How are warranties responding to biodiesel usage?
As the industry matures, more original engine manufacturers (OEMs) are making positive statements on 100% Biodiesel (B100). These include John Deere, Caterpillar, and New Holland, all of whom explicitly warrant the use of B100 in their engines. Some OEMs are taking a more cautious approach, explicitly warranting blends like B20 or B5, while others say, “We neither support nor oppose . . .” Volkswagen and Mercedes sell cars with diesel engines in the United States. There is no problem with warranty issues in Europe; however, here in America they do not support the biodiesel industry. The thing to remember is that the ASTM biodiesel will not hurt any existing diesel engine. If an OEM, such as Volkswagen, wants to deny a warranty based on biodiesel use, legally, they have to show that biodiesel hurt the engine. This is a very compelling reason to use ASTM fuel, especially, in new vehicles.
