Questions re fuel mixing

[jimono]

I a bit confused as to why there is so much energy or thought put into not allowing the VO and the diesel to mix during the time of the switch over to VO or back to diesel. I have seen where there are recommendations to mix diesel into the VO to get better viscosity so why are we so worried about cross-contimination.

Your new Forum format is very high tech but may be getting to fancy. I can't find older posts from December that I want to refer to and can't find them. Why are we calling these inquiries "threads" Is it new techie language?
jimono

[cgoodwin]

You can not find messages from december because this board was started on 12 January and in the notice I sent out I stated that messages before this date can not yet be moved here. In the title of the General disscusions forum you will find the link to the previous message board which I still maintain to preserve these messages.

The forum is broken down into "topics" like General discussion, tech, fuel mixing etc. this is a heading and in that area you will find posted "topics" or subjects someone wants covered, every reply attached to that original post is a part of the "thread" it created. If you like you can "subscribe" to topics and will see when replies are made, you can chose to view "New Messages" each time you "log on", you can "ignore" messages from a paticular person etc. This forum is infinately adaptable to your preferences, learn to use it and it is clear, if you have a question as to it's use email me and I will try to sort it out for you.

As to your question: "Fuel Mixing" refers to the idea that various compounds (diesel fuel, gasoline, ethenol, methanol, alcohol, etc. ) ca be mixed in different amounts with either VO or biodiesel to decrease its viscosity or improve its characteristics as a fuel. Cross contamination refers to accidentaly getting VO in your diesel tank. This is an issue because injection cold or heated VO into the combustion chamer will cause it (VO) to form damaging carbon, as will injecting unheated VO into an engine even if hot. So if you get VO in your deisel fuel and start the vehicle you are injection diluted VO cold into a cold engine - not a good idea.

Cold VO has a high viscosity (is thick) and the injectors can not spray and atomize it properly (they are designed to spray diesel - 12 times less viscosity) the poor spray pattern leads to incomplete combustion, which leads to carbon buildup which damages the engine. If any VO hot or cold contacts the combustion chamber beore it is at temp, the same thing happens.

Hence, all the discussion on the subject.

chris

[sparker]

I manage a fleet of 36 Kenworth Trucks as well as a half dozen EMD SW-8 Switcher Locomotives. Like everyone else, I am looking for ways to cut my fuel bill. As to the subject of "mixing fuels", I am not interested in VO as much as I am curious if I can mix Bio-Diesel and Ethenol into standard petro-diesel? I am looking into a B-20 (20% Bio / 80% Diesel) mix and have come upon a potentially cheap source of ethenol. I have never heard of this concoction, however I'd like to know if anyone else has used it?
Thanks,
Steve