General Biodiesel Stickers ...

[Shadeyman]

Once again I find myself talking about cars while savouring a few pints of the black stuff(Guinness) in our local pub. As all 4 of us drive diesels that was the main topic of conversation.

A smartly dressed indian fella interrupts our ramblings and gives us all a business card. He sells Biodiesel just half a mile up the road and none of us knew he was even there. He said he'd over heard our conversation(diesel) and would like us to pay him a visit.

After picking up my son from nusery an hour ago I noticed the wife had left our Multiwagon half way down the red again.
So off I went to see what all this Biodiesel fuss was about. After a quick chat I gave him £20 and my fuel gauge now read over half way.

He then sold me this sticker for £2, PM me if you'd like me to send you one(£2).

EDIT.
Car seems a bit quieter apart from that not much difference. Not planning on using biodiesel all the time, not really sure why I brought the sticker. Just thought some of you might want to appear a bit more Eco Friendly ...

 

[RobConn]

How are you finding it? efficiency and mechanical wise. Bio has always been a thought in the back of my mind, but what with some cars not liking it i've always been wary.

 

[Oakley28]

I heard (read) somewhere that Stilo's don't really like BioDiesel. Although someone will come along and correct me I'm sure.

 

[Davren]

I wonder whether anyone's done a long enough trial with it to give reliable results?

 

[Yellow Peril]

I would check with FIAT before using Bio. Several car manufacturers with more modern designs than your JTD forbid its use because of the effect it has on seals and other internal workings of the diesel fuel metering systems.

 

[Shadeyman]

Early cars pre 2000 had some problems with fuel system seals due to cheap rubber compounds being used, its not really a problem after 2000.

Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel designed the diesel engine in 1897. It was designed to run on plant oil.

The companies that have approved 100% biodiesel are VW, Audi, SEAT and Skoda. I'm sure many more will follow suit once pressure from oil companies subsides.

Lets face it, the big oil/petroleum producers don't want you to use Biodiesel even though they have to include 5% of it in normal diesel by law(Road Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) requires that the UK has 5% of biofuels across the nation). I figure most of the stories against the use of Biodiesel are probabely started by them so I decided to find out for myself. Been talking about it with friends for a while but just like some of you I've been to scared to try it till now.

Chemically Biodiesel and normal diesel are very similar. Biodiesel burns a little slower, can result in a little less power than normal diesel. It's also slightly thicker so not ideal for cold climates(-15). That said its easily mixed with normal diesel(60-40) to prevent problems in cold climates.

It burns better producing less polutants.

It also has very good cleaning properties and will clean out any gunk from your fuel system, thats why good Biodiesel suppliers will recommend a new fuel filter after you've done a hundred miles or so.

Just like everything else it has its good and not so good points.

For me its the price. Our Multiwagon costs around £65 to fill with normal diesel. I can fill it with Biodiesel for £42. So I may have to change a fuel seal. My top speed may be a couple of mile an hour slower. BUT I save over £20 on every tank full and the car sounds like new, quiet as a mouse. A lot less smoke from the rear to, with or without the tuning box.

As for reliable results there's plenty of people on here been using it with no problems. Of course there will always be one or two that will blame Biodiesel for their misfortune.

Incase your interested, I pushed the tuning box up to level 5 to make up for any loss of power from using Biodiesel. All good so far, I'll keep you informed.

EDIT
Its interesting to find that a tuning specialist like Angel Tuning have been using and will continue to use Biodiesel.
http://www.angeltuning.co.uk/bio-diesel.asp


:Offtopic: anyone intrested in a sticker?

 

[Hitby]

Shadeyman, how come your biodiesel is so much cheaper? Where do you buy it from?

Thanks

 

[Andymacselespeed]

Back of an Indian restaurant maybe!

