GRAPEVINE, TX (KTRK) — GM has revealed that its new lineup of heavy-duty diesel vehicles will be able to run on B20 biodiesel. B20 fuel is a blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% conventional diesel that helps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions while also reducing reliance on petroleum. At the National Biodiesel Conference, the announcement was made.
The new Duramax 6.6L turbo diesel engine from General Motors has been significantly updated to accommodate B20 capability as well as fulfill rigorous new emissions rules that go into effect this year. The 2011 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra heavy-duty pickups, as well as the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size vans, will be powered by the new Duramax. The 2011 Chevrolet Silverado heavy-duty trucks will be unveiled on Feb. 10 at the Chicago Auto Show.
“B20 capability in our new heavy-duty vehicles is the latest addition to General Motors’ growing list of alternative fuel options,” said Mike Robinson, vice president of Environment, Energy, and Safety Policy. “We’re looking for new fuel solutions to maximize efficiency, reduce emissions, and lessen our reliance on petroleum.”
With more than 4 million FlexFuel vehicles on the road today, GM is already the market leader in the marketing of E85-capable vehicles. Biodiesel, like ethanol, is a renewable fuel made mostly from plant matter – usually soybean oil. Biodiesel, in its purest form, reduces carbon dioxide emissions.
“According to Robinson, the federal energy bill of 2007 mandates increasing biodiesel production, and more states and municipalities are requiring it. “Biodiesel production is increasing, and GM is excited and prepared to meet demand with our new Duramax 6.6L engine that can run on B20.”
According to the National Biodiesel Board, 700 million gallons of biodiesel were generated in 2008, up from roughly 500,000 gallons in 1999. Production fell in 2009 due to market changes, but it is likely to rise as additional rules are implemented and authorized cars, such as the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra heavy-duty trucks, become available.
The Duramax 6.6L underwent extensive testing and validation utilizing B20 that fulfills ASTM International’s standard D7467, which includes biodiesel mixes between B6 and B20.
“The Duramax 6.6L is designed to use true biodiesel, which is manufactured through transesterfication,” stated Coleman Jones, GM biofuels implementation manager. “Although the new engine has undergone rigorous testing and certification to verify that it is B20-capable, the only way to ensure engine performance and lifetime is to use authorized biodiesel.”
GM’s five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty covers the Duramax diesel.
GM updated some seals and gasket materials to withstand the ester content of biodiesel and incorporated an upgraded fuel filter with a coalescing element to make the Duramax 6.6L and its fuel system compatible with B20. Because biodiesel can attract and absorb water, it enhances the separation of water that may be present in the fuel. Additionally, additional fuel circuit heating was added to lessen the risk of gasoline gelling or waxing, which could plug filters.
A downstream injector delivers fuel for the regeneration process of the Duramax 6.6L’s diesel particle regeneration system. This considerably decreases the risk of oil dilution, which is critical when utilizing biodiesel. Downstream injection saves fuel and performs better with B20 than post-injection in the cylinder.
Can you use regular diesel in a B20 engine?
Vehicles that run on biodiesel and regular diesel are identical. Although light, medium, and heavy-duty diesel vehicles are not strictly alternative fuel vehicles, they can almost all run on biodiesel blends. The most popular biodiesel mix is B20, which contains anywhere from 6% to 20% biodiesel and petroleum diesel. However, B5 (a biodiesel mix containing 5% biodiesel and 95% diesel) is widely utilized in fleet cars. Many diesel vehicles can run on B20 and lower-level blends without any engine modifications.
Biodiesel increases the fuel’s cetane number and improves its lubricity. A greater cetane number indicates that the engine will start more easily and with less delay. To keep moving parts from wearing down prematurely, diesel engines rely on the lubricity of the fuel. Improved lubricity decreases friction between moving parts, resulting in less wear. Biodiesel has a number of advantages, one of which is that it can improve the lubricity of the fuel at mix levels as low as 1%.
B5 is approved by all original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). However, verify the OEM engine warranty to see if higher-level mixes of this alternative fuel, such as B20, are acceptable. For more information on OEM certifications for biodiesel use in automobiles, go to the Clean Fuels Alliance America website.
Is biodiesel B20 the same as diesel #2?
B20 is a popular blend because it offers an excellent balance of price, emissions, cold-weather performance, materials compatibility, and solvent capabilities. The majority of biodiesel users buy B20 or lesser blends from their regular gasoline distributors or biodiesel marketers. Under the Energy Policy Act of 1992, regulated fleets that utilize biodiesel blends of 20% or greater are eligible for biodiesel fuel consumption credits.
In general, B20 and lower-level mixes can be used without modification in modern engines. In fact, many diesel engine original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) support the usage of B20 (for a list of OEMs that support biodiesel blends, see Clean Fuels Alliance America’s OEM Information). Before using biodiesel, users should first check their vehicle and engine warranty statements. See the Biodiesel Handling and Use Guide for additional information on OEM-approved biodiesel use in cars.
Engines that run on B20 consume the same amount of fuel, produce the same amount of horsepower, and produce the same amount of torque as engines that run on petroleum diesel. Although B20 with 20% biodiesel content has 1% to 2% less energy per gallon than petroleum diesel, many B20 users say there is no discernible difference in performance or fuel economy. Biodiesel has some pollution advantages, particularly for engines built before 2010. The benefits of engines using selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems are the same whether they run on biodiesel or petroleum diesel.
