To BIO or not?

[Steamin' Eejit]

In an earlier post ...

[QUOTE=joel_nicholson;521752]LOL. Just squizzed at a TD5 Fender Manual and it has in bold "Not compatible with Bio Diesel.:bangin:

Maybe I am blind but I don't see this reference in my manual ... where abouts did you read this?

Any other members like to offer a comment? I have run mine on Bio for a couple of months now, wouldn't be "worried" until starting problems appeared recently! I'm not sure it's the fuel, I did change the filter myself - screwed off and on - maybe I have air in the lines or something? However reading other posts leads me to believe if you turn ignition to II, wait 10-15 secs it is purging anyway?

I did notice (after a prompt from one posting) to check the fuel cut off switch, which was up - but I hadn't had a "crash" - put that down and I think the starting is better ... but every now and then it's back to problems.

Started thinking along the lines of the cold mornings, last couple of weeks it has been cold in Kalgoorlie, but even after a few runs it still plays up but not as bad.

That's how I started thinking maybe it's the Bio in the tank? Not checked the sedimenter yet ... I don't know where it is :-) ... just trying one thing at a time.

Not sure if this is related, but after I took it in for the last service (not a landrover garage) about 3000km ago I did notice the fuel pump runnning at very speeds for a day or two before it went back to normal ... maybe I should be looking there now? I can hear it running but is it now quiter than original before the service - how do you check all is normal there?? It does have a problem starting if the nose is on an incline.

Every now and then the engine warning light comes on, not sure if I should be worried here, or if that is a symptom of the poor starting. I don't crank for more than 20s as per the manual.

Pointers anyone?

[mcrover]

Are you makeing your own fuel or is it the comercialy available stuff?

[Steamin' Eejit]

Commercial

[tombraider]

Yep.... IN the UK several tuners also say dont use Bio....

Throw some Chemtech through the tank using Proper Diesel and see how it goes...

[abaddonxi]

I run bio in my 300tdi and find that it takes a little more effort to start in the winter mornings, maybe twice as long? I put it down to bio being a lot thicker and having a higher combustion temp.

Don't know if it's true or not, my 2c.

Cheers
Simon

[shorty943]

I remember hearing something about certain older diesels that did not do well on the lower sulpher content of the early bio-diesel.

This in mind, SAFF, have reworked the formula. Now the Super Truck Race series is sponsored by and raced solely on SAFF bio-diesel. And for the first time ever, those over injected rigs are NOT blowing black smoke out of corners, they make more horsepower and for the first time I have ever heard, THEY STAY CLEAN. Yes, a diesel engine that now does not turn brand new oil black at the first turn of the key.:o
Even Mrs. Marsh is impressed.:D And the fish shop smell makes a pleasant change to the sulpher laden stink of conventional diesel fuel.


Shorty.

[abaddonxi]

I remember hearing something about certain older diesels that did not do well on the lower sulpher content of the early bio-diesel.

This in mind, SAFF, have reworked the formula. Now the Super Truck Race series is sponsored by and raced solely on SAFF bio-diesel. And for the first time ever, those over injected rigs are NOT blowing black smoke out of corners, they make more horsepower and for the first time I have ever heard, THEY STAY CLEAN. Yes, a diesel engine that now does not turn brand new oil black at the first turn of the key.:o
Even Mrs. Marsh is impressed.:D And the fish shop smell makes a pleasant change to the sulpher laden stink of conventional diesel fuel.


Shorty.

Yes.

My truck was put over the dyno on bio - first one on bio mechanic had ever done - and he was gobsmacked at how clean the oil was.

Don't know if it's a great thing, but it is clean.

Cheers
Simon

[B92 8NW]

In an earlier post ...

[quote=joel_nicholson;521752]LOL. Just squizzed at a TD5 Fender Manual and it has in bold "Not compatible with Bio Diesel.:bangin:

Maybe I am blind but I don't see this reference in my manual ... where abouts did you read this?

Any other members like to offer a comment? I have run mine on Bio for a couple of months now, wouldn't be "worried" until starting problems appeared recently! I'm not sure it's the fuel, I did change the filter myself - screwed off and on - maybe I have air in the lines or something? However reading other posts leads me to believe if you turn ignition to II, wait 10-15 secs it is purging anyway?

I did notice (after a prompt from one posting) to check the fuel cut off switch, which was up - but I hadn't had a "crash" - put that down and I think the starting is better ... but every now and then it's back to problems.

Started thinking along the lines of the cold mornings, last couple of weeks it has been cold in Kalgoorlie, but even after a few runs it still plays up but not as bad.

That's how I started thinking maybe it's the Bio in the tank? Not checked the sedimenter yet ... I don't know where it is :-) ... just trying one thing at a time.

Not sure if this is related, but after I took it in for the last service (not a landrover garage) about 3000km ago I did notice the fuel pump runnning at very speeds for a day or two before it went back to normal ... maybe I should be looking there now? I can hear it running but is it now quiter than original before the service - how do you check all is normal there?? It does have a problem starting if the nose is on an incline.

Every now and then the engine warning light comes on, not sure if I should be worried here, or if that is a symptom of the poor starting. I don't crank for more than 20s as per the manual.

Pointers anyone?

I read that quote from the Fuel Recommendations page on my PDF Copy of a Disco 2 Manual. No manufacturer as of yet has endorsed using 100% Biodiesel, they are simply covering their buttocks by providing disclaimers like that.

[PhilipA]

If you read the article in LRO a few months ago, Land Rover were boasting how the TD5 unit injectors could run aviation fuel , kero etc, or basically anything and how the yank army loves it.
It is unaffected by low lubricity etc.
If any diesel was safe with bio it would be the TD5, but then injectors are expensive.
Regards Philip A

[Quarks]

I'm no expert, but as I understood it biodiesel has a higher lubricity than normal diesel, which in turn has a higher lubricity than kero and jet fuel.

I guess if Land Rover are saying it's fine to run on the low lubricity stuff (I also seem to remember someone saying avtur was used for testing on the td5) then perhaps the injectors and so on are designed for that sort of range of lubricity, rather than a higher range of lubricity including biodiesel.

That said, anything can be used in a way different to originally intended!

[tombraider]

LR specifically told me the TD5 is NOT biodiesel compatible.

It only takes an (expensive) call to the UK tech department to find out....