GMC duramax diesel 2016 Supplement Manual page 51

50 Driving and Operating
fuel, purchase biodiesel blends
from a BQ-9000 certified
marketer. See www.bq-9000.org
for a list of certified marketers.
As a renewable fuel, biodiesel
provides some environmental
benefits. However, biodiesel has
unique properties and needs to be
handled differently than diesel fuel.
Its use presents additional risks and
may not be appropriate in all
situations. Certain vehicle operating
modes increase these risks and
should be avoided. Read further to
determine if your driving habits are
compatible with the use of biodiesel.
Biodiesel fuel quality degrades
with time and exposure to high
temperature quicker than Ultra
Low Sulfur Diesel fuel. More
frequent refueling provides the
best opportunity to have a
supply of fresh fuel. Storage at
hot ambient temperatures will
accelerate biodiesel
degradation.
Owners who use very little fuel,
or who have vehicles stored for
extended periods of time, should
avoid the use of biodiesel
blended fuels above 5% by
volume. When vehicles are
stored for longer than one
month, they should be run out of
biodiesel to below one-quarter
tank, refueled with Ultra Low
Sulfur Diesel fuel, and driven
several miles before storage.
At temperatures below 32 °F (0 °
C), it is recommended to switch
to Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel
with no biodiesel content, or to
blends with biodiesel containing
less than 5% by volume. At
these extreme cold
temperatures, biodiesel blends
higher than 5% by volume may
cause fuel filter plugging and
system gelling, which can lead
to vehicle operability problems.
Fuels improperly blended for
cold temperature operation may
result in restricted fuel filters and
degraded vehicle performance.
The vehicle is equipped with a
fuel heating system to provide a
level of protection against filter
plugging from gelling or waxing
of conventional diesel fuel and
biodiesel blends. If the operating
temperature is far below the
temperature at which gelling or
waxing of the fuel occurs, the
system will not prevent all cases
of filter plugging.
Vehicles operated for extended
periods of time on Ultra Low
Sulfur Diesel fuel and then
switched to biodiesel blends
may experience premature fuel
filter clogging and require more
frequent fuel filter service.
With long-term use of Ultra Low
Sulfur Diesel fuel, gum and
varnish may be deposited within
the tank and fuel system. These
deposits, while not problematic
with the use of Ultra Low Sulfur
Diesel fuel, may become
loosened with a sudden switch
to biodiesel blends and cause
fuel filter plugging.
If the vehicle experiences a fuel
filter restriction, the on-board
monitoring system will alert the
driver that the fuel filter requires