Biodiesel

[flightlessbird]

Why isnt biodiesel recomended for the current golf diesel engines?

[syncro]

[imported_brackie]

I should've put a copyright on that pic, syncro
That fuel filter came out of my Pug 505 SRDT when I did the first filter change after I bought it. Not long after that I had to replace the fuel tank, filler neck and cap as they were so badly corroded. The tank leaked like a sieve. The moral of the story is that you have to make biodiesel meticulously and that's why I'm not attempting it. At present I'm putting together a twin tank conversion so that I can run on poppy seed oil. I'll update when here's progress (after I get this bl**dy new forum software to work :twisted: )

[syncro]

I should've put a copyright on that pic, syncro

I love it! :mrgreen:

VW designed engines to run on diesel not fish & chip shop waste!
VW designed engines to run on petrol not compost (ethanol)!

[flightlessbird]

they now have plastic tanks so corrosiom should not be an issue and the old fashioned lucas/cav filter water trap looked at reguarly should look after the other issue

[peter_j_g]

Biodiesel isn't recommended for the Pumpe-Duse type diesel engines, as the tolerances in the individual injector pumps are extremely fine. The older TDi engines are OK. The owners manual for my 99 Tdi passat specifically mentions that it is OK to use biodiesel to RME specification. One of the resons for buying a VE pump car rather than a PD type car was so that I could use biodiesel. You still have to keep a close eye on the filters though...

[imported_brackie]

The 505 SRDT has a water trap built into the filter. My tractors are similar, albeit with 2 filters. The gunk that you see built up in a matter of 100km. I changed the twin filters on my Inter 574 tractor yesterday and they were clean as...
I guess what I'm saying is that B100 is OK as long as it's washed properly. (Illegally) I regularly tip a couple of litres of canola into my tank to improve the lubricity of the petrodiesel and so preserve injection pump seals. Can't be too careful in these days of ULSD.

[gldgti]

VW designed engines to run on diesel not fish & chip shop waste!
VW designed engines to run on petrol not compost (ethanol)!

its true...

its definately not something that should stop you though.

theres a small victory for the environment in every litre of biodiesel burned, and damn the consequences...

thats what i say anyway.

my diesel was made to run on "petrolium derived diesel fuel oil", however it is a simple matter to optimise it to be used with more environmentally friendly methyl esters - thus the world gets closer to a green future.

[hiho]

"The use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant today. But such oils may become in the course of time as important as the petroleum and coal tar products of the present time"
Rudolph Diesel, 1912

Peanut (oil)

Seriously though, Im making washed, neutral pH biodiesel and altough its a bit harder to start on a cold morning and ive had to replace the cheap pre fuel filter i had installed ($3), are there any other issues with running a GLD on Biodiesl?

Thanks [/quote]

[imported_brackie]

The very first diesel prototypes ran on coal dust. In coal mines this is known as "black damp" and is highly explosive.

A diesel engine can run on almost any hydrocarbon fuel, the trick is to get it into a form that is suitable for the sophisticated injection gear of a modern diesel engine. I think my pic of the contents of my Pug's fuel filter shows that you can get it wrong! (By the way, it was the former owner that ran it on biodiesel, not me )

Biodiesel and SVO swell rubber (and synthetic rubber) seals, of that there's no doubt, and greatly increase the lubricity of the fuel. Plenty of diesel owners who were suffering from injection pump leaks due the seal-shrinking effects of ULSD have turned to biodiesel and solved the problem in one. I put canola oil in my tank(s) for that very reason.

BUT IF YOU'RE MAKING BIODIESEL YOU HAVE TO ENSURE THAT IT'S DONE PROPERLY!!!!