1. Biodiesel
Technical
Training
Course
BIO
2B:
Biodiesel
Vehicle
Maintenance
Presented by the
National Biodiesel Board

2. Learning
Objec-ves
• Provide
access
to
industry
experts
for
more
detailed
ques-ons
and
answers
about
biodiesel
• Introduce
the
Na-onal
Biodiesel
Board’s
Diesel
Technician
Training
program
and
the
program
resources
to
the
audience
• Provide
technical
instruc-on
on
biodiesel’s
impact
towards
engine
and
vehicle
maintenance
&
troubleshoo-ng
• Provide
instruc-on
on
diesel,
biodiesel
fuel
and
fuel
filtra-on
2

3. Learning
Outcomes
• Be
able
to
discern
issues
between
normal
diesel
problems
and
poor
quality
biodiesel
imposters
or
out-­‐of-­‐spec
biodiesel
when
they
hit
the
shop
• Be
able
to
properly
diagnose
and
make
recommenda-ons
regarding
biodiesel
use
and
vehicle
maintenance
• Be
able
to
describe
how
fuel
proper-es
affect
fuel
quality
and
fuel
filtra-on
3

4. Today’s
Topics
• Vehicle
maintenance
• Troubleshoo-ng
 Fuel
System
 Out-­‐of-­‐spec
fuel
 Air
Intake
 Handling
&
Use
 Lubrica-on
Oil
 Performance
 Star-ng
&
Charging,
 Fuel
filter
contaminants
Computer
controls
 Cooling,
&
Vacuum
systems
 Exhaust
&
Emissions
Controls

5. Key
Resources

6. Biodiesel
Delivers
Important
Diesel
Proper-es
• Auto-­‐igni-on
=
Cetane
Number
over
50
• BTU
Content
=
Similar
to
#1,
less
than
#2
• Viscosity
=
Values
in
diesel
fuel
range
• Cloud
Point
=
Current
biodiesel
higher
than
#2
• Lubricity
=
Naturally
high
in
lubricity
• Sulfur
=
Naturally
less
than
15
ppm
• Cleanliness
=
ASTM
specs
same
as
petrodiesel
• Stability
=
Spec
set
for
6
month
min.
shelf
life
• Emissions
significantly
less
for
PM,
HC,
CO

7. Engine
to
Fuel
Biodiesel
only
contacts
the
fuel
system
so
use
should
not
affect
bearings,
turbo,
oil/water
pumps,
and
other
wear-­‐related
parts.
Ultra-low Sulfur Diesel
• Equipment
benefits
800
– Superior
lubricity
HFRR WSD (micron)
700
600
500 – B2
has
up
to
66%
400
300 more
lubricity
than
#2
200
100 Diesel
0
0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 • No
overdosing
concerns
Biodiesel Blend (%)

8. Fuel
System
• Material
compa-bility
is
key
for
blends
above
B20
• Repair
Fuel
leaks
to
prevent
impact
to
other
systems!
 From
the
fuel
sending
unit
in
tank
to
injectors
 primary
&
secondary
fuel
filters
 Fuel
lines
(sending
&
return)
 High
pressure
or
 low
pressure
injectors
 O-­‐rings
 Transfer
&
injec-on
pumps

9. Solvency
&
Stability
B20
&
Under
• Monitor
filters,
less
than
2%
need
to
be
changed
• Mild
cleaning
effect
• Storage
tanks
may
need
to
be
cleaned,
or
keep
extra
filters
on
hand
at
start
up
• Housekeeping
protocols
for
generic
diesel
equally
important
prior
to
blending
• The
biodiesel
specifica-on
contains
parameters
for
insuring
adequate
fuel
stability
for
normal
applica-ons
• The
shelf
life
of
biodiesel
blends
is
recommended
by
NBB
as
6
months

10. Fuel
Filter:Service
Intervals
• Ford:
Special
Opera-ng
Condi-ons
• Cummins
and
John
Deere:
“half the
standard interval for the next two
fuel filter changes… Afterwards,
revert to the intervals specified in
O & M manual.”
• Refer to OEM recommendations

11. Lubrica-on
System
• Change
oil
as
recommended
by
Engine
manufacturer
• Use
OEM
recommended
engine
oil
• API,
CI
ra-ng
• Regular
oil
analysis
maintenance
program
• Inspect
dips-ck
for
biodiesel
smell

12. Lube
Oil
Contamina-on
• Current
ongoing
research,
SAE
CI
Engine
Performance
with
Alterna-ve
Fuels,
2008
• A
concern
of
engine
manufacturers.
• Same
mechanism
for
the
oil
dilu-on
for
heavier
frac-ons
of
diesel
fuel
as
for
biodiesel.
• Due
to
high
boiling
point
of
biodiesel,
the
fuel
is
slower
to
vaporize
ager
injec-on
into
the
cylinder.
• Remaining
compounds
will
be
deposited
on
the
cylinder
wall
where
they
can
be
pulled
into
the
crankcase
by
the
normal
scraping
ac-on
of
the
piston's
oil
control
rings.
• Light
Duty
issue,
2009+

