Bio diesel

[benedmonds]

We have a guy trying to sell us bio-diesel at 60p a litre, they reckon they track pump prices and are always 10p below... He gave me a free sample and I have run it 50:50 in the VW caddy and not had any issues. They will supply a 1000l tank with pump.

 

The salesman tells me the issues are that the filters will need changing after a bit as the bio-diesel clears out carbon deposits...? and it is best to start by mixing with regular..

 

I am nervous about switching as we have had issues in the winter with our red waxing up in the cold (as discussed here previously) but we spent about £13K last year on white diesel so it could be fair saving. Plus the feel good factor...

 

Any one use it?

[Daveo]

My day job is temporary power or events we use a lot of generators and have good and bad experiences with bio fuel.

 

We broke 2 fuel pumps (3k to replace) last year on one event, dependent on the type of bio it is as there are several different variants it eats away at the rubber seals in new and old engines. If it is a modern Diesel engine I would steer completely clear as it will damage something and not worth the cost savings, if you had trouble with Red derv waxing up when you buy it from the supplier make sure it's had the winter additive added in to prevent this.

 

Bio will wax and freeze at pretty much nearly freezing.

 

There is a new bio which is called green b+ which is a close to normal derv as you can get, there is some evidence that supports this but I'm a bit of a sceptic.

 

If it's an old piece of kit you could get away with the refined veg oils as they are thicker and kinder to your engine, filters need changing more often.

 

 

Basically I would stay clear of it as the long term effects are not 100% proven, but up to you

 

Pm for more info if you wish

[agrimog]

why does everyone jump on the bio bandwagon as a green alternative, its anything but, uses methanol and sodium hydroxide in its production, 2 more unfreindy chemicals would be hard to find, if you want to go green, use straight waste veg oil, (wvo), well filtered, de watered, and mix up to 50/50 with normal diesel, dont use it in a common rail motor though, any of the older things will run it, unless its got an epic pump, hunt around, you can usually get it for free, and a litle effort, fuel costs drop to around 50p a ltr...legally....you can make and use 2500 ltr a year without paying tax on it

[Goaty]

why does everyone jump on the bio bandwagon as a green alternative, its anything but, uses methanol and sodium hydroxide in its production, 2 more unfreindy chemicals would be hard to find, if you want to go green, use straight waste veg oil, (wvo), well filtered, de watered, and mix up to 50/50 with normal diesel, dont use it in a common rail motor though, any of the older things will run it, unless its got an epic pump, hunt around, you can usually get it for free, and a litle effort, fuel costs drop to around 50p a ltr...legally....you can make and use 2500 ltr a year without paying tax on it

 

 

Saw a bloke get done big time on one of those police program's running on processed waste oil

 

I saved a fortune on running an escort van on bio about 7 years ago.

Then got through two injection pumps. I would of been out of pocket if I didn't have old engines with them on.

 

Got to agree with agrimog. If anything is green, bio or tech. It's likely someone's get rich scheme motivated by greed not care for environment.

 

The 10p below pump price is suspect as well. Oil seeds can be expensive. Crude is cheap now. But markets are volitile. Also if they aim for 10p could it really be 20p?

[cornish wood burner]

We have a guy trying to sell us bio-diesel at 60p a litre, they reckon they track pump prices and are always 10p below... He gave me a free sample and I have run it 50:50 in the VW caddy and not had any issues. They will supply a 1000l tank with pump.

 

The salesman tells me the issues are that the filters will need changing after a bit as the bio-diesel clears out carbon deposits...? and it is best to start by mixing with regular..

 

I am nervous about switching as we have had issues in the winter with our red waxing up in the cold (as discussed here previously) but we spent about £13K last year on white diesel so it could be fair saving. Plus the feel good factor...

 

Any one use it?

You might need to change the filters as they get clogged with algae. No experience of it but I've heard that it doesn't keep well.

[pie eater pete]

Used to use it in my old 200tdi 90 few years back. It definitely pulled a lot stronger running on bio but when the cold weather came i could feel the difference. Sluggish as hell so needed a bit more of a mix with regular diesel. Will definitely need to change filters more often..

[monkeybusiness]

I've yet to meet anyone who has successfully run anything relatively modern (ie with an ecu) longish term on veg/bio diesel. It seems to be fine in the short term but is plagued with stories of new fuel pumps (which are never cheap!)

[benedmonds]

Thanks for the input. The fella went all quiet when we asked about VAT invoices etc and along with the not so positive advice, we have decided to sick with the stuff at the pumps...

[Daveo]

Good choice, Did seam a little too good to be true

 

Getting a fuel card with either Bp or the big distributers can save you a bit of cash or invest in a tank if you have the space and buy in bulk, TBH the Bp bunker card pence per litre is about the same as buying in bulk and if you have to fill up on the motorway Bp you don't pay the overinflated pump price.