Author Topic: My Motor is Addicted To BioDiesel (Read 4263 times)

AudiVWguy · « **on:** October 20, 2008, 10:32:11 pm »

The job I'm working at is a 64 mile commute each day. For the last 6 months I've been using fuel with 10% biodiesel. Well, the last tankful was just regular diesel. For the entire tankful it ran with this major knocking, nailing sound. Like a cold morning driving away without much warm up. Even after 32 miles it still sounded like that. I filled up with biodiesel and it ran perfect again. Did I just get a really bad tank of diesel? I heard a small amount of biodiesel really cleans out the entire fuel system and lubricates too.
Coments? :shock:

jtanguay · « **Reply #1 on:** October 20, 2008, 10:39:45 pm »

maybe you should change your fuel filter. it cleans your tank out and then sends all that crap to the filter. bubbles in the fuel lines? on the mk2's the water separator can get clogged too.

OR

the biodiesel is starting to soften up some seals inside the pump. if the pump has never been rebuilt/resealed, you can expect it to leak about any time now

it can also lead to the pump sucking in air, which will make it run like crap.

Justin · « **Reply #2 on:** October 20, 2008, 10:58:43 pm »

I have found that running with biodiesel you love the way the engine sounds, smells and drives with less smoke so much that it is very easy to get addicted to Bio. if they sold it in 100% form any drivable distance from me you can bet that I would be running it, and in the winter I would probably back down to 30%, but I would probably push my luck and try 50% until getting bitten.

Love it, Run it and support american grown fuels.

later
jkeiffer

Quantum TD · « **Reply #3 on:** October 21, 2008, 12:07:23 am »

Yeah. My pickup would make a horrid symphonic squealing noise from the pump on regular diesel. I've been running 20% for the past two tanks, and surprisingly, I haven't noticed the noise anymore.

On the downside, my mileage is down 2MPG.

As noted above, your pump may begin to leak. It's not guaranteed, but if you have an older pump that has not been resealed, chances are pretty good it will start to leak.

Just for schnitz and giggles, check out the lower nozzle on your local biodiesel pump. Chances are, the rubber is all pitted away: looking like someone dipped it in acid. That's how the pump at my provider looks. You've got to figure, it will do the same to your pump seals, unless they are resistant.

Either way, I'm gonna convert fully pretty soon.

gldgti · « **Reply #4 on:** October 22, 2008, 01:52:46 am »

i've been running on b100 for 40,000kms on my 94 aaz now. (about 10months).

i just switched straight over from normal diesel... certainly loves it. definately addicted.

in australia, the oil for the biodiesel isnt grown, its all made from waste oil products (animal and vegitable). cold weather conditions not a problem here ;-)

still no pump leaks, so i'm guessing 94 was late enough to have the good seals.

dieselwagen · « **Reply #5 on:** October 22, 2008, 02:02:20 pm »

Quote from: "AudiVWguy"

The job I'm working at is a 64 mile commute each day. For the last 6 months I've been using fuel with 10% biodiesel. Well, the last tankful was just regular diesel. For the entire tankful it ran with this major knocking, nailing sound. Like a cold morning driving away without much warm up. Even after 32 miles it still sounded like that. I filled up with biodiesel and it ran perfect again. Did I just get a really bad tank of diesel? I heard a small amount of biodiesel really cleans out the entire fuel system and lubricates too.
Coments? :shock:

i have been running B20 ever since state of CA switch all their #2 pump to ULSD. a few months ago i temporarily revert back to #2 ULSD for one tankful, and my engine was not sounding very happy, like marbles inside the coffee can, so i switch back to B20 next fill-up and offensive engine noise went away almost instantly. :shock:

jtanguay · « **Reply #6 on:** October 22, 2008, 02:16:10 pm »

my brothers new work van - '08 sprinter van 6 cyl CDI says not to use biodiesel... are they really going to put non biodiesel safe seals in there, or is this an issue with the common rail system?? seems like they just got paid by the oil companies to put that warning up! :roll:

i would definitely run biodiesel in my pump if offered near my place!!!

zukgod1 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 22, 2008, 02:21:41 pm »

I'm rockin some Bio today.

I don't see myself running again though. it was $.62 pr gallon more.