13. Cold
Weather
Performance
B20
has
been
used
Cold weather can cloud and even gel any
successfully
in
climates
diesel fuel, including biodiesel.
below
-­‐20ºF
Users of a B20 with #2 diesel will usually
experience an increase of the cold flow
properties (cold filter plugging point, cloud
point, pour point) approximately 2 to 10°
Fahrenheit.
Similar precautions employed for petroleum
diesel are needed for fueling with 20 percent
blends.
• blending with #1 diesel (kerosene)
• using fuel heaters and parking indoors
• and using a cold-flow improvement additive

14. Lower
Emissions
 U.S.
biodiesel
reduces
lifecycle
carbon
emissions
by
over
50%
compared
to
petrodiesel,
qualifying
it
as
an
Advanced
Biofuel
under
RFS-­‐2
and
making
it
the
best
carbon
reduc-on
tool
of
any
liquid
fuel
commercially
available.
Emission
Type
B20
B2
Total
Unburned
Hydrocarbons
-­‐20%
-­‐2.2%
Carbon
Monoxide
-­‐12%
-­‐1.3%
ParHculate
MaIer
-­‐12%
-­‐1.3%
Oxides
of
Nitrogen
(NOX)
+/-­‐2%
+/-­‐.2%

15. Diesel
Emission
Reduc-ons

16. Technology Pathway
Fuel system Better understanding
technology of combustion
EGR technology
Rate control
High pressure Others
Combustion
Multi-injection
technology Control
technology
PM trap
Aftertreatment
Fuel technology
technology
DOC
Alternate Fuels De-Nox
Low sulfur (Biodiesel)
SCR

17. DPF:
Balance
Point
Temp
-­‐
Regenera-on
Rate
Results
• BPT is 40ºC lower for B20 • Regeneration rate increases
• Soot is more easily burned off of filter with increasing biodiesel
• B20: lower temperature duty cycle OK content
• Even at 5%, biodiesel PM
measurably oxidizes more
quickly
BPT
ULSD 360ºC
B20 320ºC
B100 250ºC

18. Biodiesel
and
Agertreatment
Systems
 Regenera-on
mode
is
important
 Biodiesel
is
compa-ble
with
Diesel
• Most
US
heavy
duty
Par-culate
Filters,
and
has
some
applica-ons
use
exhaust
dis-nct
advantages:
stream
fuel
injec-on
which
is
• Lowers
regenera-on
compa-ble
with
B20,
perhaps
temperatures
higher
blends
• Less
engine
out
par-culate
• Some
light
duty
OEMs
mamer
recommend
max
B5
at
present
• May
provide
increased
performance
and
decreased
maintenance
vs.
ULSD
alone
• May
provide
increased
fuel
economy
18

19. Are
you
Smoking?
• Black
smoke:
injectors,
air
inlet
restric-on,
engine
-ming,
internal
engine
-ming,
injec-on
pump
failure
• Blue
Smoke:
insufficient
fuel,
contaminated
fuel,
High
or
low
oil
consump-on,
air
in
the
fuel
• White
smoke:
bad
glow
plugs,
plugged
return
fuel
line,
insufficient
fuel
supply,
low
compression,
air
in
fuel,
injector
or
pump
problem,
engine
-ming
• White
smoke
can
be
normal
in
cold
weather
before
engine
warms

20. SCR
Performance

21. B20
vs.
Diesel:
In
the
shop
• With
in-­‐spec
B20
and
lower,
the
issues
you
can
expect
to
see
in
your
shop
are
the
same
as
you
will
see
with
petrodiesel
• Except:
– Expect
to
see
fewer
lubricity
related
issues
– Expect
to
see
fewer
problems
with
ager-­‐treatment
– Filter
related
issues
may
be
related
to
cleaning
effect
upon
first
use,
or
are
likely
normal
diesel
issues
or
out
of
spec
or
imposter
biodiesel
– Less
black
smoke
from
exhaust!
21

22. Fuel
Filter
TroubleshooHng:
Petrodiesel
&
Biodiesel

23. What
does
a
Fuel
Filter
catch?
Paraffin Wax
Off-spec fuel
Rust

24. Exposure
to
Air:
Fuel
Storage
• Enters
through
vent
pipes
and
contains
large
amounts
of
moisture.
• Generally
displaces
the
fuel
as
tank
is
emp-ed.
• It
is
not
prac-cal
to
keep
air
from
entering
the
tank.
• Will
increase
the
oxida-on
of
fuel.
• Do
not
store
fuels
for
long
periods
of
-me
in
par-ally
empty
tanks
without
stabilizers.
• Consider
desiccant
dryers.

25. Microbial
Growth
• Microbes are bacteria or fungus that live and propagate in
fuel at the fuel/water interface.
• Water needed to live—no water, no bugs.
• Hydrocarbons in petrodiesel or biodiesel provide the food
and the water provides the oxygen.
• This environment is needed for living, growth, and
reproduction.
• The filters with microbial contamination often had an odor
different from the normal fuel smell.

