Biodiesel is the name of a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. It can be used in diesel engines with little or no modifications. Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics. Please contact us if you have questions about your specific application and we'd be happy to help.

Using pure biodiesel (B100) requires diligence in two areas: cold weather gelling and solvency. By blending biodiesel with petroleum diesel fuel these issues can be reduced or avoided all together. We don't want to discourage you from using B100 because it is a terrific substitute for diesel fuel but there are a few things to be aware of.

Solvent Properties:

Biodiesel, in addition to being fuel, is an effective solvent, and will act accordingly. This means that biodiesel will dissolve existing solids—created through usage of petroleum diesel—in your vehicle's fuel system. These solids will clog your vehicle's fuel filter until the system is clean. When this happens depends on many factors, but can be recognized by the following symptoms: power loss, engine sputtering, difficulty starting, and poor fuel mileage. When you notice these symptoms, you will have to replace your vehicle's fuel filter (possibly more than once, depending on the amount of petrol solids in the fuel system). Clogging of fuel filters also occurs with old fuel storage containers that contained petrol diesel. When dealing with such large fuel tanks, fuel filters may have to be changed many times, and cleaning of the tank prior to biodiesel usage may be a more suitable alternative.

Biodiesel will, over time, dissolve most types of paint. For this reason, Newport Biodiesel recommends keeping a clean, soft, dry rag on hand when fueling, to gently wipe off any spillage. When the rag becomes soaked with biodiesel, put it in a dark, closed storage container to await proper disposal. Do not leave fuel-soaked rags crumpled up in the sun. Under such conditions, the rags are prone to spontaneous combustion due to oxidation and the heat generated during that process.

Biodiesel will degrade rubber components in older vehicles' fuel systems faster than petrol diesel. These components include some hoses, seals, and o-rings. Most diesel vehicles made after 1993 use synthetic components, eliminating this problem. Please contact the manufacturer for answers on specific parts. Should your rubber components need replacement, we recommend viton substitutes. Contact us for more information.

Cold Weather Performance:

The biodiesel we produce gels around 32 degrees Fahrenheit. During the winter months, the only way to be 100% certain your fuel will not gel is to maintain a percentage of petroleum diesel in your fuel supply (exact quantity varies with climate).
A typical blend used in the winter is B20 (20% biodiesel 80% petroleum diesel) and that is good to zero degrees Fahrenheit and below with the right anti-gel additives. We typically run B50 in our vehicles which is good to about 14 degrees Fahrenheit and it rarely gets colder then that in Newport. We blend on the fly and keep an eye on the forcast. Don't hesitate to contact us about other possibilities for cold weather fuel storage, including heating elements and insulation.

For more information, please visit: www.newportbiodiesel.com