Episode 064 - Back to School- ULSD and Corrosion

In this educational episode, Erik Bjornstad explores the relationship between biodiesel and corrosion in fuel systems. He explains that while pure biodiesel (B100) can have corrosive properties, the common low-percentage blends (B2-B20) used in today's diesel fuel don't pose significant corrosion risks.

The episode clarifies that modern fuel systems using materials like stainless steel and aluminum are well-equipped to handle these blends. The real concerns with biodiesel additions center around increased water retention and potential microbe growth, rather than corrosion issues that are more commonly associated with higher-concentration blends.

Listen to the Full Episode:

What You'll Learn:

• The definition and composition of biodiesel blends
• Why biodiesel is added to conventional diesel fuel
• The truth about biodiesel's impact on fuel mileage
• Water retention properties of different biodiesel blends
• How biodiesel affects modern vs. older fuel systems
• Real concerns vs. common misconceptions about biodiesel
• Impact of different biodiesel concentrations on corrosion

Ideas Worth Sharing:

Here are three notable quotes from the podcast episode:

• "Virtually all the diesel fuel that you get has some amount of biodiesel in it, usually between two and 5%."
• "A B5 blend can hold 70 percent more dissolved water than what they call a B0 fuel without any bio in it."
• "Studies have shown that lower level biodiesel blends like B5 and B20 generally do not exhibit the same level of corrosiveness as a B100 does."

Resources Mentioned:

• ASTM D975 (fuel specifications)
• Renewable Fuels Standard Legislation
• Erik Bjornstad: LinkedIn

Show Notes:

[00:00:00] - Introduction and episode overview
[00:01:00] - Definition of biodiesel and blending basics
[00:02:00] - Reasons for biodiesel addition in fuel
[00:03:00] - Addressing common misconceptions about biodiesel
[00:04:00] - Water retention properties of biodiesel
[00:05:00] - Microbe problems and corrosion concerns
[00:06:00] - Chemical properties and metal interactions
[00:07:00] - Effects on rubber and plastic components
[00:08:00] - Analysis of different biodiesel blend impacts
[00:09:00] - Real concerns vs. theoretical problems
[00:10:00] - Episode summary and outro