B100 For Marine Use

What can I expect from using B100 or its blends?
At a 5% blend, B100 can restore the lubricity properties of diesel fuel sold in Australia before the fuel changes. At 20%, there will be an noticeable reduction in smoke, soot and burned diesel odor from the engine's exhaust.

What were the fuel changes?
In Australia there is currently a reformulation (sulphur reduction) for petroleum diesel fuel to achieve reduced emissions of sulfur oxides, carbon monoxide and unburned particulate material (soot) which is to be completed across Australia by 2002. These changes have led to allegations, due to the reduced lubricity of the fuels, of injector pump failure and fuel leakage from failing O-ring and injector pump seals. Blends of B100 - as little as 2% - with reformulated petroleum diesel have been shown to improve the efficiency of combustion of the diesel (in addition to diluting the noxious compounds) and thereby reduce emissions of sulfur oxides, carbon monoxide and particulates. There are important mechanical advantages as well since the B100 provides high lubricity to protect against wear in the fuel and injector pumps. Elastomeric properties of the original diesel are restored by the solvent action of the oxygenated fuel allowing the engine seals, pump O-rings and gaskets to swell for tighter fits designed for use with the original formulation.

Can I use more than a 20% blend?
In Europe and on the east coast of the U.S., B100 is marketed as an alternative fuel to replace petroleum diesel in marine engines. There are considerable environmental and aesthetic benefits to using the B100 in higher concentrations or as a "neat" (100%) biofuel. However, by state law in California, and warranties provided by the suppliers, B100 is marketed and sold as an additive for marine diesel engines to be used in blends up to 20% (5 litres to every 20 litres of regular petroleum diesel).

What other changes can I expect from the use of B100?
Besides the reduction of exhaust odor, higher concentrations of B100 should also reduce the amount of soot being deposited on the boats hull. Your diesel engine should run smoother, particularly at low rpms, and it may start easier. Being an oxygenated fuel with no crude oil contaminants, the B100 itself burns cleanly and it further improves the combustion of the petroleum fuel.

Do I have to modify my engine to use B100 in my boat?
No, B100 mixes with your regular diesel fuel as a blend and should require no changes to your engine in blends up to 20%. B100 (in high concentrations) can affect old rubber fuel lines and also clean the inside of old fuel tanks, causing the release of sediment to clog fuel filters.

Of 100 boaters surveyed, only 6% reported any problems at all (mostly due to old fuel lines and dirty tanks affected by high concentrations of B100). 87% of the boaters had no problems at all using B100, even at high concentrations (50% of the boaters surveyed used B100 from 50% to 100%). The following precautions are recommended for boats with older tanks and engines:

1. Start off with clean fuel tanks and clean fuel before adding B100. Old fuel tanks that have not been kept "topped up" through the winter or have not had much turnover of fuel ( or standing long periods of time) are highly susceptible to growth of diesel-degrading microorganisms. Sediments and slime from the deteriorated fuel may be released from the tank by B100.

2. If you are not sure, inspect your fuel filters regularly for signs of sediment accumulation. Moisture condensation in diesel tanks will promote the growth of bacteria and mold (not "algae") that will eventually foul fuel filters. In extreme cases, your engine might stop, so be very careful to monitor the filters and change them on a regular basis to be safe.

3. Monitor rubber fuel hoses, filter gaskets and seals, and replace them as needed. The solvent action of the oxygenated B100 can slowly deteriorate old rubber hoses, gaskets and seals. Again, these effects appear to be limited to higher concentrations of B100 (e.g., 50-100%) and are rare among older boat engines operating on 20% or less B100. If a fuel line gets soft, replace it with approved A-l grade fuel hose sold in stores.

Recommendations for Handling and Using B100
Avoid spilling B100 into bilges, onto engine or on painted surfaces; clean spills up immediately with absorbent pads. Rinse surfaces with mild detergent and water. B100 has been shown to degrade polysulphide rubber compounds used on decks. To date, we have had input from users that spilling B100 on teak decks utilizing polysulphide caulking has resulted in the deterioration of deck seams. Spills which are immediately cleaned up with soapy water have not had the same impact on deck caulking compounds.

We have not seen or heard of any problems from boaters with their soft rubber engine mounts. It can be extrapolated from other rubber compound incompatibilities, that exposure to rubber engine mounts could lead to degradation of the rubber compound and failure of the engine mount. As in other instances, cleaning of rubber mounts and painted surfaces exposed to B100 is easily accomplished with warm soapy water. Treat the B100 as fuel, wipe up spills, wash off exposed surfaces and prevent any discharges of the product to the water.