Frequently Asked Questions

• I have a new diesel vehicle and I still want to use biodiesel, what should I do to minimize risk of problems?

  There are a number of things you can do to use biodiesel in your new vehicle and minimize the negative impacts.

  Make a habit of checking your oil often; we recommend checking the dipstick every time you fill your fuel tank. Look for rising oil levels, and changes in appearance, texture or odor that would indicate presence of biodiesel in the oil. Do not allow your engine oil to overfill to the point where it will back up in the crank case, as this can cause catastrophic engine damage.

  Change your oil more frequently than the manufacturer recommends. Many new vehicles now recommend oil changes at 10,000 mile intervals. However, it is still just as true as it has always been that changing your oil more frequently will improve the longevity and performance of your vehicle. Depending on what you are seeing when you check your oil, you may want to change the oil every 3,000 miles.

  Finally, try to avoid short trips. Studies have shown that the hotter an engine, is the less oil dilution occurs. Reserve your car for those long trips where taking public transit, walking or biking would be difficult.