biodiesel cold weather white smoke issue's

deano · 30 Dec 2006 at 17:09

have been running our 97 primera diesel on biodiesel for a few months now. Gradualy increasing the does each tank full. In the last few weeks with the weather being colder, have had issues with white smoke (unburnt fuel) and it missing like a petrol would, its beeen running on about a 60-70% bio to dino mix, would the above issues be casued by the cold weather?

would it be a good idea to fit an electrical fuel heater before the fuel filter / pump, or just add more normal diesel in.

thanks for any info

Slime101 · 30 Dec 2006 at 17:32

White smoke isnt uncommon with bio-fuel.

However in winter you are best using a lesser blend of bio/derv so you get the anti-waxing qualities of normal mineral diesel duing the cold.

deano · 30 Dec 2006 at 17:38

in that case i'll drop down to a 50/50 mix and see what happens

TaKeN · 30 Dec 2006 at 17:47

OMG.

Ive been filling my car up with a full tank of bio diesel, is this bad ?

Are you meant to mix it 50 Normal Derv to 50 Bio ? :confused:

Rich · 30 Dec 2006 at 18:12

Mind if i stick some chips in there on your next run?

deano · 30 Dec 2006 at 18:15

TaKeN said:
OMG.

Ive been filling my car up with a full tank of bio diesel, is this bad ?

Are you meant to mix it 50 Normal Derv to 50 Bio ?

unless you have got additives in your biodiesel, to stop it jelling, suggested you use some up and add about 50% diesel to reduce the jell point.

out of interest what car you running on 100% bio?

SB118 · 30 Dec 2006 at 18:30

deano said:
... would it be a good idea to fit an electrical fuel heater before the fuel filter / pump, or just add more normal diesel in.

thanks for any info

Electric heaters are useless, no where near enough heat transfer for the temperatures that give you trouble. You'd be better off with a coolant based heat exchanger (if you get a two way unit, you can warm the fuel in your tank too)

andi · 30 Dec 2006 at 18:34

TaKeN said:
OMG.

Ive been filling my car up with a full tank of bio diesel, is this bad ?

Are you meant to mix it 50 Normal Derv to 50 Bio ?

If you mean Bio from the pump at the petrol station, don't worry, its only partially bio

deano · 30 Dec 2006 at 18:38

the electric heater i was thinning of getting used a glow plug to heat the fuel, would this still be useless? i take it a two way unit also warms the return pipe?

i think there is no return on a primera though :confused:

but i could be completely wrong

any suggestions of places to look for a heat exchanger / what to look out for in one.

SB118 · 30 Dec 2006 at 18:38

andi said:
If you mean Bio from the pump at the petrol station, don't worry, its only partially bio

VERY partially bio

SB118 · 30 Dec 2006 at 18:45

deano said:
the electric heater i was thinning of getting used a glow plug to heat the fuel, would this still be useless? i take it a two way unit also warms the return pipe?

i think there is no return on a primera though but i could be completely wrong

any suggestions of places to look for a heat exchanger / what to look out for in one.

A constant burn glow plug is nice, but it's a hell of a drain on the battery to run, and any air in the system will result in "burning" of the oil and the flakes will clog the fuel filter. (anybody would think i learned the hard way

)

Most fuel systems have a return line to the tank for excess fuel. The 2 way HE heats this returned fuel raising the temp of the bio in your tank, which in turn makes it easier to heat heat the fuel going into the engine, etc, etc, etc....

If you want one catch me on MSN, i used to flog them on ebay and i've probably got some tube left around here somewhere. MSN is in my trust.