The Bio Debate

[fronteratech]

Alwaya a area for debate any views on weather Bio or normal Diesel.

anyone successfully run any fiat on bio over a long time

I have a few views but interested in other peoples experiences

 

[Shadeyman]

I've been runing our Stilo Multiwagon an 100% Bio for almost a year now. The car has its EGR blanked off and was remapped a few weeks ago. No issuses at all. Car runs perfect, no smoke at all, will easily do 120mph and has enough torque to pull a house down.

There does seem to be a small loss of power, only noticable at higher speeds. If I put BP Ultimate in her power increases a little but at £1.40 a litre its just not worth it. I'm paying 96p a litre for Bio.

 

[fronteratech]

which derv pump does it have fitted any additional heating

 

[sludgeguts]

You know my thoughts on the stuff
however, my research suggests it's the bosch diesel pump that's a pile of carp - I was told that a lot of Bosch pumps were failing, and these were on cars NOT pushing the chip fat like I was. so possibly as a result of the 5% blend already at the forecourt?
If I could have a different pump I'd be tempted to go back to filtering WVO as there was no discernable difference in performance, a slightly elevated mpg and nicer fumes (not to mention the savings).

 

[Dominion]

I've been considering using bio in my Vectra for some time, but I have reason to believe my car has the Bosch fuel pump (VP44??). I decided that it's not worth risking the pump as many people have been paying around £1800 for fitting a new one (admittedly Vaux dealers price). Since my car is an 02 plate and has covered 112k miles, it is probably worth well under a grand, so really not worth taking the risk. Shame though, I was really keen on giving bio a go.

 

[Shadeyman]

which derv pump does it have fitted any additional heating

Not sure what pump is fitted to the car, as far as I know its the original Fiat pump. The car has done 105,000 miles now and never had any pump issues as far as I know.

Additional heating is only required when using veg oil(WVO). No additional heating is needed when using professionally produced Bio-Diesel. If the weather turns cold, anything below 4 degrees celsius its best to use a 50 - 50 mix of Bio and Dino. The additives in the Dino help prevent the fuel from freezing up.

Between 5 and 10% of Dino diesel you buy is Bio so most cars(diesel) built after 2000 will run well on professionally produced Bio.

 

[fronteratech]

agree with bosch pumps vp44 being a risk

 

[sludgeguts]

Between 5 and 10% of Dino diesel you buy is Bio so most cars(diesel) built after 2000 will run well on professionally produced Bio.

I thought it was set at 5%. Anyhoo, obviously why there are a great many Bosch pumps out there failing, they obviously have problems coping with just 5%

I wonder if it's on the cars that do a lot of long journeys or have the engine running for many hours? (mine was doing a lot of long mileage towards the end of the pump's life)

Dominion, that's what I paid (but that was pump, injectors and some labour).

And Bosch don't even like biodiesel http://www.feather-diesel.co.uk/cms/uploads/BOSCH-TIPPS.pdf
The article says "BOSCH warranty will not apply to damage to parts of distributor injection pumps (mechanical pumps and electronic diesel control pumps) which is traceable to the use of unsuitable fuels,
even if the first installer or vehicle manufacturer permitted the use of other fuels."
As this article specifically says bio is an unsuitable fuel, how does this sit with the 5% veg oil the Government insists we have in the fuel at the pump?

 

[Shadeyman]

I thought it was set at 5%. Anyhoo, obviously why there are a great many Bosch pumps out there failing, they obviously have problems coping with just 5%

I wonder if it's on the cars that do a lot of long journeys or have the engine running for many hours? (mine was doing a lot of long mileage towards the end of the pump's life)

Dominion, that's what I paid (but that was pump, injectors and some labour).

And Bosch don't even like biodiesel http://www.feather-diesel.co.uk/cms/uploads/BOSCH-TIPPS.pdf
The article says "BOSCH warranty will not apply to damage to parts of distributor injection pumps (mechanical pumps and electronic diesel control pumps) which is traceable to the use of unsuitable fuels,
even if the first installer or vehicle manufacturer permitted the use of other fuels."
As this article specifically says bio is an unsuitable fuel, how does this sit with the 5% veg oil the Government insists we have in the fuel at the pump?

Because the UK conforms to what the EU say the amount of bio-diesel contained in normal diesel had to be a minimum of 5% by 2010 and will be a minimum of 10% by 2020 so the amount of bio in normal diesel can be anywhere from 5 to 10% depending on the supplier.

Vehicle manufacturers permit the use of bio so parts are covered by them, not Bosch.

There is no "veg oil" in normal diesel. :nono:
Veg oil and bio diesel are two very different substances.

 

[sludgeguts]

There is no "veg oil" in normal diesel. :nono:
Veg oil and bio diesel are two very different substances.

OK, so it's not veg oil per se since it's had the glycerine ripped out

 

[fronteratech]

There is no "veg oil" in normal diesel. :nono:
Veg oil and bio diesel are two very different substances.

this might be on interest

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article3740163.ece

also http://www.petrolprices.com/tesco.html

 

[Shadeyman]

"timesonline" link isn't working.