Bio Diesel

[AVFR]

Hi

VW are recommending the crowd to use biodiesel on their TDI engines that can manage it.

Anyone know if the D4-D engines in Mr T`s cars can do the same?

I know bio diesel wears on rubber hoses etc.

[Parts-King]

Don't do it.............the D4D is a high pressure system and requires a decent diesel. IMHO more work is required on BIO diesel before you start using it in modern diesel engines, it would probably be fine in older models. NOT D4D. Kingo

[D4Ddriver]

Don't do it.............the D4D is a high pressure system and requires a decent diesel. IMHO more work is required on BIO diesel before you start using it in modern diesel engines, it would probably be fine in older models. NOT D4D. Kingo

Just for the record Ive done 12800 miles on B100 Bio diesel so far in my D4D 2004 common rail diesel, ive added an additive and have not used old smelly derv for months and months, No issues at all just a bit more heat on cold mornings if ive forggotten to add the millers additive, same car to drive other than the slight wiff of pancakes from the exhaust.

The up side is that it costs less 20p/litreless and doesnt damage the plannet. But beware of using it in new VW, BMW OR Land Rover as no heat exchanger on the return fuel line can degarade the bio diesel causing blocked filters and expensive intank electric pumps. But the D4D has a engine driven pump after the fuel filter so is aok. So far its superb.

If buying B100 ensure the quality is good it should have the look of a fine sherry, not cloudy.

B5 5% bio and 95% ULSD is similar priced to diesel but is only 5% so 20 cars running on B5 = 1 on B100.

Rubber hoses made of real latex are softened by Bio diesel as well as ULSdiesel so only the oldest pipes pre 1990 are an issue and can be replaced with modern materials.

Bio diesel is a clean fuel and will clean up your injector system so you should get more miles out of an engine on B100 100% bio deisel than on uls derv.

if your worried try a small amount ie 1 gallon then move up as you gain confidence. (its a bit like when you buy a second hand car it gets you home then to work then a few weeks later you trust it.

[Parts-King]

ALL new common rail diesels from around 2000> have fuel pumps that are high pressure, and a made to very fine tolerences. There are very many problems I could tell you about, that affect the newer diesel engines on ALL makes of cars. Theses modern pumps require the lubrication values of diesel, and there are no long term tests that I know of, which can convince me that old chip oil and a few additives are capable, long term, of keeping your VERY EXPENSIVE pump lubricated over the next umpteen years. Anything pre 2000 should be capable, but on modern engines, forget it, until it has been proven. The oil companies spend millions on R&D adding all sorts of extras to your diesel, to lubricate, improve performance, stop it freezing etc etc. Don't do it on a modern engine! Kingo

[bgorman]

ALL new common rail diesels from around 2000> have fuel pumps that are high pressure, and a made to very fine tolerences. There are very many problems I could tell you about, that affect the newer diesel engines on ALL makes of cars. Theses modern pumps require the lubrication values of diesel, and there are no long term tests that I know of, which can convince me that old chip oil and a few additives are capable, long term, of keeping your VERY EXPENSIVE pump lubricated over the next umpteen years. Anything pre 2000 should be capable, but on modern engines, forget it, until it has been proven. The oil companies spend millions on R&D adding all sorts of extras to your diesel, to lubricate, improve performance, stop it freezing etc etc. Don't do it on a modern engine! Kingo

Parts-King is quite correct, the pumps in modern comm-rail systems are machined to tolerence`s which are out of this world and are lubricated only by the fuel they are pumping.

Cars which are running well now at relatively small milages MAY be a different case after 40-50000 miles by which time they will be on the secondhand market.

Incidentally, I suspect that Parts-King is associated with Lindop`s here in the north west, if so can I say that in my (limited) exprience with them that they are THE best car dealership of any make that I have ever used.

They are staffed by people who know their job and not just "money monsters" like most of the other various main dealers around here.

Bob

[Parts-King]

ALL new common rail diesels from around 2000> have fuel pumps that are high pressure, and a made to very fine tolerences. There are very many problems I could tell you about, that affect the newer diesel engines on ALL makes of cars. Theses modern pumps require the lubrication values of diesel, and there are no long term tests that I know of, which can convince me that old chip oil and a few additives are capable, long term, of keeping your VERY EXPENSIVE pump lubricated over the next umpteen years. Anything pre 2000 should be capable, but on modern engines, forget it, until it has been proven. The oil companies spend millions on R&D adding all sorts of extras to your diesel, to lubricate, improve performance, stop it freezing etc etc. Don't do it on a modern engine! Kingo

Parts-King is quite correct, the pumps in modern comm-rail systems are machined to tolerence`s which are out of this world and are lubricated only by the fuel they are pumping.

Cars which are running well now at relatively small milages MAY be a different case after 40-50000 miles by which time they will be on the secondhand market.

Incidentally, I suspect that Parts-King is associated with Lindop`s here in the north west, if so can I say that in my (limited) exprience with them that they are THE best car dealership of any make that I have ever used.

They are staffed by people who know their job and not just "money monsters" like most of the other various main dealers around here.

Bob

Ooh Bob, I'm feeling flushed. Thank you

Kingo

[Parts-King]

Just as a side issue, you would not want your diesel pump to fail, the new pumps have high pressure pipes which also have to be changed if you even take them off, the costs are several thousand pounds for pump and pipes!!! Kingo

[D4Ddriver]

Just as a side issue, you would not want your diesel pump to fail, the new pumps have high pressure pipes which also have to be changed if you even take them off, the costs are several thousand pounds for pump and pipes!!! Kingo

Bio diesel is not old chip oil with additives. If folk put old chip oil in their car yes expect filter and pump problems if the crud you put in your tank gets to the pump.

Bio diesel in this country is available all over and is of variable quality. So make sure the fuel you buy is of good quality. Ultra low sulphur diesel is a much poorer lubricant than Bio diesel. So the theory is the pump will last longer on a better lubicant than a worse one.

Is any one using tesco diesel as they use Biodiesel to improve the lubricant propertys of the Ultra Low sulphur diesel they sell on their forecourt.

Now my D4D has had no problems at all running on B100 to date. It did have a slight missfire when I bought it from around 1500rpm to 2200 mainly noted in top gear. Since running on B100 this has cleared and the preformance is very good its a quick car, ive read others with D4D 2.0L think theirs are slow and "lack lustre" its a good reliable car and during the winter cold snaps I will run 50% derv so as not to struggle on cold startups. i switch back to diesel when Im waiting on a delivery of Bio or when Im working away. At these times the car is exactly the same as on B100.

So is it a worthwile risk? Im not going to take a risk without doing my homework on the subject and will carry on using the bio-diesel untill I find out otherwise.

The VW and TD5 land rover problem was crud from degredation of the fuel getting to hot in the return line. the mod was to fit a fuel cooler as per the toyota. The symptom was blocked filters and was resolved by cleaning the tank and filter changing no long term dammage thet we know of yet.

Hope this helps the discussion.

Off to scotland for the weekend on B100.