Hi all, after 8 years and 152K miles my trusty Fiorino has finally had to be de-comissioned. It's been getting harder and harder to MOT old faithful and i decided this year there wasn't much point in trying. That and the clutch is on it's way out...

So now i am the proud owner of a 2002 51plated Doblo SX and i have a question which i'm sure has been done to DEATH, but better safe than sorry i reckon.

It's the 1910cc Diesel (JTD? i aint turbo'd anyway!) and i was wondering if i can run it on Bio-diesel. I know it has been done to death but i have concerns after reading about the price of a fuel pump should it expire!! I happily ran the Fiorino on cooking oil and later genuine Bio-diesel from a local indepedent who specialise exclusively in bio-fuel without ANY problems except the usual filter change.

Is my van old enough to be able to run it without raping my fuel pump?

My next question concerns the fuel gauge... The orange light came on when the needle was still a good way off Empty, how reliable is the needle compared to the light?

Running out of fuel in the Fiorino was never a problem because a few turns of the key and it was off again after a refuel, is it as simple in the Doblo?

Again sorry if this has been done to death!

Any input appreciated

Hi,
I keep quoting this website but according to biodieselfillingstations, all Diesels made up to 2004 are fine on a mix of at least 50% bio and probably 100% on rapeseed oil.

I've never ran mine out of fuel but I reckon there's plenty left when the light comes on, exactly how much I don't know though.
The Doblo Diesel is self priming if you run out .

This fuel capacity is of current interest to me. I'm running mine lower each fill-up so I can get the full range out of each tank. This time I managed to get 55L in - I think the tank is 60L. The light had been on for about 40 miles and the 'range' on the computer was showing "-----" most of the time. The fuel gauge was about 1/2 way through the 'red'.

There are so many of warning lights and beeps etc that I'll probably fill it as soon as the light comes on once I've completed my exercise.

Out of interest, I just managed 500 miles on the 55L = 41.3mpg. Computer was showing 44.2. This is still a little disappointing for me (as my foot is getting lighter and lighter), but it seems to be edging-up slightly as the miles grow (still only 2000).

I've often wondered about the capacity of the tank as my light comes on at about 350 milesd & I generally run it to approx 400 miles (all town stuff) then when I fill up it always takes around 10 - 11gallons (45 - 50 litres) depending on how far over the 400 I go.

Anyway, a while back I happened to be channel hopping & noticed a programme where they were showing how fuel tanks are made.
(worldwide, 60,000 tanks made each year for new cars alone )

The tanks are designed to hold 10% less fuel than their capacity to allow for a head of fumes above the liquid.
Also, the low fuel warning light is designed to come on when the level drops to within 1 - 2 gallons of empty (dependant upon the make of car).

approx 8 litres of reserved fuel left when light came on

yes, once i managed to drive till tank empty .. :bang:

Well i've had the Doblo for a mere 3 days and doubt is already cast!

It was a bloody pig to start tonight (i'm prepared to put this down to glowplugs on their way out and/or the fact that it was bloody cold tonight) and to cap that off it cut out on me and would not start again!! My trusty Fiorino would cut out on steep hills if i let the tank get low enough (i live on the pennines and i have to get up some pretty hardcore hills to get home) but tonight the Doblo did the same not as far up the same hill and after the orange light had only been showing for about 4 miles. Anyone else had this problem in hilly areas after so little distance covered on an orange light?

Managed to slowly limp it back down the hill (BACKWARDS!) with no brakes, no PAS (not a problem after the Fiorino...) and most importantly no lights down through blind bends. After i got it on the flat it started and wouldn't tick over for a bit, then i went round the long way round (less steep) and it got me home and ticked over. Basically if it was as simple as fuel starvation from the gradient of the hill, I gotta say it's poorly designed!

I quite often drive with the orange light on for about 10 miles and I've not had this problem. There are a few steepish hills in our area too (we live at the foot of the Mendips).

RichDoblo120 said:

I quite often drive with the orange light on for about 10 miles and I've not had this problem. There are a few steepish hills in our area too (we live at the foot of the Mendips).

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I drove down to the fuel station today without any hassle, i reckon on the flat i might get 10-12 miles from orange. The hill in question is about 1:3 and one of the steepest hills in Yorkshire (including Robin Hood's Bay etc). Moral of the story? do what everyone else does and fill up before it gets that far

I've also detected a diesel leak either from the injector seals or from the spill off pipes, since to do either you have to take the silly plastic cover off with the anti-tamper bolts, it's in tomorrow morning at the local diesel specialists.

I sincerely hope this is merely a poor start to an otherwise reliable motor.

Light came on yesterday, 360 miles. The needle isn't even touching the red area yet.