 

[udtrev]

Keep some spare filters, bio can drag up the dregs

It should make the car run quieter and smoother

At this time of year run about a 40-50% mixture (unless you have fitted a fuel heater)


Trev

 

[sludgeguts]

I've been dropping veg oil in my 2006 doblo 1.9jtd for best part of 3 years now.
At 1 year old, I was a bit apprehensive about using veg oil but when I could pick up fresh veg oil in tesco for 80p diesel at the pumps was heading to 130 I decided to give it a go. 45 litres diesel, I added 1 litre veg.
The next fill I added 2 litres and so on.
I'm now running on a summer mix - fill with diesel, run 90 miles then add 10 litres used veg oil.
I'm getting 45 to the gallon so reckon 90 miles takes enough out to give room for the veg oil.
As the weather cools I will reduce the ratio to 1 gallon veg oil, then when it's really cold I'll stop adding.

The used veg oil is warmed & filtered to remove the chunky bits.
It's then warmed again and spun through a 1 micron sock filter I then add 3% petrol to thin the oil then leave to stand for a few weeks for anything else to settle (there is something in the bottom but I leave the bottles on the skew so whatever it is settles to the lowest corner & isn't disturbed when I decant).
I pour the oil into a large electric urn to warm it up & I have a spin dryer with a sock filter secured inside.
I am considering going the whole way to making biodiesel but that'll then cut into my cost - I get 90 miles of free motoring every tank. with bio, I'll have to start buying caustic soda and methanol (is it any wonder this stuff rots the seals???
As it is, almost 3 years of using veg oil blended with diesel & no difference in power/performance.
forgot to add, now the colder mornings are here, the engine is a tad lumpy at idle but nothing to worry about.

 

[Shadeyman]

Shadeyman, how come your biodiesel is so much cheaper? Where do you buy it from?

Thanks

There's 2 petrol stations close to each other on the Wolverhampton Road(A454) into Walsall, 2 minutes from J10 of the M6. One valets cars and sells 100% Biodiesel, thats the place I use. Saving over 20p a litre
Most signs you see for "Biodiesel" are for places selling EN590 the 5% Biodiesel 95% normal diesel.

 

[Davren]

At this time of year run about a 40-50% mixture (unless you have fitted a fuel heater)Trev

Stilo JTD already has a fuel heater fitted in the filter head.

 

[udtrev]

Stilo JTD already has a fuel heater fitted in the filter head.

nice

My ruddy truck didn't have a heater, I got a 1 glowplug special that worked wonders, I installed it just before the filter.

 

[Shadeyman]

Just got back from Eccleshall, 50 mile round trip to a friends house. Got chance to try the top end speed a couple of times.
120Mph, accelerated hard, almost no smoke. Held it there for about half a minute. Felt great, no problems. I think the car actually likes Biodiesel.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

but what with some cars not liking it i've always been wary.

Can I ask different posters to confirm what they're talking about, Bio Diesel (Ie correctly chemically cut bio diesel), or filter cooking oil

Chemically cut Bio Diesel should work in all DERV's, without to much of an issue, other than to perhaps rubber seals depending upon how well done the cutting it.

Cooking oil on the other hand, and this is the confusion people make, is what can cause issues if not chemically cut, as it doesn't really resemble Diesel.

Sounds like OP has found a decent supply of chemcally cut bio though, and is onto a winner imo!

 

[Shadeyman]

Sounds like OP has found a decent supply of chemcally cut bio though, and is onto a winner imo!

 

[paullawton2007]

sorry to bring up an old thread.

i cant believe i have not done a search or asked the question!, after speaking to Gizmo he has given me some info on it!.

Whats the mix for summer/winter etc

my dad runs he transit on it pure, it struggles abit in the winter. any good offers on anywhere that anyone knows about?

Paul

 

[floatinglandrover]

The only issues I have had using biodiesel is that it washes out the fuel system so you will almost certainly need to change the fuel filter a few times in rapid succession when you start using it but otherwise I have been running my t5 van on it for 3 years with no problems.