Even if I'm adding Power Service to each tank and twice what they recommend its WAY less than $.62 pr gallon.

That and I loose smileage on BIO which also adds to the pr mile cost and running reg diesel+ PS I get at least 44mpg.

Not gonna be doing that again..

AudiVWguy · « **Reply #8 on:** October 23, 2008, 12:50:04 am »

The stuff I'm buying says B-11 on the pump. I wonder how small an amount would be the difference between running crappy and good?

Justin · « **Reply #9 on:** October 23, 2008, 07:24:29 am »

2% blend goes a very long way in the lubricity characteristics, I dont remember the numbers but they are staggering.

I get the same or a little better milage on Bio since the lubricity difference is huge.

AudiVWguy · « **Reply #10 on:** October 23, 2008, 02:59:18 pm »

2% that would mean that there would be benefits from about 13oz per 10 gallons diesel? Or instead of biodiesel could I mix in some type of veggie oil? And which kind would be the best choice to mix with the regular diesel? Which kind has the best lubrication properties? Which is best for the doller spent?

molgrips · « **Reply #11 on:** November 03, 2008, 05:33:46 am »

If you have an IDI then you can pretty much put 100% veg oil in it, if it's not colder than the gel point of the fuel (around 5C for rape seed/canola, or -5C for sunflower). If it is gonna be cold, put 10% petrol in or even up to 30% depending on how cold it is. You could also easily go 50/50 with normal diesel.

If you have a TDI, well then it's a bit different. You could probably get away with 30% veggie, but if lubricity is all you are interested in then I suppose 5-10% would be fine. (note, I have no idea, that's just a slightly educated guess

)

Check out www.vegetableoildiesel.co.uk, the best veggie site I've seen.

Jettagli16v · « **Reply #12 on:** November 03, 2008, 10:14:44 pm »

Quote from: "molgrips"

If you have an IDI then you can pretty much put 100% veg oil in it, if it's not colder than the gel point of the fuel (around 5C for rape seed/canola, or -5C for sunflower).
.

anyone confirm/deny this?
I always wondered if I could just pour new oil in the tank if I could find it cheap.

I fixed your link:
Check out www.vegetableoildiesel.co.uk the best veggie site I've seen

Thanks,
Brad

jtanguay · « **Reply #13 on:** November 03, 2008, 10:33:28 pm »

Quote from: "Jettagli16v"

Quote from: "molgrips"
If you have an IDI then you can pretty much put 100% veg oil in it, if it's not colder than the gel point of the fuel (around 5C for rape seed/canola, or -5C for sunflower).
.

anyone confirm/deny this?
I always wondered if I could just pour new oil in the tank if I could find it cheap.

I fixed your link:
Check out www.vegetableoildiesel.co.uk the best veggie site I've seen

Thanks,
Brad

if you were to get the injectors to be calibrated to run on the veg oil, i don't see why not. some veg oil is pretty liquid until a certain point.

there was a post about injector breaking pressures and fuel atomization, and the veg oil required a higher breaking pressure to properly atomize. if the fuel isnt properly atomized you can run into some issues.

some people are too anal about sticking to diesel IMO. a friend of mine has been running a 50/50 mix for a little while now... no real issues yet except its starting to get a bit rough on the cool mornings... he's going to be using less veg pretty soon though. i myself have run 50/50 mix in the summer and the car started just the same as with diesel, but the idle was a bit softer, and for some reason it felt like there was a bit more torque... top end wasnt as good though.

be prepared for things to go wrong though. clogged fuel filters being one of the main problems. using crappy veg oil presents its own issues as well.

molgrips · « **Reply #14 on:** November 04, 2008, 04:52:46 am »

Quote

if you were to get the injectors to be calibrated to run on the veg oil, i don't see why not. some veg oil is pretty liquid until a certain point.

It's what I do! Unmodded 1.9 AAZ - you just pour it in the tank, and drive off. It works perfectly well in summer with 100% oil. In the winter (in the South West UK where it's not cold) it still works, you just get a few slightly grotty starts where you have to rev it up for a few seconds to get the chambers warm. If it gets colder, put 10% petrol in it, like I say.

The IDI engine we have is one of the best around for running on veg oil, as is the Bosch pump.

You don't need to calibrate the injectors - although some say it may help.