Biodiesel, on the other hand, emits fewer greenhouse gases than traditional diesel fuel. The emissions reduction advantage is roughly proportional to the blend level; for example, B20 has 20% of the emissions reduction benefit of B100.
What is B20 diesel compatible?
General Motors recently announced an extension of its array of B20 biodiesel-compatible vehicles to encourage increasing use of biodiesel in fleet markets.
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GM’s Chevrolet and GMC brands will offer B20-compatible sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans for fleets.
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“According to Bobit Business Media statistics, all of the top 25 fleets use at least two fuels,” GM noted in a news statement, “and biodiesel makes up 18 percent of alternative-powered cars in the “Top 50 Green Fleets.”
The Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks, as well as the Chevy Express and GMC Savana full-size vans, are all available with biodiesel engines.
A biodiesel version of the Chevrolet Low Cab Forward commercial truck is also available, and the biodiesel option will be available when a new Class 4/5 conventional-cab truck, co-developed with Navistar, is released.
What is in B20 biodiesel?
Biodiesel B20 is a popular biofuel mix that contains up to 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel. B20 is a good compromise between price, emissions, cold-weather performance, and equipment compatibility. Furthermore, under the Energy Policy Act of 1992, regulated fleets that use biodiesel mixes of 20% qualify for credits. As a result, B20 fuel has grown in popularity among fuel retailers, distributors, and transportation fleet owners in the United States.
B20 Biodiesel Availability in the United States
The majority of biodiesel users buy B20 or lower blends from their regular fuel suppliers. Buyers that require higher quantities will usually collaborate with a professional biodiesel supplier to meet their demands.
B20 has become a more popular offering at U.S. gas stations, owing to its appealing features for both merchants and end consumers. The Alternative Fuels Data Center shows over 300 stations that sell B20 Biodiesel to the general public as of 2020. Minnesota and Oregon are the states with the most B20 stations listed.
What type of diesel is sold at gas stations?
Clear diesel – Clear diesel is a road vehicle-grade fuel sold at gas stations around the United States. This type of fuel is intended for vehicles that travel the roads on a daily basis – cars, trucks, SUVs, and so on – as well as maritime vehicles.
Is biodiesel as good as diesel?
Biodiesel has a higher oxygen content than petroleum diesel (typically 10 to 12 percent). As a result, pollutant emissions should be reduced. As a result, some compounds that are generally regarded acceptable for diesel fuel may be more aggressive. Biodiesel is a significantly safer alternative to petroleum diesel.
Can I use 100% biodiesel?
B100 is a 100% biodiesel fuel. Only with modifications can a normal diesel engine run on pure biodiesel. Biodiesel will coagulate in freezing conditions, causing seals in ancient diesel vehicles to deteriorate.
What is B2 diesel?
What is the difference between a biodiesel blend and a biodiesel? Biodiesel comes in a variety of percentages, including B100 (pure biodiesel), B20 (20 percent biodiesel, 80 percent petroleum diesel), B5 (5 percent biodiesel, 95 percent petroleum diesel), and B2 (20 percent biodiesel, 20 percent petroleum diesel) (2 percent biodiesel, 98 percent petroleum diesel). In the United States, B20 is a popular biodiesel blend.
Is B20 cheaper than diesel?
With gas prices fluctuating and the Obama administration devoted to reducing America’s reliance on oil, Americans appear to be more interested in alternative fuels, such as those derived from farm crops and other renewable organic sources. Biodiesel and vegetable oil, both of which can be used to power a diesel engine, are among the most readily available.
Biodiesel, which is made from vegetable or animal fats, is chemically equivalent to petroleum diesel. Adherents claim it emits far less pollution than ordinary diesel.
Biodiesel is most typically supplied in mixes with regular diesel, such as B5, which contains 5% biodiesel and 95% petroleum fuel, and B20, which contains 20% biodiesel. According to the US Department of Energy, B20 costs around 20 cents per gallon more than petroleum diesel. B100 (pure biodiesel) costs about 85 cents per gallon more than conventional diesel.
Plain, edible cooking oil is a cousin of biodiesel. However, because cooking oil from grocery store shelves is not economically viable (a gallon costs approximately $8), some people are converting diesel engines to run on old deep-fryer oil that restaurants frequently discard. Discarded oil is sometimes given away for free, but more restaurants are beginning to charge for it.
We adapted a diesel-powered 2002 Volkswagen Jetta TDI to run on biodiesel (B5 and B100) and fryer grease to test how they compare to standard petroleum diesel fuel. We discovered that they all permitted the car to perform adequately, but that the price and convenience of each varies.
B5, a biodiesel mix with 5% biodiesel, gave us the greatest overall performance. It was the most efficient in terms of performance, emissions, fuel economy, and convenience. B5 may be used in any diesel engine without requiring any modifications to the vehicle, and it is injected into the tank exactly like regular gasoline. However, because it is made out of 95% petroleum diesel, it offers little to help drivers transition away from fossil fuels.
Our Jetta performed admirably on recycled cooking oil, but the hassle of locating fuel sources and preparing the oil for use in the engine limits its appeal and negates its low cost.
New diesel automobiles with up to 20% biodiesel blends are now being warrantied by automakers. Engineers say they detect too many contaminants and irregularities in the gasoline at concentrations higher than that, or on cooking oil, to be comfortable extending warranty coverage.