Cleaning Effect

Blends of 20% biodiesel or lower minimize any cleaning or solvent effect issues with accumulated sediments in tanks although minor filter plugging may be observed during the initial weeks of B20 use. Blends higher than 20% should always be stored in clean, dry tanks as recommended for conventional diesel fuel. Using B20 for a year or more will probably not clean your tanks and is not a substitute for a thorough tank cleaning when preparing for higher level blends or B100 storage.

Most people do not clean their tanks before B20 use, although it is still wise to keep some extra filters on hand and monitor potential filter clogging a little closer than normal when first starting to use B20. The cleaning effect of the biodiesel in B20 is sufficiently diluted that most problems are insignificant, but a fuel filter may plug when the fuel is first used. Drivers should be aware that sediments in the vehicle system might plug fuel filters during the first few weeks of using B20. Any filter clogging with B20, if it occurs at all, typically goes away after the first few times the tank is filled.

Some consumers who did not encounter problems with B20 assume they can switch to higher blends because the B20 has already cleaned their tanks. B20 is too dilute to clean tanks, so caution is still warranted with higher blends. The cleaning effect should not be an issue with B5 and lower blends.