Can You Run HVO or Renewable Diesel in a TruckMaster?

Short answer: yes. The TruckMaster range was designed with both conventional diesel and HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) in mind, and the polyethylene tank and standard dispensing kit handle renewable diesel without modification. But "renewable diesel" covers a few different fuels, and they don't all behave the same in storage — so it's worth knowing what you're putting in.

HVO / renewable diesel — the easy one

HVO (also sold as renewable diesel or "R" grades) is made by hydrotreating fats and oils into a paraffinic fuel that's chemically very close to regular diesel. For storage and dispensing that's good news:

• It's a drop-in fuel — no tank or pump changes, and it mixes with regular diesel.
• It's hydrophobic and clean-burning, so it holds up well in storage and resists the water-and-microbial problems that plague some fuels.
• It has a long storage life, which suits a tank that might sit part-full between jobs.

For a portable on-site tank, HVO is about as well-behaved as a fuel gets.

Biodiesel (FAME) blends — handle with a bit more care

Biodiesel made by transesterification — FAME, sold in blends like B5, B20 and higher — is a different animal from HVO. It works in a TruckMaster, but the higher the blend, the more attention storage needs:

• It attracts water and is more prone to microbial growth ("diesel bug") in a part-full tank.
• It can soften certain elastomer seals over time; higher blends are harder on older fittings.
• It has a shorter storage life and can start to degrade if left for many months.

None of this rules it out — plenty of operators run B20 happily — but if you're storing high-FAME blends, keep tanks fuller, watch for water, and use the fuel rather than letting it sit for a season.

Whatever you store, good housekeeping wins

The fuel matters less than the habits around it:

• Keep the tank reasonably full to limit the headspace where condensation forms.
• Keep the lid locked and sealed so water and dirt stay out.
• Check for water at the bottom periodically and drain it if present — water is what feeds microbial growth.
• Inspect and clean the mesh filter on the suction line; renewable fuels can loosen old deposits in a previously diesel-only tank when you first switch.
• Turn fuel over rather than long-term storing it, especially with FAME blends.

Switching an existing tank to HVO

If you've been running regular diesel and want to switch to HVO, the change itself is simple — they're miscible, so you can top up straight over. Just be aware that the cleaner fuel can lift settled sediment and water from a tank's bottom on the first few fills, so check your filter after the changeover.

In short

• HVO / renewable diesel: drop-in, clean, long-lived — ideal for a TruckMaster.
• Biodiesel / FAME blends: fine to use, but store fuller, keep water out, and don't let it sit.

Always check the fuel and equipment manufacturer's guidance for the grades you intend to use. Questions about a specific fuel for your operation? Get in touch.