B 20 BIO DIESEL??

farfromfuelin · Post by **farfromfuelin** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 1:56 pm

MY LOCAL BP GAS STATION SELLS B 20 DIESEL THEY SAY ITS BIO DIESEL. IS THAT TRUE, IF SO WHATS IN IT AND IS IT OK TO RUN IN MY 84 TD JETTA?? THANKS

Asymtave · Post by **Asymtave** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 2:22 pm

B20 means 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel. B100 would be 100% biodiesel.

Your car should run fine but you need to be aware of a couple of things. Biodiesel tends to act like a solvent and free up a bunch of junk in a 22 year old fuel system. So be prepared to change a fuel filter after you start running it - maybe. 20% is a pretty low concentration so it may not cause a problem.

Also - the rubber fuel system components in your car, if original, are not meant to handle biodiesel. They won't melt immediately at 20% bio, but biodiesel will tend to disintegrate them over time (# of miles?).

So - feel free to try it but carry a spare fuel filter. If you plan on running it over aperiod of time then plan on replacing your fuel lines if they are original.

Eric

farfromfuelin · Post by **farfromfuelin** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 2:36 pm

Thanks for the info, should I use a special fuel line, I beleive theres only
a short peice bt the tankk, one from filter to pump and those small ones between the injectors, I think I rear something about being able to use 1/4" air brake line or something like that on the injectors???

Asymtave · Post by **Asymtave** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 7:05 am

People use different things. Right now I am simply using clear vinyl tubing from the home store (Lowe's) for my fuel lines. I am planning a WVO setup so I am not sure what I'll eventually end up with.

I've read here or elsewhere that some people use that brake line with good success. One material that you're sure to be OK with is Viton (McMaster Carr) but expensive. Some guys also say motorcycle fuel line. Maybe this is already set up to be methanol (in all biodiesel to some extent?) resistant?

If your Jetta is like my Rabbit, you'll have some short lengths of rubber back at the tank, then steel lines to the engine compartment, then rubber to the fuel filter, from there to the pump, from the pump back to the steel return line, and finally the little 1/8" ID between injectors. Not much material really so if you're serious about this then maybe replace all with Viton once and be done with it.

Also - some have had issues with old injection pumps forming leaks over time for the same reasons the rubber lines fail. I had to rebuild mine anyway so I have all new bio safe seals so can't comment there either.

Do a search on this site "biodiesel fuel lines" or something and see what else you come up with.

Eric

jkeiffer_gearhead · Post by **jkeiffer_gearhead** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 7:15 am

farfromfuelin,

Where in michigan are you that they sell B20? Just Curious since I cannot ever find any B20 pumps in my area besides the one in Greenville

later
Justin

farfromfuelin · Post by **farfromfuelin** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 8:26 am

Justin, getting the b20 at a bp station in bay city next to saginaw vally harley davison. they claim to be the first and only in the are, people tell me it smells different, runs the same to me. my inlaws are farmers so
bio I go!