BioDiesel - advice please

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AndyD_OHD
AndyD_OHD Posts: 367 Forumite
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in Green & ethical MoneySaving
Hi All,
We recently got a diesel car, and I have been thinking seriously of starting to use biodiesel. So what I wondered was whether anyone had any experience of using it? In particular, do I need to get something done to the car to use it, methods of procurement, processing, etc.?

Cheers
Andy
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  • mjr600
    mjr600 Posts: 760 Forumite
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    Hello Andy

    I've just gone back to diesel for a change and have been looking at the bio diesel option to make running it even cheaper. Have a look at the sites below for the location of filling stations, all diesels after 1996 seem bio diesel compatible and the only suggestion is a fuel filter change. Some people suggest running a combination of normal and bio diesel depending on the car.

    http://www.biodieselfillingstations.co.uk/

    http://www.rixbiodiesel.co.uk/
  • steady__eddie
    steady__eddie Posts: 1,455 Forumite
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    Check out this thread http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=305127 it may give you an idea if you can use it safely in your motor.
  • AndyD_OHD
    AndyD_OHD Posts: 367 Forumite
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    Hi there,
    Many thanks for the info. I am emailing a few peole for more info on how appropriate it is for our car, etc.

    Cheers
    Andy
  • arkonite_babe
    arkonite_babe Posts: 7,375 Forumite
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    This would be better suited to the green and ethical board so I shall move it across for you :)
  • cepheus
    cepheus Posts: 20,053 Forumite
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    This lists the models and years which are suitable for pure Biodiesel and why you should avoid using it in certain vehicles.

    http://www.biodieselfillingstations.co.uk/approvals.htm
  • AndyD_OHD
    AndyD_OHD Posts: 367 Forumite
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    Thanks for the links guys.
    However, I wondered if anyone on the forums has actually made this transition....? If so could you post any advice here?

    Cheers
    Andy
  • kevinwj
    kevinwj Posts: 86 Forumite
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    If your doing this to be green and help the environment then you may want to think again after reading this,

    http://www.newscientist.com/blog/environment/

    scroll down to monday April 23rd entry.

    .
  • AndyD_OHD
    AndyD_OHD Posts: 367 Forumite
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    Interesting Reading..... I'd need to read the paper myself and check out the statistical methods used, funding bodies for the research, etc. But interesting anyway.

    Andy
  • eilidh_s
    eilidh_s Posts: 254 Forumite
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    I know of someone who runs their land rover of chip pan fat from one of the local chippies. No modifications were neccessary. I'm not sure whether its as efficient as diesel or anything but it certainly smells interesting when it goes by.
  • Solomon_Broad
    Solomon_Broad Posts: 407 Forumite
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    Older diesel engines should run fine on pure chip fat. Newer ones can't cope. A friend of mine has an old old Land Rover 90. It's been running on chip fat for over a year now, no problems. However, his Vauxhall Frontera had something go (how technical am I?) on it, which he says was due to running chip fat. I don't recall now what it was. An injector? Anyway, the Landie doesn't have a whatever-it-is, so there's no problem.

    From a legal point of view, you are required to inform the DVLA that you are running on chip fat. You'll be taxed on it, but it still works out less than if you run it on other fuels.

    Alternatively, if you have lots of chickens....
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