Chevron 'renewable'

[Graham Line]

Have searched for data but come up with nothing other than vague marketing materials. My '12 Golf seems to run quite well with it, just topping 50 mpg on highway run, and regens seem to be infrequent. Anyone have more technical knowledge or more experience? VW dealer didn't have anything.

 

[Lightflyer1]

EMRD™ renewable diesel process technology | ExxonMobil Product Solutions

Evolving and regionally diverse fuels regulations are helping to drive demand for renewable diesel made from bio-feedstocks. One challenge when converting vegetable oils and fats into renewables diesel is the high cloud point of n-paraffins, making selection of the right process technology and...

www.exxonmobilchemical.com

Good to run. There are some threads here about it. Only in the PNW and California for the most part I think.

 

[hskrdu]

Here's one of our main threads on renewable diesel, a search will reveal some others...

Renewable diesel

I was reading about renewable diesel recently. It is a low carbon drop-in ULSD replacement unlike biodiesel. It is available in California at Propel stations where they call it HPR. It sells for $4 a gallon which is slightly higher than regular ULSD. Has anyone here tried it...

forums.tdiclub.com

 

[Graham Line]

Thnks for the links. Don't know how missed them.

 

[BarnyardsTDI]

Chevron Renewable is B20 blended with renewable. I use 76 Renewable as its R99 (Renewable 99%). Also the Fuel Forward App from 76 gives you a discount of up to around $0.40/gal every fill up. Check it out. Car runs great on it. Fuel economy is unchanged.

 

[coolusername]

Have searched for data but come up with nothing other than vague marketing materials. My '12 Golf seems to run quite well with it, just topping 50 mpg on highway run, and regens seem to be infrequent. Anyone have more technical knowledge or more experience? VW dealer didn't have anything.

From what I've read, it's much nicer than biodiesel, because they use hydrotreating like conventional diesel in the refining process. It burns cleaner than regular diesel, so that's why you're seeing less regens. Higher cetane, better combustion, less smell, it's basically better than Diesel No. 2 in every way except two: Some older cars can leak due to the composition of their fuel lines (but this is anecdotal and hasn't happened to my B4 Passat), and it has ever so slightly less energy density than regular diesel.

 

[atc98002]

Some older cars can leak due to the composition of their fuel lines

I don't think that was something that occurred with renewable diesel. That was more an issue with higher percentages of Biodiesel, specifically if switching between BD and D2.

 

[Matt-98AHU]

I don't think that was something that occurred with renewable diesel. That was more an issue with higher percentages of Biodiesel, specifically if switching between BD and D2.

I haven't seen issues with fuel lines, but certainly rotary pump diesels (in TDI world, that's 1Z, AHU and ALH) with an old pump/old seals, those seals can suddenly start to leak a lot more noticeably when you start running the renewable. There's zero aromatics, which are what helps soften and swell seals some.

That's actually what's kind of clever about Chevron's blending renewable with conventional biodiesel is conventional bio does a pretty good job of swelling seals. So, blending the two together would help offset the R99's history of causing old pump seals to shrink and harden, then leak.

Although I was already on the side of blending R99 with regular ULSD anyway. R99 has less energy content/BTUs, if you will. So, while the cetane is super high (the easy of ignition/quickness of burn) the actual calorie/BTU content is lower. This makes cars start easier, idle smoother and have better high RPM power, but you lose fuel economy and low end torque.

Blending 70-80% ULSD with 20-30% R99 gets you the best of both worlds. The bulk majority of the higher BTU content with a really solid cetane boost.

 

[STDOUBT]

I fret about the lubricity of "renewable". Old school B20 had better lubricity than "Renewable B20", and I would guess better lubricity than your blend, Matt. Both R99 and D#2 have less lubricity than the old B20. Just this week all my stations changed from B20 to either R99 or "Renewable B20". I'm rather PO'd. Freaking greenies.
First time today, I had to fill both cars with "Renewable B20" at a Chevron. Did notice the difference in engine noise right away.

 

[Matt-98AHU]

I fret about the lubricity of "renewable". Old school B20 had better lubricity than "Renewable B20", and I would guess better lubricity than your blend, Matt. Both R99 and D#2 have less lubricity than the old B20. Just this week all my stations changed from B20 to either R99 or "Renewable B20". I'm rather PO'd. Freaking greenies.
First time today, I had to fill both cars with "Renewable B20" at a Chevron. Did notice the difference in engine noise right away.

