Ram with Cummins 5.9CR

I have a Dodge Ram with a 5.9 Cummins common rail diesel with a Bosch CP3 injection pump.  Has anyone run B100 in this engine?  I have run homemade biodiesel that I made in a soda bottle, but the resulting concentration was more like B1.  I'm interested in stepping up to make a larger quantity.

Chris

I have a 2004 chevy silverado 2500hd w/6.6 duramax, would like to know the same info.  Any problems or modifications with running B100 in this engine?

derf11

Am I correct in my belief that that 6.6 Duramax has the same Bosch CP3 based HPCR system as my cummins? 

I've put 10,000 miles on my 07 Dodge Megacab (5.9L stock) using homebrew B20-B100.  Whenever I can, I run B100, and the truck runs great on it.  I hardly notice any difference compared to Diesel 2.  Mixing 30% Kerosene with homebrew to drop gel point near zero in winter.  Works great.  go for it!  Diesel 2 in Cedarville, CA as of March 9 is $4.05/gal.  My cost $1.50/gal

If B100 is straight veggie oil, then yes, i did it today on my 5.9 cummins.  It started out rough with lots of shaking and smoke but once it wormed up, it was fine.  What does a common rail mean?

Tim

Tim,

B100 is not straight veggie oil!  I wouldnt put any veggie oil in a Cummins engine!  You will clog your fuel filter and probably blow out your injectors, which are expensive to replace.  Biodiesel works well, however, even at 100%, as long as the temp is warm enough and the B100 is up to spec.  If you had shaking and smoke at start-up until warm, then I would blend your biodiesel with 20-30% diesel, which will smooth out the cold starts.  In my 07 Megacab, I use B70-B100 with no rough starts or smoke.  good luck!  what year is your 5.9 cummins?  how many miles on biodiesel?

Averageblair,

you're right. i have clogged my fuel filters again and again.  The problem occurs when i try and wind out the engine shifting gears.  it doesn't have any top end acceleration.   It seems to hesitate and sputter.  After i change the filter, it runs fine again.  In two months(4,000 miles), i've probably put four fuel filters in my 1989 Dodge Ram.  Am looking now at a preFilter.  You're right again about blending. I have been mixing 50/50 and everything is fine.  Recently, i have been heating the oil on an old coleman Camp stove in a 30 gal barrel, then pumping it in a restaurant grade filtering machine that cleans the shortening pretty well.  From there, i've been storing the oil in those 35lbs containers that the restaurants buy them in and using it as needed.  I checked my mileage two days ago and i got just over 20MPG combined city/highway

Questions:

-why wouldn't you put straight veggie oil in a cummins?

-Why would veggie oil blow out the injectors?

Plz. advise and thank you in advance.

tim

tim,

In the newer Dodge Cummins, the inectors and the injection pump are not designed to handle the more viscous fuel such as veggie oil.  If you are lucky enough to get the veggie oil passed the fuel filter, then the injection pump could be ruined because it operates at almost 30,000 psi, plus the injectors have very fine ports which cant handle the thicker veggie oil.  Your older Dodge probably has injectors with larger ports capable of handling veggie oil, and myabe your injection pump operates at lower psi too.  So you could get by on veggie oil with older Dodges.  But, be aware that burning high blends of veggie oil will increase the varnish build up in your intake system (valves) and evetually destroy your head, regardless of the temperature of your veggie oil fuel when ignited.

Veggie Oil is simply too thick of a fuel to use in newer Dodge Cummins.  Its worth the effort to turn your veggie oil into biodiesel, and extend the life of your engine.  good luck! 

blair

AverageBlair,

Am picking up a used tank later this week to get ready to heat.  I believe what you're saying about biodiesel being more engine friendly but I am chafing at the notion of spending another $500-1,000 on bio equipment, Methenol and Lye.  hell, I didn't have the $1,700 to buy the truck in the first place.  Is it possible that if the oil is heated and filtered properly, that you could use it in place or biodiesel or am I just grabing at straws?

Spoke to my mechanic about going thru filters as quickly as I am and he said you're going to until you get a second bigger Pre filter installed.  I told him it hesitates at higher RPM"S when the filter is going.  he said to change it immediately because making the fuel pump labor will increase the chances that the pump will go bad and he said that is like a $2,500 job.

Any thought you have would be appreciated.

