"I Blew Up My 2008 F350 On Biodiesel"

A biodiesel user who is part of the San Francisco Biofuels group recently blew up his truck, a brand-new Ford F350. It's quite a story, and he's given AutoblogGreen permission to relay his tale to our readers, who I think will enjoy this heartbreaker. Here's Peterson in his own words:

"I supposedly blew up my brand new $55k truck, with just 200 miles on it, running B99. I say supposedly, because I can't believe it was a fuel problem-but Ford is sticking me with $17k bill for a new engine (major labor required to remove cab etc..). They tested the fuel at two labs and said I violated the warranty (which says no more than B5). I am meeting with the engineer that was flown out from Dearborn to examine the problem today, so I hope to get some technical background on this. ... I have been running B99 in my other cars for 2 years. I'm a farm kid, and fairly comfortable around machinery, and have never had any problems with them. To my understanding, biodiesel has a higher flash point and I can't understand how one blows up an engine on a vegetable-based fuel. Ford markets the ultra-low-sulfur engine as the cleanest in the industry. I ran B100 in my 2004 F25- for 2 years-a similar, high performance PowerStroke."


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budfrogS4 - 5/8/2007 8:51:42 AM

+1 Boost

009-

Do you have something against biodiesel? Why didn't you post the whole article? Those first two paragraphs of the article make it seem like it was biodiesel's fault for blowing up the engine when it was actually a problem with the injectors that forced Ford to declare a major recall.

t_bone - 5/8/2007 9:22:23 AM

+4 Boost

People actually spend $55K on a PICKUP TRUCK?

jeffy210 - 5/8/2007 10:04:43 AM

+1 Boost

Here in Texas that's quite common. And we're not talking your Lincoln Mark LT, we're talking one-ton pickups, usually quad cab dualies. Couple that with a big diesel and you're in the $55K territory no problem.

SilverAero - 5/8/2007 1:12:44 PM

0 Boost

I know, i guess there is not accounting for taste

EnnNorak - 5/8/2007 11:39:23 AM

+2 Boost

I hope you keep us posted regarding the final outcome of your negotiations with Ford. I gave up on Ford products several years ago after Ford let me down on warranty issues having to do with rust and bad paint.

DallasMR2 - 5/8/2007 4:24:48 PM

+1 Boost

i think i smell BS. why would his "brand new" truck with 200 miles on it need a fuel up? when you puchase a new car, a full tank of gas is included. i know they get horrible milege and all, but really? 200 miles? they have HUGE tanks that can typically go 300-400 miles on it before needing a refill.

i mean, correct me if i'm wrong but that doesn't sound right.

txbdyguard - 5/8/2007 10:00:54 PM

+1 Boost

Dallas I agree with you its normal to have a vehicle sold with a full tank unless the dealers have gotten so tight To send it out with enough to get you to the nearest pump. Especially when you pay mucho Gs. I have an 06' Dodge that cost me $45k. Its nothing real spectacular, 3/4 ton, 6spd, Quad, 2 wheel and a CUMMINS.

As far as mfg side tracking their warranties I have heard Dodge is rejecting warranties for people chipping their trucks among other things.

But if Ford has a recall for their new injectors I would stay after them till they pay for that engine or tell them they can keep it.

Mark - 5/9/2007 12:41:02 PM

+1 Boost

I could point out by quoting the person that the article came from...."They tested the fuel at two labs and said I violated the warranty (which says no more than B5)."

He voided the warranty. Plain and simple. It doesn't matter if you've done it before and it worked and you haven't had any problems. And it doesn't matter if B99, B100, B1000 works in other cars. You voided the warranty then and you did it again. So Ford is going to buy him a new truck. He got lucky. Any other manufactuer COULD have said, nope, it's all yours to fix.

EnnNorak - 5/9/2007 2:50:57 PM

+1 Boost

Too bad Ford does not have the financial wherewithal to acquire an oil distribution company. That way, by using Ford fuel exclusively, one gives total systems responsibility to Ford and there can not be any warranty disputes regarding the use of wrong fuel.