Outside of the lubricity, I haven't been a fan of conventional transesterified biodiesel in a long time.

It has a history of unevenly swelling pump seals, leaving behind varnish in parts of the fuel system you'd really prefer it not to, and wherever it leaks out of it leaves a nasty, sticky mess that R99 and petrol ULSD simply don't.

Throw in an Oz or two of Stanadyne to help keep things clean and add a little bit of lubricity back and call it done. You can keep the varnish-causing esterified crap out of my diesels. I've been inside enough injection pumps to see the difference between fuels... And that experience made me not want to have conventional bio anywhere near my cars.

Which is why it was a bit of a letdown that Oregon had mandated a minimum amount of it be included in diesel across the whole state.

California diesel of course costs a lot more, but you know what? All of my TDIs ran better on California fuel than Oregon fuel.

But with R99 becoming more prevalent here (only a decade behind California), Oregon is finally not so atrocious fuel quality wise in comparison.

 

[CleverUserName]

Blending 70-80% ULSD with 20-30% R99 gets you the best of both worlds. The bulk majority of the higher BTU content with a really solid cetane boost.

I’ve found D2 & RD blends at a few random Valero stations in California. The one station I frequent has it consistently but it’s kinda expensive about $0.30/gal higher than cheaper stations advertising RD in the area.

The blend is advertised as Diesel #2 however I can tell it’s a blend from the color and smell it has characteristics of both fuels. No idea of the concentrations of the blend. I assume it’s based on the fuel distributor the station is using as other Valeros in the area will have straight RD advertised as Diesel #2.

I’ve only found pure Diesel #2 in rural locations since early 2024. It is actually hard to find now.

 

[coolusername]

Outside of the lubricity, I haven't been a fan of conventional transesterified biodiesel in a long time.

It has a history of unevenly swelling pump seals, leaving behind varnish in parts of the fuel system you'd really prefer it not to, and wherever it leaks out of it leaves a nasty, sticky mess that R99 and petrol ULSD simply don't.

Throw in an Oz or two of Stanadyne to help keep things clean and add a little bit of lubricity back and call it done. You can keep the varnish-causing esterified crap out of my diesels. I've been inside enough injection pumps to see the difference between fuels... And that experience made me not want to have conventional bio anywhere near my cars.

Which is why it was a bit of a letdown that Oregon had mandated a minimum amount of it be included in diesel across the whole state.

California diesel of course costs a lot more, but you know what? All of my TDIs ran better on California fuel than Oregon fuel.

But with R99 becoming more prevalent here (only a decade behind California), Oregon is finally not so atrocious fuel quality wise in comparison.

Genuinely, I'm so glad that R99 is replacing B20 here in Southern California. All that biodiesel stuff was annoying to try to have to avoid. Now I can fuel up without worrying too much. The stations around where I am seem to advertise either R99 or straight No. 2, and both work great on all my diesels.

 

[Matt-98AHU]

Genuinely, I'm so glad that R99 is replacing B20 here in Southern California. All that biodiesel stuff was annoying to try to have to avoid. Now I can fuel up without worrying too much. The stations around where I am seem to advertise either R99 or straight No. 2, and both work great on all my diesels.

On your DPF-equipped diesels in particular, you may notice it goes a few miles further inbetween DPF regen cycles on the R99.

It does legitimately produce noticeably less soot than conventional diesel. It's very clean-burning, just with the downside of a little less low end torque and less MPG when run at the full 99%.

Blend some normal ULSD in there and it solves that little drawback.

The car in my avatar? Audi's diesel-powered Le Man Prototype from 2006-2008. They were sponsored partly by Shell, proudly displaying "Shell V-Power Diesel" on the side of the car.

The V-Power part of it was diesel made from natural gas through a gas-to-liquid (GTL) process.

The "renewable" diesel we're getting now goes through basically the same process, except the biomass used is gassified first, and then put through a gas to liquid process.