Tim

Tim,

the initial cost in building your own reactor and wash tank could be as little as $700, if you are resourceful and a good scavenger.  At least it was in my case.  In less than a year, my reactor and wash tank had paid for itself and saved me an additional $1,500 in fuel bills.  Right now it costs me about $1.50 to make a gallon of biodiesel and the local gas station sells diesel for almost $5 gallon.

I'm sure a prefilter will lessen your problems.  Blending the SVO with diesel will help greatly, rather than SVO only.  I agree with your mechanic, your injection pump will be under severe stress with SVO.  I'm not knowledgeable of running SVO in older Dodges, but I've heard of people making the conversion with dual tanks and heaters.  most folks running SVO successfully are driving older mercedes models. 

How much are you going to spend on the conversion?  compared to building your own reactor?

Averageblair,

Am very close to gettting my second tank plumbed and installed in my truck.  Thought I had the money saved till our mini van started leaking water right under the water pump.  Wonder if I need a new water pump?  Right.  Of course I need a new water pump.  Just whenyou think you're getting a head,

Anyway, I did find a neat prefilter.  it ain't cheap but I think it's just what I need.  You can see it on www.davcotec.com  It is a prefilter that sits about 14" high, has a clear viewing tube and has a 12 v. heater built in.  it is made especially for biodiesl use.  Problem is it costs $360.00.  i still think I'm going to buy it because I think it will give me the insurance that a second much bigger filter unit will provide. 

I am hoping I can get my second tank plumbed and installed for under $500.00...parts and labor.  I haven't ruled out building my own reactor but I live on a postage stamp of property in suburban Detroit and I have to be careful about looking too much like the Beverly Hillbillies with spills and jugs sitting around.  I think the best thing that I can hope for before the snow flies is to get the second tank and prefilter installed and paid for.  And finally figure out how to acquire, process and store WVO in the middle of the winter.  I'm in the restaurant business so I'm thinking of supplying some local restauants with big funnels and paying $5.00 for each 35lb. container that they give me.  will keep you in the loop on everything.  i apprecite your insight.  Seriously.

tim

I have a 96 dodge cumins with 327000 miles on the clock and 42000 miles on WVO that i've made myself. First you need to filter filter filter. The first pass through any size micron filter gets only 50% of the contaminets the next pass gets 50% of that and so on. I cycle mine for 48 hrs. through 2-25 and 1-5 micron filters @ 160*,then i go on to make my fuel. You will get colged filters at first because the WVO is removing the deposits that the diesel fuel has put in your fuel system from tank to injectors. Most of this milage 95% or better has been 100% WVO.Change your fuel filter 10,000 to 12,000 miles and keep an extera one with you always.   

I've been looking into Dacor filters.

You can get them on eBay from a numer of sources  from abut $150 to $300.  Many include heaters (both coolant and electric) as well as clear bowls and water sensors.

I looked at the Davco products.  They look very cool and I like the AC heater as I can wire it in  parallel with my block heater.  I may have to reconsider my choice.

This question wasn't answered, but I am interested in it as well.

My Jeep Grand Cherokee has the Bosh CP3 IP as well.  I have just started running B20, but want to run B99 next year.  I am very interested in expereinces related to high blends with this IP.

I don't have time right now to set up my own processing, collect WVO, etc, so I just pay at the pump, so no $ savings for me.  But at least I am helping the environment and our nation!

Yup, I've got a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500 5.9CR. I've run homebrew B100 through my truck for 32,000 miles now, even towing a trailer at 12,000 lbs over 3,000 mile trip. Jim

chrisf2

I have a Dodge Ram with a 5.9 Cummins common rail diesel with a Bosch CP3 injection pump.  Has anyone run B100 in this engine?  I have run homemade biodiesel that I made in a soda bottle, but the resulting concentration was more like B1.  I'm interested in stepping up to make a larger quantity

Chris -

I also have a Dodge 5.9 and use B100 or B99 all through out the summer.  I've never had any issues whatsoever.  In fact, you won't.  As long as you know that when it gets cold outside, i,e 20F and lower you should expect to blend your fuel.  I live in the midest and discovered after filling with B100 and allowing the truck to be outside when it was 10 degrees and the wind blowing, the truck gelled.   It was 1/2 full and so I ended up putting in addtional fuel to make it B50 and never had an issue again in the winter.

Dave

I also have a 2005 doge ram 3500 running on B100 in the summer ,and B25 in the cold Manitoba winter. Driven about 30000 km and no problems .