B5-Biodiesel is now available in Victoria at our newly expanded IslandPass Commercial Cardlock at 2515 Rockbay Avenue. For access, please contact us at 1-877-500-FUEL

Island Pass Commercial Cardlock is a wholesale service of Columbia Fuels that provides 24 hour access to commercial fleets for their fuelling needs.

At Columbia Fuels we are taking positive steps towards helping the environment, that is why we now offer BIODIESEL for diesel vehicles at our Victoria Island Pass location.

This is a cleaner burning alternative to fossil fuels produced from renewable resources such as vegetable oils and fats. It is non-toxic, biodegradable and virtually free of sulphur and aromatics.

We use a B5 blend which consists of 5% biodiesel and 95% petroleum diesel. This fuel can be used in any diesel engine and is comparable in price to that of regular diesel fuel.

FAQ

What is Biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a cleaner burning alternative to fossil fuels produced from domestic renewable resources such as vegetable oils and fats which meets the specifications of ASTM D6751. It is a methyl ester which contains no petroleum, but can be blended in any amount with petroleum diesel or used at 100% concentration. Biodiesel is non-toxic, biodegradable and virtually free of sulphur and aromatics.

What is B5 biodiesel?
B5 biodiesel is a fuel blend of 5% biodiesel and 95% petroleum diesel. B5 is the only blend that is currently approved by North American engine manufacturers to meet the CGSB-3.520 specification.

Can I use biodiesel in my existing diesel engine?
Fuel system modifications are not required to use biodiesel. It will operate in almost any diesel engine. Biodiesel is also more lubricating than petroleum diesel which may even increase the life of your engine.

Columbia Fuels sells blends lower than B20, and so our biodiesel blends are compatible with all vehicles. Vehicles made before 1992 may need to have some gaskets and hoses replaced if using a biodiesel blend higher than 20% (B20). These higher concentrations of biodiesel can begin to degrade the rubber in older vehicles.

Will biodiesel affect the performance of my vehicle?
Engines powered with biodiesel have shown similar torque, horsepower and fuel efficiency as petroleum diesel powered engines. You may even notice that your vehicle idles and accelerates more smoothly. Biodiesel has a higher cetane reading that can improve the starting ability of your vehicle and reduce smoke.

Where does the oil used to make biodiesel come from?
In North America, virgin soybean and canola oils are the most common sources for biodiesel. Other sources may include recycled bio-oils collected from the food service and fish and meat processing industries . This provides an economic benefit to many local communities and decreases our dependence on fossil fuels.

How is biodiesel made?
Biodiesel is produced through the process of transesterification. This involves the mixing of methanol and sodium hydroxide to form an alcohol called methoxide. This product is then mixed with triglycerides (oils and fats) to create a methyl ester and glycerine. The glycerine is then removed from the vegetable oil to make it less viscous – similar to petro-diesel.

Does biodiesel cost more?
No. You will pay approximately the same for biodiesel as you do for petroleum diesel.

How is biodiesel beneficial for the environment?
Biodiesel has the ability to significantly reduce the overall emissions of your vehicle. There is a dramatic drop in many of the emissions from petroleum diesel such as carbon dioxide, unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, sulphur and particulate matter, many of which are a cause of climate change, cancer and respiratory disease.

Although there may be a slight increase in nitrogen oxide emissions, the overall benefit far outweighs this negative impact. The carbon released in the combustion of biodiesel is already present in our living environment so that excess carbon that is stored within the earth is not released into the atmosphere.

Pure biodiesel does not contain any fossil fuels, in turn easing our dependence on this increasingly limited resource.

Why use a biodiesel blend?
Aside from the environmental advantage and economic benefits to the North American agricultural industry, biodiesel will operate in any diesel engine without modification and, Columbia Fuels will deliver any biodiesel blend you like to wherever you are.

With all of these advantages of biodiesel, at no cost, why wouldn't you choose Columbia Fuels Biodiesel!?