Touareg R5 and Biodiesel

[greygolf8]

Diesel fuel made today from crude oil has to be used by someone (has to be sold).
Why should one take a risk and use biodiesel when petroleum diesel should be used.
Don’t wrongly assume that biodiesel with higher cetane number will give you more power. The opposite is the truth.
You gaining nothing by using biodiesel.

Do you work for caltex or BP ?

I disagree with your opinion. Biodiesel is widely used in other countries. In Newcastle, Caltex diesel has ~5% biod from Rutherfords. Why would they do that ? Perhaps it has benefits ? Currently dino diesel is the exclusive domain of big oil companies. Bio can be produced by small or medium companies or even home users with the right local resources. I grasp the biod doesnt give the equiv power or range, but it has alternate properties that you ignore. Simply saying that its a huge risk doesnt cut it with me.

My golf doesnt have a dpf and I had no problems with bio at 100% or mixed at 10%. A workmate toured Europe in a rented polo over 2 months using biod when available with no problems.

In the end its a personal decision by the owner, but feel free to contradict me

[Transporter]

Do you work for caltex or BP ?

I disagree with your opinion. Biodiesel is widely used in other countries. In Newcastle, Caltex diesel has ~5% biod from Rutherfords. Why would they do that ? Perhaps it has benefits ? Currently dino diesel is the exclusive domain of big oil companies. Bio can be produced by small or medium companies or even home users with the right local resources. I grasp the biod doesnt give the equiv power or range, but it has alternate properties that you ignore. Simply saying that its a huge risk doesnt cut it with me.

My golf doesnt have a dpf and I had no problems with bio at 100% or mixed at 10%. A workmate toured Europe in a rented polo over 2 months using biod when available with no problems.

In the end its a personal decision by the owner, but feel free to contradict me

No I don't work for any oil company.
I'm diesel mechanic by trade with over 28 years experience.
I'm not going to argue with you, if you are happy to use biodiesel because your workmate used it for 2 months with no problems.
To me it is just a little bit short time for testing.
If Oil Company blends biodiesel to petroleum diesel the quality is controlled, risk is minimum and diesel is made to DIN EN 590.
Biodiesel is not DIN EN 590 and warranty is voided and if you use only biodiesel right from the day one you could be for very expensive repair bill just before the warranty runs out.
Good luck.

P.S. Today's CR diesel engines can run on nano particles of AL, Fe and many other metals with minimum modifications and good results. Idea from 80's but metal filings stuffed up the engine very early.
Anybody for experimenting with different kind of fuel?

[Moonan]

Bluey, I apologise, I made the mistake of believing a salesman... the 1.9 and 103kW 2.0 in Golfs are indeed shown in the current VW Oz website as not having DPF's. And I think it is a current brochure (ie up to date) as it refers to "Pacific" and "edition" not comfortline etc...

MRL T5, I know you are very "anti" biodiesel, and that your position is very common amongst diesel mechanics who have seen or heard of lots of different snake oil made and sold as alternative fuels over many years. But please be careful to state your opinions showing respect to others who might either have a different view, or indeed have done some different research and found some different answers .
I respect your right to your opinions, and what follows is not to try and convince you - but to provide an alternative point of view for readers of this thread - one which is based on my research and experience...
For example, the owners manual for my R5 Touareg is very clear in approving biodiesel, the only stipulation being that it must meet the relevant standard. Indeed they are equally clear in stating the penalty for using substandard biodiesel - the fuel filter will need to be changed more often.
Also, the biodiesel factory at Rutherford was developed and is owned and run, I believe, in association with a large family trucking business. They do not make this stuff to con unwary motorists, they make it to fuel their fleet of trucks that travel millions of km every year. IMHO, they wouldn't do this if it cost them money or damaged or shortened the life of their engines. Every batch of biodiesel made there is independently certified to meet the Australian Biodiesel standard (ComLaw F2006C00556), and exceeds the requirements of the euro-std. The feed stock for this plant is varied. It was mostly canola oil before the drought, and is currently around 95% recycled cooking oil.

As such, I have been happy to run my Touareg R5 on mostly B100 for around 100,000 of the 120,000km on the clock so far. This is only my personal preference, others are free to differ.

cheers,

[Transporter]

Hi Moonan,
I’m not against biodiesel. If I would have the old diesel engine with mechanical fuel injection in old van or car I would happily run it on a home brew biodiesel.
My manual for T5 also says, "ok" to bio diesel (Information in owner’s manuals can be out of date, please refer to VW technical department) but current TDi "not".
So it is beyond the point to argue about it. Manufacturer says "no" and that should be enough. The reason for that could be that there is not enough fuel stations with guaranteed quality of biodiesel or perhaps that everybody's driving conditions are different and you certainly cannot compare commercial company truck with pensioner driving diesel powered car. Car manufacturers have to give warranty usually 3 years or 100,000km and have to cover for different driving situations and servicing intervals.
To me the risk from using biodiesel is there and there is no financial benefit from using bio. It actually cost you more.
But if you have access to cheaper alternative fuel and are willing to take a risk, it is ok with me.
Many people come to read on this forum when they are in doubts with what ever, so why should someone say it is ok to use biodiesel when it is not. The owner’s manual says NO, sticker on the inside of the fuel flap says NO to biodiesel. Who knows better VW who makes the car or Farmers union or who ever who can make biodiesel?
Actually I know that many people just drive the car and don’t read the owner’s manual properly and just google everything and believe in what they see on computer screen or believe to the smooth talkers.

Some link from this site: Example of what can happen when some one use not approved fuel.
http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newf...ad.php?t=14982


This is my view and I mean no offence to anybody. It is everyone’s choice what they fill up in the tank.
How ever before you fill up with biodiesel:
http://www.dieselpowermag.com/tech/g...nty/index.html

Cheers,
MM