewable diesel in Sacramento; Air Resources Board chairwoman Mary Nichols speaks at event - Sacramento Business Journal

sleepstar · #44 03-22-2015, 10:09 PM

i dont know if i have had fuel issues at the oakland station per se... but i did get a clogged filter a few weeks ago and i've only filled up there. i thought it was just HPR cleaning gunk out of the tank

otto huber · #45 03-23-2015, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepstar

i dont know if i have had fuel issues at the oakland station per se... but i did get a clogged filter a few weeks ago and i've only filled up there. i thought it was just HPR cleaning gunk out of the tank

If you have yet to run any type of biofuel in your car, then yes I would think that it was the HPR cleaning out your tank. I've been running a lot of biofuel through my car for the 4 years I've owned it, and have never had a filter issue, but I just took a second look at my pre-filter today and it was the dirtiest that I've ever seen it. I changed it out and the car is running a little bit better now.