I was asked

[skeets]

Why you cannot run BIO diesel in a Kubota tractor? I have been told in here and I guess the common wisdom is no you cant, and I have taken that for a truth, and never questioned it.
Being asked a question I cannot answer, and understanding why I can not answer it, is perplexing to me.
So I ask, and please no smart arsed answers. I am looking for facts and reasons, so I can pass along knowledge and wisdom, I have gleaned from yinz guys.

 

[imnukensc]

Even though Kubota says you can, I won't due to the disadvantages of biodiesel.

Kubota | Biodiesel Fuel Guide - Farm Equipment

Read our guide for selecting the correct fuel for your tractor engine. Learn more about the benefits of biodiesel fuels for approved Kubota products now.

www.kubotausa.com

 

[GreensvilleJay]

You can..... a diesel engine is a diesel engine... don't matter what make/model/colour. Guy here ran homemade bid-d in his rabbit for years.
Now there are some 'gotchas'...like % of bio-d to ff-d and not to use in winter. Guy had to run more ff-d in winter as bio-d would 'gel' up faster.
Now there 'may' be some concern over 'ultra low sulphur'..or 'additives' but as long as the bio-d 'meets or exceeds' the specs... no reason it can't be used.
Since I only use 20-30L per week it's not a hardship at the pumps.

 

[RCW]

Yeah, don’t know much about it but seems I’ve read it may gel more easily. Also more prone to algae/bacterial issues.

 

[jimh406]

I have to say that I didn’t read the manual with respect to fuel. But, many diesel pumps say may contain biodiesel. To me, that means that there is no way for Kubota to require biodiesel free fuel and still sell tractors.

Fwiw, I had a ‘06 Ford ran fine on B20, but I did lose a little mpg. Moral of the story, B5 or B20 is probably not going to do a lot of bad things for a newer diesel that has only run ULSD.

However, biodiesel does break loose any residue in tanks, and can expose leaks, so if you have an old one, don’t be surprised if you need to change your fuel filters a time or two. From what I’ve been able to gather, ULSD is so clean you don’t have a build up in tanks like straight diesel had.

 

[nbking]

In California on the pumps, it says biodiesel blend at a few of the places I go (cheaper ones) Chevron does not say anything about biodiesel but they say they add detergents and lubricants. I think I read that biodiesel is a lubricant too. So they probably use biodiesel in theirs too. Anyways with it sloshing around in the trucks and mixed in the gas station tanks, no way to know the percentages, so its gotta be fine in any diesel engine.