Short answer: Every diesel engine is approved for B5, which is sold unlabeled as ordinary diesel. B20 is approved in all Ford Power Stroke 6.7L trucks (2011+), GM Duramax trucks from 2011 on, Ram Cummins 6.7L trucks from 2013 on, and most heavy-duty engines built since 2007. Older trucks from the Big Three, and nearly all European diesel cars and vans sold in the U.S. (VW, Audi, Mercedes, BMW), are limited to B5. B100 is not approved in any current light-duty diesel.
Always confirm in the fuel section of your owner's manual — it is the document your warranty is written against.
Pickups, SUVs and vans
| Engine | Model years | Max approved blend | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford 6.7L Power Stroke (Super Duty) | 2011–present | B20 | Designed for B20 from launch. Ford says not to store B20 in the tank more than a month. |
| Ford 3.0L Power Stroke (F-150) | 2018–2021 | B20 | |
| Ford 3.2L Power Stroke (Transit) | 2015–2019 | B20 | |
| Ford 6.0L / 6.4L Power Stroke | 2003–2010 | B5 | Ford did not approve above B5 on these engines. |
| Ford 7.3L Power Stroke | 1994–2003 | B5 | Many owners run B20+, but it predates Ford's approval. |
| GM 6.6L Duramax LML / L5P (Silverado, Sierra HD) | 2011–present | B20 | |
| GM 6.6L Duramax LB7 through LMM | 2001–2010 | B5 | A B20 fleet option existed on some LMM trucks. |
| GM 3.0L Duramax (1500 trucks, Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon, Escalade) | 2020–present | B20 | |
| GM 2.8L Duramax (Colorado, Canyon) | 2016–2022 | B20 | |
| Ram 6.7L Cummins (2500/3500, chassis cab) | 2013–present | B20 | Follow the shorter oil and filter intervals in the manual if you run B20 regularly. |
| Ram 6.7L Cummins | 2007.5–2012 | B5 (retail) | B20 was approved only for fleet trucks ordered with the extra-filtration package. |
| Dodge Ram 5.9L Cummins | 1989–2007 | B5 | |
| Ram 1500 / Jeep 3.0L EcoDiesel (Gen 3) | 2020–2023 | B20 | |
| Ram 1500 / Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0L EcoDiesel (Gen 1–2) | 2014–2019 | B5 | |
| Nissan Titan XD 5.0L Cummins | 2016–2019 | B20 | |
| Mercedes-Benz / Freightliner Sprinter | All U.S. years | B5 | Mercedes limits U.S. diesels to B5. |
Compiled from manufacturer owner's manuals and fuel statements, and the Clean Fuels Alliance America OEM support summary. Approvals assume fuel meeting ASTM D7467 (B6–B20). Manufacturers revise these positions; your own manual wins any disagreement with this table. Reviewed September 20, 2026.
Diesel cars
| Make | Max approved blend | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen / Audi TDI (all U.S. years) | B5 | VW of America approves B5. Common-rail TDIs (2009+) dilute engine oil with fuel during DPF regeneration, and biodiesel makes that worse — the main technical reason for the limit. |
| Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC | B5 | |
| BMW diesel (335d, 328d, X5d) | B5 | |
| Chevrolet Cruze Diesel, Equinox/Terrain 1.6L | B20 | GM approved B20 across its U.S. diesel cars. |
| Jeep Liberty CRD (2005–2006) | B5 | Shipped from the factory filled with B5. |
| Mercedes diesels before ~1995 (W123, W124, W126) | Not rated | The classic B100 and veggie-oil conversion cars. Out of warranty for decades; rubber fuel lines should be replaced with Viton. |
Heavy-duty and farm equipment
Most on-highway engine makers approved B20 for engines built to the 2007 and later EPA standards. Cummins approves B20 in its on-highway ISB, ISL, ISM, ISX and X-series engines built since 2007 (Service Bulletin 3379001). Volvo/Mack, PACCAR (MX engines), Navistar/International and Caterpillar publish B20 approvals for most current engines. Detroit Diesel has been more conservative, with B5 as the general approval and higher blends by engine family. In agriculture, John Deere, Case IH and New Holland approve B20 across current lines, and several approve B100 in older, pre-Tier 4 engines; Kubota limits many common-rail engines to B5–B20 with conditions. For any of these, the dealer can pull the fuel bulletin for your serial number, and that's the document to rely on.
What about my warranty?
Two things are true at once:
- A manufacturer can't void your warranty just because you used biodiesel. Engine warranties cover defects in materials and workmanship. Under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a warrantor generally has to show that the fuel actually caused the failure before denying a claim on that basis.
- No engine warranty covers damage caused by fuel. That's true of bad petroleum diesel too. If a failure is traced to fuel that's above the approved blend or out of spec, the repair is on you (or on the fuel supplier).
So the practical rule is simple: stay at or below the blend in your manual, buy from a retail pump (labeled B20 has to meet ASTM D7467), and keep receipts for a while after switching. If you buy B99/B100 or bulk fuel, ask whether the producer is BQ-9000 accredited, the industry's quality program.
Switching to B20: what to do
- Check the manual for the approved blend and any changed service intervals. Some manufacturers shorten oil-change intervals with regular B20 use, because more fuel ends up in the oil during DPF regeneration.
- Carry a spare fuel filter for the first few tanks. Biodiesel loosens old deposits, and the filter catches them. Cummins calls for the first two filter changes at half the normal interval.
- Just fill up. B20 and diesel mix completely. You can alternate between them freely; there's no need to run the tank down first.
- Watch the water separator a little more often, and keep the tank reasonably full if the truck sits.
- In winter, buy from a busy retail station. Cold-state retailers drop to a winter blend automatically.
When not to use B20
- Your manual says B5, and the truck is still under powertrain or emissions warranty.
- The vehicle sits for months at a time (RVs, generators, seasonal equipment). Store it on regular diesel.
- A 2007–2010 truck with a history of DPF or oil-dilution problems.
- Homemade or unlabeled fuel of unknown quality. Most biodiesel horror stories start here, not at a retail pump.
FAQ
Can I put biodiesel in any diesel truck?
Any diesel can run B5, which is already in most regular diesel. B20 is approved in Ford 6.7L Power Stroke trucks from 2011, GM Duramax trucks from 2011, and Ram 6.7L Cummins trucks from 2013. Older trucks from those brands and most European diesels are limited to B5 by the manufacturer.
What OEMs allow B20 biodiesel blend?
Ford, GM and Ram approve B20 in their current diesel pickups. Among heavy-duty engine makers, Cummins, Volvo/Mack, PACCAR, Navistar and Caterpillar approve B20 on most engines built since 2007, and John Deere, Case IH and New Holland approve it across current farm equipment. Volkswagen, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and BMW limit U.S. diesels to B5.
Will B20 void my warranty?
Using B20 does not by itself void a warranty, but no warranty covers damage caused by fuel. If your manual approves B20 and you buy fuel meeting ASTM D7467, you are within the manufacturer's terms. If your manual says B5, running B20 gives the manufacturer grounds to deny a fuel-related claim.
Can I switch back and forth between biodiesel and regular diesel?
Yes. Biodiesel blends and petroleum diesel mix completely, and you can alternate between them at any fill-up.
Can a 7.3 or 6.0 Power Stroke run biodiesel?
Ford's official approval for the 7.3L, 6.0L and 6.4L Power Stroke is B5. Many owners of 7.3L trucks run B20 or higher without trouble, since these engines predate particulate filters, but it is outside Ford's approval, and older rubber fuel lines may need replacing.