The end result is actually VERY similar to R99. Both are super high cetane, but less BTUs than conventional petrol diesel, and both burn very, very clean compared to 100% regular ULSD or conventional biodiesel (Which, I might add, CARB actually banned the use of 100% concentrations of conventional bio because it actually produces MORE NOx than regular ULSD!!!).

Audi and Shell's solution for the race car? To blend regular ULSD with the V-Power GTL in a 70/30 blend. 70% ULSD, 30% V-Power GTL.

I attempt to do the exact same thing myself by putting a few gallons of R99 in first, then topping off the rest of the way with ULSD elsewhere. The difference is noticeable. The race program being my inspiration, and also having tried R99 100% by itself and noticing the drop in MPG and lesser low end torque. Also reading about how R99 is produced and how similar in characteristics it appears to be to the Shell GTL stuff, I figured why not try the same blend myself and see how it goes.

And it's awesome. Clearly the engineers from the mid 2000s in the race program saw the same issue with efficiency and performance with 100% concentrations of the fancy GTL stuff as we see with R99 and found the 70/30 blend to be the best of both worlds.

 

[STDOUBT]

Brace for an anecdote.
I'm going to start avoiding "Renewable" "Diesel" from now on and here's why. One simple, unscientific reason.
I can only speak to the rotary injection pump cars since I have no hands-on experience with the tandem pumps.

Chevron "Renewable B20" ($3.98/gal):
Tank filled a couple times with just this fuel. After running a long stretch, fully up to temp, I cannot place the palm of my hand on the top of the IP for even a full second it's so damned hot.

No-name independent station "Diesel B5" ($3.50/gal):
The owner let me look at her invoice, and I confirmed this was Diesel #2. The color was right also.
Tank filled a couple times with just this fuel. After running a long stretch, fully up to temp, the top cover of the IP is nice and warm. A comfortable warm. The kind of warm you'd want in a hand warmer after being stuck in sub-freezing temps for hours.

Also anecdotal: I got over 100 miles more distance out a tank of the Diesel B5 fuel than the "Renewable B20".
Better lubricity. Better FE. Better low-end grunt. Cheaper. I'm sold. "F" Renewable.

 

[coolusername]

Brace for an anecdote.
I'm going to start avoiding "Renewable" "Diesel" from now on and here's why. One simple, unscientific reason.
I can only speak to the rotary injection pump cars since I have no hands-on experience with the tandem pumps.

Chevron "Renewable B20":
Tank filled a couple times with just this fuel. After running a long stretch, fully up to temp, I cannot place the palm of my hand on the top of the IP for even a full second it's so damned hot.

No-name independent station "Diesel B5":
The owner let me look at her invoice, and I confirmed this was Diesel #2. The color was right also.
Tank filled a couple times with just this fuel. After running a long stretch, fully up to temp, the top cover of the IP is nice and warm. A comfortable warm. The kind of warm you'd want in a hand warmer after being stuck in sub-freezing temps for hours.

Also anecdotal: I got over 100 miles more distance out of the Diesel B5 fuel than the "Renewable B20".
Better lubricity. Better FE. Better low-end grunt. I'm sold. "F" Renewable.

That's biodiesel, completely different stuff with a different refining process. This thread is about "R99".

 

[STDOUBT]

That's biodiesel, completely different stuff with a different refining process. This thread is about "R99".

Regardless, R99 will have even less lubricity than "Renewable B20" (R99 with 20% Bio).
Sorry if you think this is off-topic, but it's clear to me my point stands, and is of possible benefit to the readers.

 

[coolusername]

Regardless, R99 will have even less lubricity than "Renewable B20" (R99 with 20% Bio).
Sorry if you think this is off-topic, but it's clear to me my point stands, and is of possible benefit to the readers.

Uhhh, no? That's not how any of this works. "Renewable B20" and "R99" are different liquids. It's not about the mix, "Renewable B20" has almost no relation to real R99. The refining process is different, R99 uses hydrotreating compared to conventional biodiesel. As a result, lubricity will also be different.

Your point doesn't stand, and it betrays a lack of information of the chemicals and the processes involved.

 

[STDOUBT]

I sit corrected. That's what I get for using an AI for research I guess.
Now I'm wondering why a lower-lubricity fuel keeps my injection pump so much cooler.
100% confused now, but I do appreciate the correction. Back to the think tank for me.