Q. What is biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a safer, cleaner-burning alternative to petroleum diesel. Produced from vegetable oil or animal fats, biodiesel is a “homegrown,” renewable fuel.
Q. Where can I use biodiesel?
You can use biodiesel or a biodiesel-diesel blend in any diesel engine (car, truck, home heating oil tank, generator, etc.)
Q. Which blend is best?
Depending on the application, climate and season the blend of biodiesel can be from 2% up to 100%. It is common practice to operate fleets on a B20 blend in the summer and B5 in the winter, however in areas such as the lower mainland, B20 blends can be used all year round. In environmentally sensitive areas (marine, alpine) and in mines where the maximum environmental benefit is required, higher level blends (>B40) should be considered.
Q. Is biodiesel used as a pure fuel or is it blended with petroleum diesel?
Biodiesel can be used as a pure fuel or blended with petroleum in any percentage. B20 (a blend of 20 percent by volume biodiesel with 80 percent by volume petroleum diesel) has demonstrated significant environmental benefits with a minimum increase in cost for fleet operations and other consumers. Q. Will biodiesel hurt my engine?
No. Engines built before 1994 may have natural rubber seals or hoses, which will need to be replaced with synthetic materials. When you first burn biodiesel, or switch back from burning petroleum diesel for many kilometers, you will probably need to replace your fuel filter a couple of times. Biodiesel’s solvent effects will clean out deposits left in the system by petroleum diesel, clogging the filter.
Q. Can I switch between biodiesel and petroleum diesel?
Yes, switching back and forth between biodiesel, diesel and any blend of the two causes no ill effects, though filter replacements may be necessary.
Q. Will biodiesel lower my fuel economy?
Biodiesel contains less energy than petroleum diesel, but biodiesel’s higher lubricity increases engine efficiency, effectively canceling out the difference. Users of biodiesel have reported little or no noticeable changes in engine performance.
Q. Will using biodiesel void my warranty?
Engine manufacturers warranty engines, not fuels, but if they can attribute an engine problem to the fuel that was used, they won’t honour the warranty. If you buy your biodiesel from the pump or another ASTM-certified source, you are purchasing a high-quality fuel that should not cause engine problems and therefore not void your warranty. Using fuel from non-certified sources is more risky.
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