krushavik
New Member
- Location
- Warrington Cheshire.
Has anyone ever used bio diesel. Trying to beat price increase and thinking of using bio.
Bio diesel.
- Thread starter krushavik
- Start date
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Piemaster
Guru
- Location
- UK City of Culture
Guy I've just been working with runs his Audi A3 on a 50/50 diesel/veg oil mix. Reckons it's never been any problem. Buys it from whichever supermarket is selling its veggie oil cheapest.
I've also seen a trolley full of veg oil being poured into a fuel tank in the local supermarket. Not very subtle as its considered a road fuel at that point and attracts the appropriate duty.
I've also seen a trolley full of veg oil being poured into a fuel tank in the local supermarket. Not very subtle as its considered a road fuel at that point and attracts the appropriate duty.
krushavik
New Member
- Location
- Warrington Cheshire.
Thanks. There a place in Southport that sells bio at 89p a litre but you have to buy a minimum of 200 litres, its very tempting.
Night Train
Maker of Things
- Location
- Greater Manchester
I tried some 'proper' B100 biodiesel, the stuff that is 100% veg oil. The company I bought it from was using out of date oil from supermarket suppliers. It worked out quite well for a while but then I noticed a gradual drop in performance despite the filter changes and services.
Then I got some from a place that converted used catering oil and I had three breakdowns due to air in the system on the same tankful.
Despite investigation my mechanic couldn't find where the air was coming from but after flusing the veg oil out and changing the filters it was back to normal but still a little low on performance. The performance still hasn't picked up fully yet but it is getting better after two years back on mineral diesel.
I don't use the stuff anymore and still have 4 gallons of the used veg oil B100 in a jerry can. Don't know what to do with it as it is no good for parts cleaning either.
My best econo run was 84mpg on 2 litres of out of date extra virgin olive oil straight from the bottle!
Then I got some from a place that converted used catering oil and I had three breakdowns due to air in the system on the same tankful.
Despite investigation my mechanic couldn't find where the air was coming from but after flusing the veg oil out and changing the filters it was back to normal but still a little low on performance. The performance still hasn't picked up fully yet but it is getting better after two years back on mineral diesel.
I don't use the stuff anymore and still have 4 gallons of the used veg oil B100 in a jerry can. Don't know what to do with it as it is no good for parts cleaning either.
My best econo run was 84mpg on 2 litres of out of date extra virgin olive oil straight from the bottle!
krushavik
New Member
- Location
- Warrington Cheshire.
Go on Biodiesel & SVO Discussions Forums they all ideas what to do with bio.
Rhythm Thief
Legendary Member
- Location
- Ross on Wye
I tried biodiesel very briefly in my old Renault van. After two fuel filter changes by the roadside in the space of maybe four tanksful I stopped bothering with it.
mark barker
New Member
- Location
- Swindon, Wilts
I used to use bio in my old multipla and never had any problems. (it was from a garage that only sold bio fuel somewhere in Smethwick). The multipla was never a performance motor, but I didn't notice a drop in power or a change in consumption.
Maverick Goose
A jumped up pantry boy, who never knew his place
- Location
- A champagne supernova in the sky
Oops, mistook this for the beer thread..
mcshroom
Bionic Subsonic
- Location
- Egremont, Cumbria
I used to run my Megane on B100 and B30 when I was in Reading with no adverse effects (There used to be a biodiesel seller in Newbury). I do remember being warned that I may need to change the oil filter quite quickly as it washed gunk out of the tank but I never noticed any difference and the filter has only just come out 2 years later.
I'd be happy to use it agin but there aren't any biodiesel pumps around here
I'd be happy to use it agin but there aren't any biodiesel pumps around here
krushavik
New Member
- Location
- Warrington Cheshire.
Thank you all for your most helpful comments and after reading them all this is the verdict. I'm going to put 40 litres of bio and 40 litres of diesel in the tank and see what happens. Then after about a month if all goes well make 60/20 mix. Once again thank you all. 
Yellow Fang
Legendary Member
- Location
- Reading
I suspect long-term it won't work. Supermarkets are wise to it, and there's only so much cooking oil around. The only cooking oil that makes any sort of environmental sense as fuel is used chip fat, and I suspect that would have to be treated before it could run in your engine.
Night Train
Maker of Things
- Location
- Greater Manchester
BADGER.BRAD
Guru
- Location
- Shropshire
I've always used veg oil/biodiesil in my cars ( unmodified old bangers) .You used to have to be a registered fuel producer in order to to use it but that has been stopped ( a number of years ago) You can now legally use veg oil without having to pay the tax up-to 2500 litres ( I think ? check that out). In fairness though biodiesel is now normally cheaper than cooking oil, used cooking oil is hard to find now days as the suppliers buy it back and sell back on for fuel production, gone are the days when my car ran for free, I did have 5 or 6 years of free fuel though ! Some cars diesel pumps will become damaged by veg oil or biodiesel so be very careful the best bet if your car is worth anything is as you said do a mix of fuels.
As a side note cars MPG varies wildly from what seems like similar types, and of course drivers driving styles, it's really worth taking this into account if you change your car or really thinking about your driving style. I have just brought a new (old banger a Citroen zx 1.9td which is returning 62.5mpg round town my previous car a Turbo diesil escort did 40mpg around town 60 on a run and the three before ,non Turbo Escorts would do 50 round town and 75 on a run.
I'm a total skin flint so would never dream of spending over a £1000 (£500 if poss) on a car ,or buying anything which wouldn't do 50mpg round town ( the last car was a mistake!)
As a side note cars MPG varies wildly from what seems like similar types, and of course drivers driving styles, it's really worth taking this into account if you change your car or really thinking about your driving style. I have just brought a new (old banger a Citroen zx 1.9td which is returning 62.5mpg round town my previous car a Turbo diesil escort did 40mpg around town 60 on a run and the three before ,non Turbo Escorts would do 50 round town and 75 on a run.
I'm a total skin flint so would never dream of spending over a £1000 (£500 if poss) on a car ,or buying anything which wouldn't do 50mpg round town ( the last car was a mistake!)