26. Water
Contamina-on
• ULSD reaches water saturation at approximately
200-300 ppm. More settles to the bottom.
• NREL B20 survey data: same water saturation
level as petrodiesel. More settle to the bottom
• B100 can hold more water, up to 1200 ppm
• Still very small—0.12%, on the same order as
gasoline can hold water. Un-dissolved water
settles to the bottom like it does in petrodiesel
tanks.
• While higher than petrodiesel, biodiesel is not
water loving (i.e. hygroscopic) like ethanol is.
Most people do not understand this fact.

27. Water
in
Fuel
is
a
Problem
All
non-­‐dissolved
water
can
cause
problems:
• Serves
as
growth
medium
for
organisms
that
Effect of Water on Injector Life
plug
filters
• Concentrates
acids
and
ionic
species
that
300
cause
corrosion
and
deposits
Injector Life
250
• Freezes
at
cold
temperatures
and
reduces
fuel
200
flow
(%)
150
• Reacts
with
some
addiHves
to
form
100
precipitates
and
deposits
50
• Plugs
injector
nozzles
at
extreme
condiHons
0
25
100
200
400
500
750
1000
5000
10000
• Reduces
fuel
lubricity
when
in
emulsified
form
Amount of Water in Fuel
(ppm)

28. Fuel-­‐Water
Removal
More
Difficult
in
Future
• ULSD
addiHve
package
lowers
interfacial
120
original or
tension
making
removal
more
difficult
clay treated
100 additized fuel
• Biodiesels
have
lower
interfacial
tension
time weighted efficiency, %
and
hold
more
water,
again
adversely
80
impacHng
removal
more
– FWS
more
challenging
as
biodiesel
60 additized
percentage
in
blends
increase
ULSD
40
• Solvency
of
biodiesel
blends
makes
Biodiesel
coated
cellulose
media
opHon
less
20 B20 50
effecHve
0
0 10 20 30 40
interfacial surface tension, dynes/cm

29. Sediment/Rust
build-­‐up
• Some of the filters had
solid sediment within the
folds and solid particles in
the filter casing.
• Sediment present in the
fuel or rust particles from
within the engine can
collect over time and plug
the filter even when there
are not necessarily
problems with the fuel.

30. Paraffin
Wax
• High level of paraffin material
could be from the way ULSD is
processed.
• When the temperature of the fuel
is at or below its cloud point,
paraffin material will precipitate
out and collect on the bottom of
the tank.
• When warmed to room
temperature the paraffin wax will
turn back into liquid.
• Paraffin build-up does not come
from biodiesel fuel.

31. Fuel
Stability
• Chemical
degrada-on
occurs
with
contact
with
oxygen
for
long
periods
or
at
high
temperatures.
• Oxida-on
of
fuel
can
form
insolubles
and
peroxides
• Peroxides
increase
deposits
and
gumming
on
fuel
pumps
and
injec-on
systems
• Filter
plugging
will
also
occur
• Filters with a black and shiny surface
but no microbial growth odor or gel
or sediment indicate they may be
plugged by oxidation build-up.
• This may be a black “asphaltene”
petrodiesel type material collecting
on the filter.
• ASTM
D975
now
specifies
a
stability
parameter

32. Monoglyceride
Build-­‐up
• The next filter tested positive for
high concentrations of saturated
monoglyceride material—an out of
spec or ‘imposter’ biodiesel.
• Monoglyceride is one substance
that can precipitate out of fuel if
not within spec
• Monoglycerides do not turn back
into a liquid at room temperature
• Can be distinguished from diesel by
its brownish, butterscotch pudding
type of appearance

33. Troubleshoo-ng
&
Maintenance
Checklist
 Microbial Growth – Exposure to  Store Fuel in Clean, Dry Dark
air and water
Environment
 Icing of Filter – Excess water in  Keep Tank Topped off to
tank
eliminate head space
 Oxidation – Hot fuel return to  Monitor hoses, fill/vapor caps,
fuel tank
gaskets for leaks
 Monoglyceride Build Up – Off  Storage in on-site tanks should
specification
be limited to less than 6
 Paraffin Wax – Temperature at months.
or below cloud point  Once a year send your fuel to
lab to be tested for microbial
contamination

34. Biodiesel
Resources
 www.biodiesel.org
• Biodiesel
Training
Toolkit
• News
Releases
&
Informa-on
Resources
• Technical
Library,
Spec
Sheets
&
Videos
• OEM
Warranty
Posi-ons
on
Biodiesel
•
U.S.
Diesel
Vehicle
List
 www.BQ-­‐9000.org
Rachel
Burton
NBB
Diesel
Technician
Training
Program
• Lis-ng
of
BQ-­‐9000
Cer-fied
Companies
wrenchwench@blast.com
Tel:
919-­‐444-­‐3495
 www.biotrucker.com
Call
NBB
at
1-­‐800-­‐841-­‐5849
• Lis-ng
of
BioTrucker
retail
sites
Visit
www.biodiesel.org
 www.biodieselautomoHve.org
• Dedicated to information exchange for biodiesel & diesel
34
technicians