I have a 2004 chevy sivlerado 3500 (6.6L Duramax Diesel). can i use more than the reccomended biodiesel ratio?

Question

In the diesel supplement book that came with the owners manual it says that the most biodiesel i can use is 5% B20 biodiesel mixed with regular diesel. Can I use %100 biodiesel (B100) without causing any problems? I think the numbers in the book where more of a warranty cop-out than guidelines.

Thank you

Answer 1

I also have a 2004 duramax and while I dont know about the biodiesel percentages I can tell you no company can squirm out of a warranty like GM so be carefull yopur dealing with slime

Answer 2

It will probably disolve parts of your fuel system.  Not a good thing.

Answer 3

How much risk are you comfortable with acdcepting? More than the recommended limit may mean that GM won't pick up the tab for fuel related issues under a warranty exclusion for "mis-fueling", but then they won't pay if Exxobilukoil fuel screws up the pump either.

The problem with biodiesel is that it is too easy to make, and with higher petroleum pump prices every Tom, d**k, and Harry wants to make it badly. Too often "badly" is precisely how they make it. It's easy to make, and just as easily made improperly.

What ever your decision, be confident in the fuel and the person / company making it. If you have a source you trust, then B20 (20% to 80% petro diesel) is a commonly accepted ratio.

I'm too busy / lazy to make mine. I buy it retail, and run B100 when it's above freezing.

Answer 4

You may also need to change your fuel lines. But the engine itself will suffer absolutely NO bad side affects.

Answer 5

The biggest problem you are likely to see with biodiesel is clogged fuel filters. Biodiesel is more of a solvent than regular diesel and will loosen any sludge in your fuel tank. If you are prepared to change fuel filters frequently until the tank is clean you should be able to run B100.

Answer 6

I have a customer (I sell Amsoil synthetic oil) who runs 100% filtered vegetable oil he gets from a single restaurant that changes their cooking oil regularly.  He runs it through a crazy filtration setup and so far has had no problems.  Its a 2007 Duramax with a particulate filter.  my website: http://www.number1synthetic.com

As an Amsoil dealer, I have heard reports of fuel dilution and severe engine oil viscosity increase with biodiesel.  I advised this customer that the only way to know what the fuel was doing to his oil is used oil analysis.  When he called me, he was running Mobil-1 Turbo Diesel Truck 5W-40(the bottle he had was CI-4+, a no-no with his '07).  For only a few weeks now he has been running Amsoil DEO 5W-40 CJ-4 diesel oil, and an Amsoil bypass oil filter with an oil sampling petcock.  When he feels ready to send in an oil sample, we'll find out what biodiesel is doing to his oil.  

Good luck with your truck.