Is Biodiesel harmful to rubber hoses and seals?
All Biodiesel will have a deteriorating effect on rubber due to the methanol it contains. The rubber parts that might be affected include filler hoses connecting the fuel tank to the fill nozzle port; fuel lines between the fuel tank, fuel filter and injection pump; rubber seals in fuel filters; and parts inside the fuel injectors and fuel pump. Most diesel vehicles and engines sold in Europe come equipped with fluroelastomer hoses and seals. This material is resistant to deterioration from Biodiesel. Viton, made by DuPont, is one brand of fluroelastomer, but any synthetic material which is resistant to methanol, ethanol and oxygenated fuels can be used to replace rubber parts with.
