I think I'm finally ready to try bio diesel in my JTD130. I've bought 2 x 3L tesco veg oil bottles (rape seed oil). I took out enough to fry my eggs and topped up with approx 150 ml of white spirit (ie 5%) in each bottle. That was two weeks ago.
My Marea has the Bosch fuel pump.
My tank is half full of diesel. I intend to add the 6 litres of veg oil and then fill the tank to the top with diesel.
Before I do is there anything I'm doing wrong? Any comments would be very appreciated.

Rustymini said:

Before I do is there anything I'm doing wrong? Any comments would be very appreciated.

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Hi Rustymini, There are a few threads scattered about the forum on veg oil, lots of info there ( and enthusiasm).
Personally I wouldnt risk it. High chance of pump/ injector damage, as well as filter plugging with the cold weather approaching.

Damage could run to several thousands re the high pressure pump and injectors.

That just my opinion though and I wish you well with the experiment.

Regards

I may already have used bio diesel. I drove 2000 miles in France this summer and 1400 miles last. I'm told that diesel sold in France is 5% veg oil. I don't know how true that is - or if it extends to the supermarket diesel that I used (Super U and Intermarche).
Certainly I get much better performance in France than here in the UK. Better performance and economy - although that could just be because the roads are so much better there. (and diesels 30p a litre cheaper - don't get me started on that one).

Diesel in the UK is part bio too

If you saw the amount of glycerine(soap) that comes out of veg oil when its made into biodiesel you wouldnt want to be putting it into a JTD or you will in my opinion be looking for trouble the 5% of bio in diesel is processed but at the end of the day its your car you can do what you want.

Decided not to use the bio-diesel. I've just bought a Doblo so as I'll be selling the Marea soon I thought it wouldn't be fair on the new owner. The Doblo is still under warranty so I won't think about using it in that at least until after thats expired.

Good on you! You have nothing to fear, if you've read any of my posts about vegetable oil, you'll see I've been your guinea pig.

You aren't using bio diesel, but SVO - straight veg oil. Bio diesel is a time and energy consuming spirit (therefore less green) cracked from svo using petrochemicals (methanol).

Don't listen to the guy talking about glycerides, he's a typical tow the line nay-sayer, who'll be using it too when it comes out of a pump and all the other sheep say its ok for him. ****, that sounded a bit confrontational, didn't mean it to, just so many people assume that if the government or authorities don't endorse something, then it must be bad. How little fun we'd have if that were true!

DO read my posts though. 10k miles on 70%svo so far. If you go 50/50 you'll play it safe in the cold. The white spirit is pointless, just make sure there's some diesel already in there. The government's 5% directive is a **** take token gesture, and may as well not be bothered with, when land management gets up to speed, huge amouts of diesels will run on svo.

You'll need a tank and line heater for 100% svo, something I'll be working on over the winter. This is the real solution, as at over 40 degrees C, the veg oil is almost as runny as diesel. The only difficulties without a heater and over 70% mixes is the tank's lift pump strains and will wear more, and the gloopier juice emulsifies less easily in your pressurised common rail, so starting takes a few turns.

Also, you create a lot of plastic waste buying it in 3 litre bottles - go to a booker cash and carry or any big asian cash and carry and you'll find 20 litre cans for 11 quid, easily recycled. Makro less cheap. KTC, Wesson etc are brands.

Put a rag on the roof, can on that, syphon with hose into tank.


Good o'.