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Can I use it in my engine? |
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Written by Administrator
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Sunday, 11 September 2005 |
 If you have a diesel engine in your vehicle – yes!
No good for petrol engines, sorry, your only alternatives are Ethanol
(only as an additive to petrol unless your engine is specially
modified), LPG, or CNG (also requires modification).Ask your vehicle
manufacturer why they have not bothered bringing diesel passenger cars
into Australia, while they are so much more available in more forward
thinking markets like Europe.
So, if you own any sort of diesel engine, biodiesel is for you! This is
the fuel your engine was originally designed to use, not the petro
stuff, that has seemed like the only choice for far too long! Your
engine will purr on biodiesel, last longer and wear better due to the
greater lubricity of biodiesel.
There are a few very minor considerations that you need to know about biodiesel before you pour it in:
1. Biodiesel is known to clean out all the gunk that petrodiesel can
leave behind in your tank and your fuel lines. If you have had
petrodiesel in your system before, chances are that it will have left a
residue behind. When you first pour in the biodiesel, it will clean out
all the residue and flush it towards your fuel filter. It is possible
that this can clog your filter. Solutions to this are easy: a) Replace
your fuel filter after your first tank of biodiesel. b) Install a
pre-filter before your fuel filter to catch this first batch of
petro-gunk.
2. Biodiesel is also really great at biodegrading things. If any of
your hoses that are part of your fuel system are made of natural
rubber, then the biodiesel will cause these to swell and corrode.
Replacing these with a synthetic product, such as Viton® will prevent
this from being a problem. Replacements like this are cheap and easy.
Most modern diesel engines (since about ’94) will already have
synthetic fuel lines.
If you ask your local mechanic, chances are that they will tell you it
will damage your engine and you should not use it. You need to inform
yourself better, as do they before taking this sort of opinion on
board. Our members who have actually been using biodiesel will attest
to the truth of the matter – that it is actually better for your engine
than petro diesel. Before you take any negative opinions on board, ask
whether the opinions are based on real experience, or on ignorant fear
of the unknown. Please check in our forums if you would like to dicuss this further.
In France all petro diesel is blended with a minimum of 5% biodiesel to
aid lubricity. This is because the new ultra-low sulphur diesel gets to
be very hard on the engine when they take out the sulphur. Biodiesel
was found to be the best and cleanest additive to restore performance
and still meet the new pollution controls.
Other FAQs
What is Biodiesel?
What about performance and economy?
How is it made and where does it come from?
Is it a safe fuel?
What are the environmental benefits?
How can I make it?
Where can I buy it?
Tax issues. |
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 25 September 2005 )
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