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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Target shooting sparks fire at Jackson County Sports Park ... Even low temperatures are breaking heat records in Southern Oregon ... Our View: Sizzling heat, blazing fireworks coincide this year ... Target shooting sparks fire at Jackson County Sports Park ... Even low temperatures are breaking heat records in Southern Oregon ... Our View: Sizzling heat, blazing fireworks coincide this year ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: Biodiesel blends above 5 percent must be labeled Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Nov. 22, 2014 at 12:01 AM Posted Nov. 22, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Social News I was wondering what the rules are for labeling the total content of biodiesel in the diesel fuel being pumped at a given station. I am told that most diesel being sold today contains biodiesel. I am also told that the vendor does not have to disclose if or how much biodiesel is being added. — Jeff, White City    Putting large concentrations of a non-petroleum based fuel in a diesel engine that wasn't engineered for it can indeed cause problems, particularly for fuel filters and rubber hoses in vehicles made before 1993. Thankfully, your station isn't "fueling around." To straighten out what you may have heard, a vendor does have to disclose biodiesel content for any diesel fuel blend greater than five percent — the Oregon Department of Agriculture's Weights and Measures division says so. The division oversees how fuels are sold in our state, and oversees fueling station regulations including the signs at the gas station that advertise fuel prices. In the case of your query, the division ensures that biodiesel fuel blends are clearly labeled at the pump. According to information about biodiesel blends on the U.S. Department of Energy site, low-level blends up to five percent biodiesel are approved for use with all diesel engines by the American Society for Testing and Materials, which develops specifications for conventional diesel fuel. That unlabeled five percent grade falls within all manufacturer warranties. Blends are labeled differently if there is between six and 20 percent biodiesel, or if the biodiesel content is greater than 20 percent. Grades greater than B20 are less common, according to the Department of Energy, but pure biodiesel has slightly different characteristics, including a lower energy density and an ability to gel in cold temperatures. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Nov. 22, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501