Michal's biodiesel truck

Cold weather biodiesel performance
Michal has been running his 1981 Datsun pickup truck on biodiesel blends, including over 20,000 miles on 100% biodiesel. Most of this fuel came from NOCO Energy's Tonawanda terminal. One of the downsides of biodiesel is cold weather performance. This page shows some of the experiments and experiences.
Click on photos to see a larger picture.

First batches of biodiesel from NOCO did not perform too well, with cloud point (temperature at which crystals start forming in the fuel) of 42-44 F. As a reason, the fuel turned solid in the famous Buffalo winters. (Photo: Michael Calanan)
Biodiesel from NOCO, World Energy, Griffin Industries, University of Idaho, and various biodiesel blends were tested extensively during the winter of 2001-2002. (During this winter, 6-7 feet of snow fell on Buffalo over Christmas and New Year.)
Small batches of biodiesel, biodiesel blends (typically biodiesel and petroleum diesel, sometimes with kerosene and various additives) were also left outside for cloud point testing.

The following winter (2002-2003), NOCO came up with better fuel, and more experience has been gained with different biodiesel blends and additives. Successful runs were made on 100% biodiesel at 20 F, with 50% biodiesel at 10-15 F, with 25%-40% biodiesel down to -11 F
In the fall of 2003, NOCO provided biodiesel with cloud point of 30 F. Running on this fuel (100% biodiesel), the truck has started and ran successfully on a 24 F morning, after sitting for 16 hours in below-freezing temperatures
The temperatures are well demonstrated by the frost covering the entire truck

This site is maintained by Michal, a Buffalo biodiesel user and supporter, retired river guide, science bum, hillbilly, diesel exhaust alchemist, and solar and wind energy master. Please call 1-877-VEG-FUEL or e-mail michal@buffalobiodiesel.org.
Last updated Dec 23, 2003

First batches of biodiesel from NOCO did not perform too well, with cloud point (temperature at which crystals start forming in the fuel) of 42-44 F. As a reason, the fuel turned solid in the famous Buffalo winters. (Photo: Michael Calanan)	Biodiesel from NOCO, World Energy, Griffin Industries, University of Idaho, and various biodiesel blends were tested extensively during the winter of 2001-2002. (During this winter, 6-7 feet of snow fell on Buffalo over Christmas and New Year.)	Small batches of biodiesel, biodiesel blends (typically biodiesel and petroleum diesel, sometimes with kerosene and various additives) were also left outside for cloud point testing.
The following winter (2002-2003), NOCO came up with better fuel, and more experience has been gained with different biodiesel blends and additives. Successful runs were made on 100% biodiesel at 20 F, with 50% biodiesel at 10-15 F, with 25%-40% biodiesel down to -11 F	In the fall of 2003, NOCO provided biodiesel with cloud point of 30 F. Running on this fuel (100% biodiesel), the truck has started and ran successfully on a 24 F morning, after sitting for 16 hours in below-freezing temperatures	The temperatures are well demonstrated by the frost covering the entire truck