And you thought it was another "can i run on..." thread

I finally set aside my paranoia about the doblo's alleged weak fuel pump and took on my first 10 litres of Bio-Diesel yesterday.

I get it from an independent manufacturer based in my home town and my trusty old Fiorino (no, i won't let it die!) ran on it for thousands of miles without a hitch.

So far so good, no fuel pump light, no lumpy tickover etc.... Smells better, runs smoother and genuinely does pull a little better. Ok it isn't suddenly turbo'd but it definitely orcks itself uphills with a little less wheeze and a little more grunt.

I'll keep this thread updated with my progress if anyone is still interested, that way we'll know for sure if these things can run consistantly on Bio.

I'll get a few fuel filters in stock then.....

october_rusticle said:

I'll keep this thread updated with my progress if anyone is still interested, that way we'll know for sure if these things can run consistantly on Bio.

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yeah, nice one
which model is yours again?

Hi all
Well I`ve been running our 1.3 05 doblo on the Morrison's B30 mix bio diesel and she is running fine, seems smoother when running on the stuff and seems to pull better, I a`m thinking of using 100% bio but will probably mix it 50% with normal diesel, we have an independent who is processing the chip fat into fuel using the normal methods and selling at 1.00 a litre, will keep you posted

Careful. I read in The Times a few days ago that bacteria can grow in bio-diesel and clog up the injectors. Particularly from garages with slow turnover where the fuel has time to 'mature'.
2.5% bio is mandatory in the EU now, and apparently problems are arising.
Just info...

Cheers for that ulpian, will bear that in mind!

RichDoblo120 said:

yeah, nice one
which model is yours again?

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It's the 1.9JTD. 51 plate.

october_rusticle said:

It's the 1.9JTD. 51 plate.

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cheers, keep us posted

Ulpian said:

2.5% bio is mandatory in the EU now, and apparently problems are arising.

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I heard this too, which means when we go to France we're running on part bio.
As the UK is part of the EU, does this mean our garages will have to start selling the same mix? If they do, does that mean prices will fall? Or maybe pigs will fly.

RichDoblo120 said:

I heard this too, which means when we go to France we're running on part bio.
As the UK is part of the EU, does this mean our garages will have to start selling the same mix? If they do, does that mean prices will fall? Or maybe pigs will fly.

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more than likely the cost will go up as its a "green thing"
i've been running my punto 1.9 jtd on bio for a over a year no problem, only changed the fuel filter as a precaution

toad101 said:

more than likely the cost will go up as its a "green thing"
i've been running my punto 1.9 jtd on bio for a over a year no problem, only changed the fuel filter as a precaution

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Hi toad 101
What mix of bio are you running on 100% mix or less cheers

maisie the ugly bug said:

Hi toad 101
What mix of bio are you running on 100% mix or less cheers

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i've tried 100% but mpg and power dropped a little, upto 90% and no difference even in winter

RichDoblo120 said:

cheers, keep us posted



I heard this too, which means when we go to France we're running on part bio.
As the UK is part of the EU, does this mean our garages will have to start selling the same mix? If they do, does that mean prices will fall? Or maybe pigs will fly.

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Tesco offer a 5% mix at some stations. When I enquired last year, their bio mix was 1p/litre dearer - so that's 95% diesel @ £1.25/litre, add 5% value cooking oil @ 25p/litre and despite saving cash on the last 5%, they have the cheek to up the price.

Right, i'm about 3 tanks into the new regime!

No problems to speak of so far. Only slight issues are it smokes like f*** from cold, but its not horrible black smoke its a hazy white smoke which clears immediately after the first fire. Also it can be slightly lumpy on tickover for a minute after first starting which clears once warm.

Occasionally it will feel like it's nearly missing but not quite, but i think this is a sign that the fuel filter will be due it's first replacement soon.

So far so good!! a remedy for the minor issues i mentioned would be to mix Bio with Dick Turpin at about 75% in favour of Bio, but i think i'll carry on at 100% because i'm not overly bothered about a bit of lumpy running from cold

Recently swapped to greenstar reclaimed oil. Less smoke and mpg seems unaffected. No smell at all. Feels 'softer' with not quite as much pull in higher gears. Overall very pleased.
My only worry is about fuel filters, there seems to be 100 different stories!

Hello,

I used to run a 2000 plate Corsa on 100% bio and even in winter it started first time everytime!

I now have a 03 plate 1.9JTD Doblo and wondered if this would also run on it? I have heard that commonrail engines don't do so well on the stuff BUT they run a Stilo on it so it must be possible.

I saw a post about a 51 plate and just wondered if that was not commonrail? The contact I have makes loads of the stuff to order and it's tested by Sevalco and passes all the time so it's good quality stuff.

Thanks

Pete

I've run my Stilo on 100% Bio-Diesel for hundreds of miles without any problems at all.

I've heard that it'll be around -8 on Thursday night. Will running at 100% cause some problems in that case?

Bio-Diesel produced from Canola seed (RME) starts to gel at approximately −10 °C (14 °F).
Biodiesel produced from Tallow tends to gel at around +16 °C (61 °F).

So what your Bio-Diesel is made from will dictate the temp at which it gels. If your not sure, play safe and add 10% Dino-Diesel.

Good info! I don't run it myself but thought it worth raising, given the current forecast.

Shadeyman said:

I've run my Stilo on 100% Bio-Diesel for hundreds of miles without any problems at all.

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is yours newer than mine or the same? and I also assume your Stilo is common rail? Which I also believe mine will be?

I just don't want to stuff it up!. Although it's quality fuel and made well I used to run it in a £400 99 plate!. I don't want to stuff up this new car it was £1600 and has only done 89k!

AND I love it!

pcoventry said:

is yours newer than mine or the same? and I also assume your Stilo is common rail? Which I also believe mine will be?

I just don't want to stuff it up!. Although it's quality fuel and made well I used to run it in a £400 99 plate!. I don't want to stuff up this new car it was £1600 and has only done 89k!

AND I love it!

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Yours is a 2003, my Stilo is 2005. My previous Stilo was 2002, I also run 100% Bio-Diesel in that with no problems.

I buy professionally produced Bio-Diesel(conforms to EN14214), don't would't trust the stuff produced by anyone else because it varies in quality to much. Professionally produced Bio-Diesel has to conform to strict EU guidelines and is safe to use in most cars 2000 onwards.