Bio-diesels?

[Third Opinion]

A couple of local petrol stations now have these at the pumps. They seem to be 10-15p a litre less than regular diesel.

How safe are they to use or do you need some kind of conversion?

 

[Cupra]

Our work cars mix it 50-50 with normal diesel it seems like good stuff

 

[fonzee]

what lump you got?

normally quite safe on most lumps, with the exception of some of the newer designs of late. generallys offers more lubrication too. fuel filters will need to be changed more often, thats about it.

 

[Third Opinion]

Rover 75 CDT. Think it's some kind of BMW lump in it.

 

[atpbx]

100% bio will work fine in anything, works out to still be in the mid 90's per litre as well.

 

[jonshaw_uk]

might it a go in mondeo TDCI hope nothing bad happens to it

 

[Steve]

Be careful in the winter as low temps it can go a bit waxy and you will have starting problems and it will run like a dog in the cold and may grind to a halt.

My mate was running 50/50 bio from a local petrol station in his Land Rover Disco 300TD and had the above problems. Ran fine during the day but in the mornings had no power wouldn't start too well and kept having to get the AA to pick n=him off the motorway

You can get fuel tank warmers to solve this but you start destroying the savings the more you spend (much like people paying more for a diesel over a petrol for low miles)

general rule of thumb is 5-10% in cold seasons and upto 50% in hot weather. That's after checking things like fuel pumps, gaskets etc to see if they aren't going to die.

Look at some bigger car forums that have more discussions on this as it is not as simple as some make out but if you fancy problems or at worst a dead engine because someone on the internet said "stick 100% bio in anything you will be fine" then go for it

 

[[TW]Fox]

Rover 75 CDT. Think it's some kind of BMW lump in it.

It's the M47 2.0d. On the BMW's with this engine fitted at least there is a 'No Biofuel' warning on the inside of the filler cap.

 

[platypus]

The push for bio-diesels isn't the solution the politicians would have us believe.

Studies in American have shown that whilst carbon emissions are down, emissions that cause lung cancer and other related illnesses are higher.

 

[Jono]

It's the M47 2.0d. On the BMW's with this engine fitted at least there is a 'No Biofuel' warning on the inside of the filler cap.

Quite a few VW PD engines do too... I know the 170 PD does, anyway.

 

[[TW]Fox]

The push for bio-diesels isn't the solution the politicians would have us believe.

Studies in American have shown that whilst carbon emissions are down, emissions that cause lung cancer and other related illnesses are higher.

So? None of that matters, its all about CO2! The most important thing in the world ever!

 

[Muffin`]

Studies in American have shown that whilst carbon emissions are down, emissions that cause lung cancer and other related illnesses are higher.

Link? I'm not calling you a liar, just to read

 

[Doonhamer]

Quite a few VW PD engines do too... I know the 170 PD does, anyway.

my 130 PD is the same.

 

[Muffin`]

So? None of that matters, its all about CO2! The most important thing in the world ever!

We just got lots of eco Carbon stuff to make us a green comapny and tell others how to be green and our MD drives a R63 AMG, Chairman drives a S600 and the Fincance director drives a RR Sport and the rest drive other low-low MPG German Saloon's

 

[Overlag]

didnt top gears diesel BMW kill itself (well the fuel system) on bio fuel?

(24hr race)

 

[bullit in head]

didnt top gears diesel BMW kill itself (well the fuel system) on bio fuel?

(24hr race)

it was before the race started....


bullit

 

[Phal]

didnt top gears diesel BMW kill itself (well the fuel system) on bio fuel?

(24hr race)

They had mixed their biofuel wrong as far as I remember and it was too thin and didnt lubricate enough so seals were dying or something

 

[Overlag]

They had mixed their biofuel wrong as far as I remember and it was too thin and didnt lubricate enough so seals were dying or something

ah right..

...anyway bio fuel is bad... food prices rocketing not only because it costs more to ship them from source to shop, but also because fields used for food stocks are now taken over by biofuels......

 

[Glaucus]

The push for bio-diesels isn't the solution the politicians would have us believe.

Studies in American have shown that whilst carbon emissions are down, emissions that cause lung cancer and other related illnesses are higher.

emmisions are up man many times, might be neutral at the car but the farming and processing more than make up for it. In fact the farming alone can produce upto 10x more than the entire petrol lifecycle. Due to a lot being grown in what use to be peat bogs.

Surley petrol station bio fuel can be used in any diesel safely, it's not the same as veg oil, which causes the problem.

 

[Dandle]

It's the M47 2.0d. On the BMW's with this engine fitted at least there is a 'No Biofuel' warning on the inside of the filler cap.

My 530d has that sign too.