Hello All!

I'm brand new to this forum and am glad to have found you.
I'm an avid biodiesel (B100) user in my pickup truck and motorhome, and just started making my own biodiesel. For this reason I'm planning on buying a 2007 Grand Cherokee Overland with the 3.0L CRD diesel engine in it. Somebody in the bd forum stated that because of the DPF (diesel particle filter) it would be rather difficult to run biodiesel without problems.

Does anybody of you Jeep enthusiasts know the scope of this story and has anyone ever tried doing the same thing, and how'd it go???

Thanks,

Thomas  

Likely not a good idea for the Jeep 3.0L CRD. It's a computer-controlled common-rail engine that will likely react very poorly to B100. The main problem is the CRD was never calibrated with B100 so everything from the engine performance to the tranny shift  patterns will be affected. On older diesels it doesn't matter so much, they are not computer controlled. Ultimately what you are dealing with is a modern Mercedes 3.0L.

I'm looking into the DPF question. My brother works in the alternative fuel industry and has the answer to this.  

I don't know much about the filter, though I've read it will get pluged/clogged by soot from the sulfer content burning fuel other than ultral low sulfer diesel. the bio doesn't have any?
the sulfer content is nearly non existant (15ppm) parts per million. I ran bio blend and in a few cases low sulfer (500ppm even though illegal), there was no other options) fuel with no ill effects in the 07 peterbuilt cat engine over 120,000 miles last year. claim the loss causes a dramatic decrease in power, I never noticed any difference.  

I'm with John, I wouldn't do it. That engine is such a precise piece of computer controlled MBZ BS that anything besides straight #2 could piss it off big time.

Besides, why chance it with your new $30k Jeep?  

mudb8-:
I don't know much about the filter, though I've read it will get pluged/clogged by soot from the sulfer content burning fuel other than ultral low sulfer diesel. the bio doesn't have any?
the sulfer content is nearly non existant (15ppm) parts per million. I ran bio blend and in a few cases low sulfer (500ppm even though illegal), there was no other options) fuel with no ill effects in the 07 peterbuilt cat engine over 120,000 miles last year. claim the loss causes a dramatic decrease in power, I never noticed any difference.

The Cat diesel is really nothing like the 3.0L CRD. True, neither has spark plugs and both run on diesel, but that's where the similarities end.

My brother said it's OK to run up to B5 in the CRD, but it needs to be a standardized quality fuel. You can't just mix diesel with Wesson vegetable oil.

The DPF is not designed to capture many of the elements that would be sent through it when burning B100. It would likely clog.

Ultimately, running B100 will cause the Jeep to not run as well as it would on diesel, it may damage the injectors and or engine and it will void your warranty.

I would have no problem running B100 in a 12-valve Cummins, heavy equipment, military trucks and so on. But the CRD is pretty advanced as far as diesels go.

If you really want to go this route I suggest swapping a Cummins 4BT into a Jeep of your choice.  

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the quick replies. Some forums are REAL sleepers and some are totally fast, like you guys.

Well, It doesn't sound to good for my case, that's for sure.

But, I think the only thing we have to deal with here is the DPF. Since the Common Rail Diesel IS a MB already assures that running it on bio wouldn't be a problem, especially since using bio is the norm in Europe, (where bio was practically invented in Austria and Germany uses more biodiesel as a blend than in the whole rest of the world).
I googled Jeep and Bio a while back and Chrysler really emphasises on biofuel technology and are working very hard to get the diesel engines rated for B20 and are shooting for B50 within the next few years. That alone assures that B100 is doable with that motor.

Now, as said before, the problem is the DPF. Since the intention of this device is to get rid of dino diesel soot by a regen cycle, which means combusting excessive soot particels in this filter by additional heat through post injection, using different fuel could REALLY cause the computer to get false readings and therefore screw up the whole system. That's why somebody in the bio forum suggested disabling or removing the filter. Can it be done, and how does the computer need to be re-programmed.

The suggestion of swaping engines is an intriguing one, but if I would entertain SUCH an endeavor, I would do it to a Chrysler ASPEN.

BTW: I couldn't find your spell check, so please excuse my errors.

Thomas  

Did I tick you guys off about the Aspen??

Thomas  

lol,  

We're looking at buying the Cherokee for my wife too.  We also make bio diesel.  Anoyone know of a way around the DPF problem?  I have no issues with "losing it" on accident if that's what it takes to go to B100.  

AustroTom:
Hi Guys,

Thanks for the quick replies. Some forums are REAL sleepers and some are totally fast, like you guys.

Well, It doesn't sound to good for my case, that's for sure.

But, I think the only thing we have to deal with here is the DPF. Since the Common Rail Diesel IS a MB already assures that running it on bio wouldn't be a problem, especially since using bio is the norm in Europe, (where bio was practically invented in Austria and Germany uses more biodiesel as a blend than in the whole rest of the world).
I googled Jeep and Bio a while back and Chrysler really emphasises on biofuel technology and are working very hard to get the diesel engines rated for B20 and are shooting for B50 within the next few years. That alone assures that B100 is doable with that motor.

Now, as said before, the problem is the DPF. Since the intention of this device is to get rid of dino diesel soot by a regen cycle, which means combusting excessive soot particels in this filter by additional heat through post injection, using different fuel could REALLY cause the computer to get false readings and therefore screw up the whole system. That's why somebody in the bio forum suggested disabling or removing the filter. Can it be done, and how does the computer need to be re-programmed.

The suggestion of swaping engines is an intriguing one, but if I would entertain SUCH an endeavor, I would do it to a Chrysler ASPEN.

BTW: I couldn't find your spell check, so please excuse my errors.

Thomas

Yes the DPF can be removed with reprograming. But I have not seen it done on the Jeep yet.

True Chrysler my be working on B100 as an option for the future. However, the problem lies in the fact that the current CRD 3.0L has not been calibrated or even tested with B100. A diesel grand runs about $40K-$50K. When Chrysler realizes you've been running (or have been trying to run) B100 you can kiss your warranty bye-bye. That's a pretty expensive experiment. If you really have to have B100, I think you should wait...or find an older diesel.  

Thank you for your reply,JP,

I guess I have to do more research and maybe I can even get a helpful person from Chrysler on the line about recalibrating. I know that they can't warrant their engine on B100, but since I KNOW that biodiesel is the superior fuel, I'll take my chances.

Thomas