TD5 on Bio Doesel?

[Dac]

Has anyone tried running their TD5 on Bio diesel or have any knowledge of running a vehicle on it? I am interested in giving it a go.
Darrell 2000 TD5 ES

[Phoenix]

There was a bloke who was interviewed by overlander who ran his TD5 on biodesiel without any problems, and I think they (or somebody else) on this forum was doing it as well.

I know that the person who was interviewed did post a note on the overlander forum though.

You can find it here.

http://forums.overlander.com.au/viewtopic.php't=25283

[rmp]

Originally posted by Phoenix
There was a bloke who was interviewed by overlander who ran his TD5 on biodesiel without any problems, and I think they (or somebody else) on this forum was doing it as well.

I know that the person who was interviewed did post a note on the overlander forum though.

You can find it here.

http://forums.overlander.com.au/viewtopic.php't=25283

Correct, he runs it without any problems and is rightly proud of the fact he's not visited a fuel station this year.

There are others I'm aware of who do the same.

The difference between a TD5 on biodiesel and on petrodiesel is quite amazing, noticeably smoother and quieter.

It was the April issue of Overlander, get a copy from back issues. The article will be on the Overlander website in due course.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

I'm pretty sure that in the handbook it specifically recomends that you don't run biodiesel 8O 8O

[rmp]

Originally posted by Captain_Rightfoot
I'm pretty sure that in the handbook it specifically recomends that you don't run biodiesel 8O 8O

It does. And your LR dealer would probably recommend not to do it and say your warranty would be voided, if they even understood what BD is.

On the same lines, LR would take a dim view of a suspension lift, chipping, larger tyres...all sorts of mods people do without a second thought.

The manufacturers have their position. I can tell you none of them will warrant home-produced biodiesel. However, many I spoke to would warrant a blend of commercial biodiesel. They cannot finalise this policy as commercial biodiesel is not readily available in Australia, but if we look at Europe and the USA, manufacturers do warrant biodiesels blends, Audi/VW in particular will go to B100.

[biodieselbob]

Hi,

I'm the guy in the Overlander magazine with the TD5... its a 2001 Defender 130, running B100.. and has covered approx. 6,000km on B100, todate, and as Robert says, I've not been to a fuel station all year to buy diesel for the Landie.. nor had *any* problems running the fuel.. only positive experiences.. NO sulphur, smoother, quieter and well lubricated engine.

I've been making the fuel for a while, trial batches at first (in the kitchen at home.. and I'm still married!!).

I use the Journey To Forever/Mike Pelly's recipe and wash and filter the fuel (down to 2 microns) (http://journeytoforever.org).. yes - I was nervoud when I was putting the first batch into the Defender.. but I had taken all precautions I could take.. ran in the generator first.. washed all impurities out, had the fuel go through a 2 micron fuel filter..

The following link provides good information about what biodiesel is, and some chemistry background as to what goes on..

http://www.me.iastate.edu/biodiesel/pages/...biodiesel1.html (http://www.me.iastate.edu/biodiesel/pages/biodiesel1.html)

hope this helps others who are either thinking about making their own fuel, or other who are waiting for a commerical operation and are interested in the fuel.

fwiw - I have no intention on putting the filthy dino-diesel in my landrover, ever again.

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regards,

biodiesel bob.

[Ace]

Hi Bob, I have read the websites, but can not get a clear set of instructions on what to do. Can you provide us with some instructions on how to make it. (if you were to provide the instructions, people would of course make Biodiesel at their own risk, if they stuff it, it has nothing to do with you). Matt

[biodieselbob]

Sorry - I should have posted the following link:

http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_mike.html

which gives the step-by-step instructions/recipe for the making of your own fuel. As I said earlier, start with small batches.. 'cos if the chemical reaction doesn't work, maybe 'cos you've missed a step, or mis-calculated quantities, a small mess is easier to clean than 200 litres of mess.

your local hobby shop will have small quantities of methanol, the hardware shop has caustic soda, which are the other ingredients to add to the waste veggie oil.

remember... methanol and caustic soda are dangerous chemicals. Read the cautions - carefully.. and remember that you are doing this at your own risk.

regards,

biodiesel bob

[biodieselbob]

oh, another page on the journey to forever website, that is very useful:

http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html

regards,

biodiesel bob

[wardy1]

Well...... I have read all of the above, including the links and have come to one very strong conclussion........

I'd rather be driving my Td5 through the bush on the weekends than spend my weekends making BioDiesel.

Long live the great outdoors!

Long live our freedom to enjoy it!

A greenie I am, a Zealot I'm not!

[mick88]

Hi,
a guy I know purchased a series 3 with a perkins 4 cyl diesel in it.
The vehicle had been owned by a spud farmer in the Qld hinterland and he had it ran for years on home made diesel and it did not seem to any problems. It seems like a good thing to me.
I don't think the authorities like it much though, John Howard does not get his GST and your basicly evading tax.


Mick.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Originally posted by biodieselbob
oh, another page on the journey to forever website, that is very useful:

http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html

regards,

biodiesel bob
Thanks for your input so far Bob. The real question that has to be asked though is, how much is it a litre?

[Ace]

Originally posted by Captain_Rightfoot+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Captain_Rightfoot)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-biodieselbob
oh, another page on the journey to forever website, that is very useful:

http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html

regards,

biodiesel bob
Thanks for your input so far Bob. The real question that has to be asked though is, how much is it a litre?[/b][/quote]

Hi CR, RMP did an article on biodiesel for Overlander Magazine, the article reckoned you can make it for around 40c/L, does this sound about right Bob? Matt

[biodieselbob]

my manufactured cost of the fuel is approx. $0.30 per litre.

this doesn't take into account the cost of my home-brew setup, which was approx. $800 - which is recovered after 6 batches of fuel. one batch is 170l

time to make the fuel - about 2 hrs of effort to make the fuel, and then about another 2hrs of effort to wash/filter the fuel.. (there is about 2 week settling time between, but this is only 'cos I make it out of town and I only get to the farm on weekends)

regards,

biodiesel bob