Bio diesel:- Can we use it?

[20vcqdriver]

Just been sent this via our corporate e-mail:

Please be aware that B30 biodiesel is now available from many Morrisons’ fuel stations. However, not all manufacturers’ vehicles are suitable for this fuel e.g. VAG and BMW.
The fuel is a blend of 70 per cent fossil diesel and 30 per cent biodiesel, which is derived from fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). Normal diesel contains up to five per cent biodiesel (to the BS EN590 standard). At garage forecourts, the B30 biodiesel nozzle is located next to the normal diesel nozzle. However, the B30 is should be easily identifiable because the nozzle is orange, whereas the normal diesel nozzle is black.
A further communication is being prepared but please be aware that using this fuel in a car not designed for it (it should say inside the filler cap) will invalidate their engine and fuel system warranties.
Attached is a list of Morrison’s sites that are selling B30.
Mark Valderey
Relationship Executive

I know the new VAG diesels are not too happy on this bio diesel, but as a Driver of an old 110bhp TDi Passat, I was wondering if this fuel would be safe to use/try:. All opinions please....

[Micky]

Me personally would wait till every one else has used it for at least a few months .is it any cheaper and is it worth it .ask taxi drivers if they have any problems? A large number use vw.and again it’s only my view

[steveb]

See here http://www.biodieselfillingstations.co.uk/approvals.htm

and here http://www.enfuels.co.uk/ I have been using their bio in the caravelle for about 25,000 miles the only things i have noticed are light smoking on cold starting (clears quickly) and you need to change the fuel filter more often

[john johnson]

my S type diesel ( 2.7 twin turbo) states NOT to use it at all..............the one that Clarkson raves about cos its a brilliant engine

[darreno'd']

Steve, how did your filters look when you changed them ? was the fuel slightly jellyish or did you notice black bits in it ? It's very prone to the growth of macrobioligical algae, which is an absolute pig to get rid of.

[steveb]

i have had the fuel filter blocked it had a "jelly ish " substance in it i took it to the fuel supplier and he said it was polymers a problem they had had in production. they offered to pay for the filter. I needed to change the filter after the first 2 tanks of bio as it cleans the fuel tank inow change the filters every 10,000 miles

[20vcqdriver]

Is it an easy job to change the fuel filter, Have a new one here (bought 4 years ago) but never got round to fitting it . Engine now done over 100k on this filter?!! Oops!
Was told you had to prime it to get air out and it can be a pig, All info appreciated.

[steveb]

not a hard job fill the filter with fuel before you fit it not sure if your car has a bleed screw and hand pump (others might know ) if it dosen't you may need to wind it over for a while to get the fuel pressure back . don't keep churning it over for ages if it takes a while give the starter a rest after every 10 sec ish you can burn it out otherwise

[amanda]

I have been told not to use it in the beastie............older audis pre 90 are ok

[steveb]

from here ...http://www.biodieselfillingstations.co.uk/approvals.htm


Biodiesel, in theory, can go into all diesel engines as the diesel engine itself was designed to run on plant oil. However it is the parts attached to the diesel engine which could potentially cause problems – although the vast majority of diesels on the road are fine running on 100% biodiesel. In reality, the rule of thumb is you can use 100% biodiesel in any diesel built between 1990-2004, but be aware that a one-off fuel filter change will be needed after you first make the transition (and any mix of biodiesel and fossil diesel is OK too). I would recommend that cars built after 2004 should run on a 50% blend not 100%. Be aware too that biodiesel made from waste cooking oil will freeze in winter and so from November to April one should blend that kind of Biodiesel at 50% as well. However, Biodiesel made from a Rapeseed crop (RME) will not freeze and can be used at 100% all year round in the UK. Please note that it is advisable to purchase biodiesel with EN14214 specification, that gives you some guarantee of quality. In short – to be safe, use RME Biodiesel at EN14214 in a car built between 1990 and 2004 and then you can be carbon neutral all year without problems!

In terms of official compatibility, despite the majority of diesel vehicles on the road being fine on 100%, only a handful of companies will officially approve their vehicles for 100% use. The companies that have approved 100% biodiesel are VW, Audi, SEAT and Skoda. They have approved all their cars built between 1996 and 2004 on 100% use of ”RME” Biodiesel (Biodiesel made from Rapeseed) providing it meets the specification DIN41606 (which was later replaced by EN14214). These companies can still provide some brand new cars warranted on 100% biodiesel but one has to request it (best to get the official letter from German Base as some UK agents aren’t fully aware



The problem with pre '96 cars is that the fuel pipes degrade after a while so need to be replaced with the newer type used on cars since 96 /97