Gull BioD & D3-TDV6

[Mike&Loz]

Okay I've read my handbook, at least part of it, and LR say that bio fuel is strictly verboten in my '05 D3 HSE. Gull servos here in Perth have Bio-D which is up to 20% bio and sometimes 10c/L cheaper than dino D.

I have used it in my NP Pajero quite a bit with no adverse affect to either performance or economy (that I've noticed).

I was wondering if anyone has taken the risk and run it in their D3.

Regards

Mike

[SuperMono]

No and for $8 per tank saving I wouldn't be rushing to be the first to try.

[isuzurover]

I have run it in my old-tech DI diesels.

However, it is not worth it on a D3/4.

Bio gives better lubricity, however on a commonrail diesel you will get more rapid polymerisation/degredation of the diesel.

[Mike&Loz]

No and for $8 per tank saving I wouldn't be rushing to be the first to try.

Good point. Thanks.

[Mike&Loz]

I have run it in my old-tech DI diesels.

However, it is not worth it on a D3/4.

Bio gives better lubricity, however on a commonrail diesel you will get more rapid polymerisation/degredation of the diesel.

Thanks Isuzurover. I just thought with so many other diesels including CRD using it it wouldn't be a problem.

[isuzurover]

Thanks Isuzurover. I just thought with so many other diesels including CRD using it it wouldn't be a problem.

You probably wouldn't have a problem. But with the cost of injectors/engines if something goes wrong...

Out of warranty I would use it.

Fuel regs in Australia allow 5% bio in normal diesel (without labelling). So that much is allowed. 10% will probably arrive soon.

Bear in mind you get increased oil dilution (with fuel) with Bio, so you would need to factor in more frequent oil changes if using bio regularly.

EDIT - I am not aware of any manufacturers of CRD engines who allow more than 10% bio.

[Mike&Loz]

Looking around at other forums from Europe and such I'll probably give it a miss as well then.

A google search on "common rail biodiesel" brought up a truckload of hits including these.

Common Rail and Biodiesel - TDIClub Forums

Biodiesel in common rail engines - Bio Fuels Forums

I grabbed these 2 cause they were close to the top and seemed to have a fairly balanced for and against with some interesting information.

I'm not a proponent one way or the other but given that the original diesel engine was meant to run on peanut oil and quite few are home brewing their own bio-diesel I could see it eventually being accepted.

My daughter runs Gull in her '09 Triton and reckons she usually sees slightly poorer economy when she puts in the dino-d. Then again this is probably just a perception because of varied driving conditions and methods.

Anyway it is definitely food for thought.

[superquag]

May I make a few comments to add fuel to the mix.... sorry, am high on the puns tonight...

I used to make BioDiesel years ago, when it was untouched by current taxes/rules/interference and I'd lay claim to making the 2nd best brew in WA back then.

Whilst most of my "production" went into my daily drivers, a sizeable amount of the excess was sold off to guys at my work, which gave me some feedback on CRD's, - 5 years ago.

With the 'export' stuff, I'd make sure it was properly water-washed and dried. This could be a Pain in the Sit-upon as it was time and energy-intensive, but the Gold Standard for BioDiesel. Certainly safer than using a powder-chemical to take out the gunge and water etc, then filtering out the resultant.
When I last checked, the company making the pure bio for Gull in WA was not 'water-washing' but rather using this other method.

This, along with differant feed-stocks and quality of reaction may explain why some CRD users report troubles...and others none.
From my own experience, the source of oil is the biggest single variable. - Palm oil makes a nice brew, but problematical in cold climates, Canola the most consistant.
But palm oils are cheap, so your commercial manufacturers are going to use it whether you like it or not!.

All of my users reported the same as my own experiments... losing some top-end speed, (you should'nt be revving diesels into those numbers!) the torque-band starting earlier and smoother which meant an earlier gear-shift upwards, slight reduction in 'diesel knock' at idle and 'persistance' when you really should have changed down a lot earlier....

The enormous pressures in the latest common-rail diesels might not go down too well with 'simple' fuels such as biodiesel, which really begs the question as to whether they're too 'technological'. - Bit like Microsoft's Windows with the increasing capacity of computers... more speed encourages MS to bloat windows with more features...which drives chip-makers to faster chips with more memory...which the next Windows soaks up with "features".....

Complex, expensive and fussy diesels running on expensive fuel will only survive if we keep on buying them...

My 2 cents worth to the brew...

[superquag]

.. and here's another biodiesel forum though LR don't rate a special section...

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