Any of you used the Bio Diesel? Is it OK to run in LMM engine that is factory stock?

What % do you want to use? I personally would not run bio in a stock LMM.

Been running the B-5 for 3 years with no problems in my stock 2008. I think the B-5 is all GM says to run in it without doing any modifications.

Any of you used the Bio Diesel? Is it OK to run in LMM engine that is factory stock?

I too have been using B5 since the truck was new without any issues, however, there have been some discussions about even a small percentage of Bio diluting the oil too much if the oil is left in for too long of a time period.

The reason I ask is because I pulled into a station up north, I think it was in Wisconsin, that the pump said Bio Diesel and I went to another station. I do not recall what the percentage was, or if it was indicated. I haven't seen it at any stations around home. (North Texas)

I used B5 almost exclusively for a while and did notice elevated fuel levels on my UOA. It was still within acceptable levels, but dropped when I went back to standard diesel. I wouldn't worry about using it if that's what's most available to you, but you might need to do the occasional UOA to make sure.

What is UOA?

Used Oil Analysis.

Burning up to 5% straight through driving, I would not be too concerned. If you were consistently doing short trip town driving with regens taking several trips as some report, that would be cause for some concern. Short trippers are usually the ones that will have dilution on their oil analysis on LMM engines. Running bio for those, may have a greater impact.

Illinois now has a 5% bio mandate with a couple others also leaning toward 2-5% or more. Watch in the up comming months, an Illiniois signature will be one of the first to start complaining of engine lights and plugged filters as bio has a higher cloud and gel temp.

I have a fear in the comming years, our LMM's are going to be caught in a bio squeeze. Politicians will continue to raise "acceptable" bio % levels or mandate higher levels.
Newer LML dmax can burn up to B20 as can all older engines, all dodges etc.
Those with LMM DFP technology are going to get swept under the rug.
I hope that is not before my DPF fails and is not replaced or emmisions testing does not burry me.

for what ever it's worth, a Diesel mechanic at one of the Dealerships I have taken my truck, once told me that B20 was acceptable in the LMM, however, this was before some history had developed with prolonged oil use and dilution.
I guess if I want to coninue to run B5, I'm just going to have to change the oil around 6500 miles, give or take.

I'm not sure what the guys with LMMs are doing that live in Illinois. I recently traveled from Tenn. to Wisconsin pulling a travel trailer and needed diesel in the middle of Illinois and could only find B11 at ALL the stations, so I had to get some fuel. I got half a tank knowing that it was more than 5% and I shouldn't be running it. My fuel filter life was at 96% when I filled up and within the next 100 miles it dropped to 65%. I started calling ahead and asking diesel stations if they had "normal" diesel fuel, and most said normal around there was B11. I did find one station 15 miles off the interstate which had normal ULSD. My buddy who has an 05 LLY had no trouble at all running the B11. I'm just glad that by my next tank I was in Wisconsin and they had normal ULSD. So, what are you guys in Illinois with LMMs doing about running B11 if that is all that is available??

I have seen another post by someone in this Forum, I think in the Bio section, who wrote of a ratio for mixing B100 into the tank quantity with #2, which equated to roughly 1 Gallon of B100 if I read it correctly.

So, if you have both types of fuel available, mixing respectively with whatever B% is always an option.

Minnesota mandated B5 biodiesel in May 2009, increasing to B10 in May 2012 and B20 in May 2015. I have had very little problems with my 2008 except during very cold weather.

so for those of you that are using B5-B20, what kind of oil change intervals are most of you keeping in light of this oil dilution dilemma?

I found some of my old UOA numbers. I ran 8,500 miles using a lot of B5. I had 1.5% fuel dilution, with 2.0% being the max acceptable. I then ran 8,700 miles using as little B5 as possible (I think a couple states I passed through it was in the fuel) and my fuel dilution was <.5%. To be fair to biodiesel, the non-bio UOA was almost all highway miles, which may have helped, but I think I'm going to stay away from the bio-diesel unless I have to use it.

Thread moved to alternative fuel / biodiesel forum.

I'm not sure what the guys with LMMs are doing that live in Illinois. I recently traveled from Tenn. to Wisconsin pulling a travel trailer and needed diesel in the middle of Illinois and could only find B11 at ALL the stations, so I had to get some fuel. I got half a tank knowing that it was more than 5% and I shouldn't be running it. My fuel filter life was at 96% when I filled up and within the next 100 miles it dropped to 65%. I started calling ahead and asking diesel stations if they had "normal" diesel fuel, and most said normal around there was B11. I did find one station 15 miles off the interstate which had normal ULSD. My buddy who has an 05 LLY had no trouble at all running the B11. I'm just glad that by my next tank I was in Wisconsin and they had normal ULSD. So, what are you guys in Illinois with LMMs doing about running B11 if that is all that is available??

Biodiesel is the best lubricant for your or any other diesel engine. There is a ton of info on this throughout Diesel place. Also biodiesel is great at cleaning out your fuel system. That is why your fuel filter life went from 96% before the fill up to 65% after the fill up. If your fuel system is very dirty, putting in a high blend of biodiesel like B20 or higher can clog you fuel filter. By using lower blends at first you can clean out you fuel system with out clogging the fuel filter and then you will have a clean well lubricated fuel system and will also last alot longer! :D


Hope this helps!

Biodiesel is the best lubricant for your or any other diesel engine. There is a ton of info on this throughout Diesel place. Also biodiesel is great at cleaning out your fuel system. That is why your fuel filter life went from 96% before the fill up to 65% after the fill up. If your fuel system is very dirty, putting in a high blend of biodiesel like B20 or higher can clog you fuel filter. By using lower blends at first you can clean out you fuel system with out clogging the fuel filter and then you will have a clean well lubricated fuel system and will also last alot longer! :D


Hope this helps!

A few caviats, first clean SOY bio-d is a good lubricant, some made from other sources can cause more problems, unfortunately its hard to know when you pull up to a random pump.

Do some reading, this post included, newer DPF equiped units can have significant fuel dilution which can be exacerbated with bio.
This dilution and the "washing" effect on oil lubricated parts is far more damaging than the benifits from fuel system lubrication. Fuel system can be lubricated with many other products to achieve acceptable results without shortening the oil life. Also, these fuel lubricants are more economical than frequent oil changes.

Add to that, the winter geling problems encountered in mid belt and above.

You really have to understand your vehicle and conditions before saying Bio is a solution.

I'm not sure what the guys with LMMs are doing that live in Illinois. I recently traveled from Tenn. to Wisconsin pulling a travel trailer and needed diesel in the middle of Illinois and could only find B11 at ALL the stations, so I had to get some fuel. I got half a tank knowing that it was more than 5% and I shouldn't be running it. My fuel filter life was at 96% when I filled up and within the next 100 miles it dropped to 65%. I started calling ahead and asking diesel stations if they had "normal" diesel fuel, and most said normal around there was B11. I did find one station 15 miles off the interstate which had normal ULSD. My buddy who has an 05 LLY had no trouble at all running the B11. I'm just glad that by my next tank I was in Wisconsin and they had normal ULSD. So, what are you guys in Illinois with LMMs doing about running B11 if that is all that is available??

Good post! Seems like the perfect "angle" needed to legally removethe DPF system and reprogram the engine since that system clearly states "B-5" only.
All the new trucks are B-20 approved. Not sure about the Cummins or Mercedes Sprinters.