what is diesel?

[imported_brackie]

Working on a single tank biodiesel processor.

What's that, Smithy??? Are you going for straight veggie oil? I'm working on a twin veggie oil conversion so I can run on poppy seed oil @70 cents per litre.

[16valvertwin45s]

Phew :!: :!: :!:

[syncro]

Hills.
Syncro.. I'm afraid your comment about diesels and hills is no longer valid. Sure, my 1.5 struggles but I test drove that 1.9 TDI up some of the steepest hills in Launceston and it flew up them. There is so much torque that petrol engined cars just couldn't keep up. I suggest you take one for a drive...you'll be amazed.

Sorry to be so long winded on this guys but the diesel vs petrol debate will never go to sleep. The bottom line is you either love them or hate them. I love them.

Yes, I am talking about perception. The 1500 and most of the other diesels of that era were gutless. Reliability and repair costs were also a problem. Short trips really killed them!

By the way, I'm a diesel fan and would love to have a 1.9 in my Transporter. I ordered a new GLD in '78, but after waiting six months it didn't arrive. I worked out the economics as the diesel cost $400 more than the petrol at the time, I would have to keep the car 5 years to get my money back using 50% less fuel.

[Golf Loon]

You Loons

Swallowtail is a 1975 German Built Golf, registered in Oz, early 1976.

I've never seen a '75 here except a private import 1500.

Apparently LNC brought in a few (less than ten) for testing purposes. They came in German colours, mars red, etc.

Yeah but the first batch of 1976 cars are really 1975s with the different rear beaver panel. Gotta love the RTA. Still I suppose they did arrive in Oz in 76, its just that they were made 6 months befor in Germany. I have owned several swallowtails and they were all pre april 76s.

[syncro]

If they were made after August '75, they were '76s. Don't read anything into the compliance place, just read the chassis number. We had a model change here around May '76 (and lost a few horsepower as well).

Maybe we had swallowtails later than Germany?

Golfs went on sale here in Feb '76.

[peter_j_g]

Another factor in the petrol vs diesel equation is the annual tax. In Australia there is no difference in the annual registration fee between petrol & diesel cars. In most european countries there is an extra annual tax on diesel vehicles. For example I pay an extra 560 euro per year on a 99 passat tdi wagon, compared to a petrol passat wagon. The prices at the pumps are 1.05 euro per litre for diesel, 1.35 euro per litre for 95 octane petrol.

Crunching the numbers, if you do more than around 15,000km per year here it's better to have a diesel. Also diesels have a much stronger resale here. About 30% of all new car sales are diesel, around 50% for VW/Audi.

By the way you can buy biodiesel in Australia, the price is $1.27 per litre. Here is the link:

http://www.northcoastbiodiesel.com

In Sydney you can buy it at the BioDiesel station on Marrickville Rd, Marrickville.

[smithy010]

What's that, Smithy??? Are you going for straight veggie oil? I'm working on a twin veggie oil conversion so I can run on poppy seed oil @70 cents per litre.

No Brackie, i'm going to be producing biodiesel in a single reactor tank (instead of a dual tank biodiesel processor). Then the biodiesel just goes straight into the diesel tank and it runs as happy as larry. First i gotta get a diesel tank! (hooked up to a diesel engine, of course).
FYI, if i can get free feedstock oil (used oil from fish&chip shops), i can make the biodiesel for around 35c a litre.[/quote]

[imported_brackie]

I understand. I thought you were going for SVO. Sounds like you know what you're doing but there are traps. My Peugeot ran on biodiesel for over a year (previous owner) and I'm paying the price! I've just had to replace the fuel tank as it had rusted out and was pouring diesel on the ground. The whole fuel system is full of rust and crap. I've changed the fuel filter 3 times and now it's staring to look a little better.

So, just be careful that you make it properly.



Above is what came out of the fuel filter.

Oh.. And Peter jg the Pug was running perfectly and starting first time with fuel like this. Maybe that's not the problem with the Red One????

[smithy010]

Sounds like there was water in the biodiesel, or leftover catalyst... i'm going to be very cautious.

[Edison]

My Peugeot ran on biodiesel for over a year (previous owner) and I'm paying the price! I've just had to replace the fuel tank as it had rusted out and was pouring diesel on the ground. The whole fuel system is full of rust and crap. I've changed the fuel filter 3 times and now it's staring to look a little better.

Hi Brackie, yes, water is usually used in many biodiesel making processes, so rust can be expected, if you need a new tank try getting something that won't rust, if you are very thrifty you might consider a thick stainless steel tank that holds maybe 50 litres or so and is about the size of a BEER KEG of course you can't use a beer keg because they are always returnable, and you'd have trouble with plumbing one anyhow, without access to the inside, hoses would need to attatch to a different plate, held on by small threaded bolts with a rubber spacer between the plate and the tank, and thats a lot of bother and of course you can't USE A BEER KEG in the boot for biodiesel and the regular tank for rego inspections and diesel, it'd be too much bother, but if you could find something exactly like a BEER KEG but not a keg, you'd be right as rain.