Bio-diesel in your Landy. Anyone tried or tempted?

There's a couple of blokes doing it up here, who've often been on radio talking about it and have said it's very time consuming. Getting enough used chip oil is a bit of a problem apparently as those who need to get rid of are realising its value elsewhere. But if I had a diesel, I'd be looking maybe. But when a Landy is supposed torun at around 33mpg (diesel) its pretty good in comparison to the petrol versions which suck thru twice as much (or more) petrol.

Have al augh if you like, guys, but I've been doing lots of research on electric cars, which wont suit the Disco, but I have an X19 in the shed in need of some minor TLC and maybe a new electric motor. Keep the D for the big family jobs and run around in the X19. Given the situation with 'oil' other power forms of all types have to interesting and i think in the future there will be many alternatives, including things we probably haven't even thought of, as yet.

GQ

g'day - I run 100% biodiesel... homebrew - in my TD5. I am interested in where the manual says "not compatible with biodiesel", 'cos I've not found it..

I have had no problems, and have been using the fuel for the past year..

possibly slight reduction in power, but that's all I've noticed... apart from the pleasant aroma at the exhaust.. (its a great party trick.. :-) )

(Hiline has seen my car, and a sample of my fuel, smelt the exhaust etc..)

manufactured cost is approx. $0.30 per litre.

regards,

biodiesel bob.

oh.. and the post earlier about the "Alex Kac's fool proof method on the Journey to Forever web site" ... Do not use this method.. it does not work.

Use the Mike Pelly method..

btw - I do know of a few people who have been running biodiesel in their TDI motors - WITH NO TROUBLE.

diesel engines were actiually designed to run on vegetable oils... remember diesel fuel (no.1 (kerosene) and no.2 (diesel)) only came into their own in the 1930s..

fear not... if you make good quality (easy) fuel, then your diesel car will love you for it...

I've noticed and had comments from others that my car is quieter, and the smoothest runing TD5, they've seen..

the fuel has an advantage of lubricating the engine.. which no other fuel can do.

oh, that's enough.. I could go on..

regards,
biodiesel bob.

mick(D110V8D) and myself are going to try a batch of our own [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]



bio bob could you please send me some info [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

Quote:

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Originally posted by biodieselbob
g'day - I run 100% biodiesel... homebrew - in my TD5. I am interested in where the manual says "not compatible with biodiesel", 'cos I've not found it..

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Biodieselbob,
Ive only had my 05 TD5 defender for three months, but I am familiar with the owners manual. Its in the technical data section on engines (pages 170 in my book) and also page 78 under the heading Fuel filling - types of fuel.

bongo,

I've got a 2001 TD5 and the owners manual, which I am also familiar with, does not mention biodiesel (BD).. nor does it have 170 pages!! which explains why I've never found it, despite my search efforts. Oh, well..

I guess it doesn't mention why one should avoid biodiesel, eh?

the only published side-effects on using this fuel are :

1. some people have reported a cleaning effect on their fuel system. This is because BD is a mild solvent, which will clean out any residue that is in your fuel system.. and particularly, if you have steel fuel tanks.. which the TD5's do not, *may* pose a problem.. easily rectified by changing your fuel filter after the first tank or two of BD... and as I said, easily fixed/avoided.

2. rubber components don't like methanol.. nor mild solvents.. and these components can perish, at least its been reported that this is result of BD.. again, LandRovers have synthetic rubber hosing on their fuel systems, and my fuel lines are not porous. :-) other users replace their rubber lines with Viton fuel linees...

3. some people have reported poor fuel economy, poor performance. This appears to be dependant on the engine itself.. some report their engines have never been better.. i.e. better performance, better fuel economy.. My personal experience is that the TD5 engine runs with similar performance and similar fuel economy.. oh, and it doesn't have that clatter that other diesels have.


Apart from all this.. there is an interesting question...

if it is true that you cannot run BD in your Landrover - What does LandRover do for their vehicles in Europe?? French diesel fuel is 5% BD. Other European countries are supplying more and more BD into their diesel fuel..

regards,

biodiesel bob... [/b]

My handbook does not cover BD either (Disco '03 TD5).. I have been examining the possibilty of making a small batch to work out the procedures and, if I am happy then look at making larger useful batches. With the price of fuel now I can imagine there will be a lot of other poeple trying it too

I've got the Owner's Manual on CD. It states on pages 5, 126, 238 & 254:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>This vehicle is NOT compatible with ‘Bio-diesel’ fuel.[/b][/quote]
This is from <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>Publication Part No. LRL0545AUS - 2nd Edition © Land Rover 2003[/b][/quote]
Does this apply to earlier models too?

Ian

Thanks for your interesting posts bio-diesel bob (and thanks to Bongo & igould for the info re TD5s)

Bob it sounds from your moniker and your postings that you have some experience with this and have discussed it before. Is there another forum we could go and browse that might save you from repeating yourself?

well..

I've been making my own fuel for a while now (over 12 months) and I must admit it feels odd going to a fuel station.. (I've been to one 4 times this year).

the following link:

http://localb100.com/

is probably the best starting point..

I started at the Journey to Forever site, and use the Mike Pelly method, i.e. waste veggie oil (WVO) caustic soda, & methanol.. with some instructions from a biodiesel book from tasman energy (www.tasmanenergy.com.au)..

start out with small batches.. i.e. 500ml, or 1litre before you start production..

another forum to read/research is:

http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/ubb.x

there is a lot of good information there.

regards,

biodiesel bob..