bio diesal (rubber pipe change)

[fatboy33]

i understand that when converting to bio diesal all rubber pipes around the fuel pump and at the bulk head will require changing cos methonal (the catalyst) dissolves them ! first clogging the fuel filter and then resulting in a fuel leek if they perish ! CAN anyone advise me ! has anyone ever undertaken this task before !
all and any help will be appreciated

richard !
loving my surf ! ! ! 2.4 td 1992 gun metal grey ! thirsty beast though !

[icsys]

I was wondering this myself as I have been using SVO on and off and more recently biodiesel as it is only 90p/litre (at the moment).
I know the plastic and rubber components in older vehicles, which come into contact with the fuel, eventually perish but I haven't found any mention of this in the forums (and I have been searching for as much info as possible).

[fatboy33]

to icsys.......................
SO you,ve actualy used bio diesal with no probs then ! wicked !
and straight veggie oil too ! go on that man !
i'll be starting from this weekend to !
thanks
richard
loving my surf

[icsys]

Only problem encountered so far is the fuel filter. It WILL clog after a while as the veg/bio loosens the crud left by mineral diesel.

I was lazy and left changing it too long resulting in fuel starvation, on the m/way I might add!

Replaced the filter and away she went.

[fatboy33]

i have a spare filter to hand ! thanks rough trax ! ! !
thanks for your advice to icsys !
all help and advice apprecited !!!
richard

[nero279]

When people say SVO, it does not mean they have used 100% veg oil, it means they have used a mix of veg oil and diesel. Plenty of forum members do or have done it.

SVO is simply used as a way of differentiating between new clean shop bought veg oil and WVO or waste veg oil.

Just thought i'd clear this up as i wasn't sure how you'd read it.

[The Lang-Shankit Scunner]

I would stick to a veg oil mix, and poss heater, its alot safer more proven and cheaper, im on a 100% kit, and feel that the savins are far more worthwhile.

[icsys]

I would stick to a veg oil mix, and poss heater, its alot safer more proven and cheaper, im on a 100% kit, and feel that the savins are far more worthwhile.

As you can imagine, I have tried to find out as much info as poss on ths subject. What I have read on various sites is...

"If using SVO for prolonged periods the fats can coke the injectors and pistons and could eventually cause engine damage and this is the reason it is processed to remove the fats and form biodiesel or RME".

I suppose two other questions are "how long is a prolonged period?" and "is there any truth in the above statement?"

At the current price of diesel (104 - 108 p/litre) i'm prepared to carry on using svo (30% ish) and bio based on the fact that many 'Surfers' have been using veggie for a long time with no adverse effects reported (so far).

[cataclysm]

i understand that when converting to bio diesal all rubber pipes around the fuel pump and at the bulk head will require changing cos methonal (the catalyst) dissolves them ! first clogging the fuel filter and then resulting in a fuel leek if they perish ! CAN anyone advise me ! has anyone ever undertaken this task before !
all and any help will be appreciated

richard !
loving my surf ! ! ! 2.4 td 1992 gun metal grey ! thirsty beast though !

If the Biodiesel is well made, there should be no methanol in it.
Unfortunately, most Biodiesel is back-yard stuff and has all sorts of nasty gunk in it (Sodium Hydroxide and Methanol being the worst).

If you use badly made Biodiesel, then it's a case of when your engine dies, not if.

Veg oil, on the other hand, is less suitable for the fuel system (i.e. the fuel system needs conversion); but the quality of fuel is excellent -- even for WVO, filtering and settling is harder to get wrong than the Methyltransestherfication.

[Morr]

......"If using SVO for prolonged periods the fats can coke the injectors and pistons and could eventually cause engine damage and this is the reason it is processed to remove the fats and form biodiesel or RME"...........

There is some truth in that, which is why those in the business of manufacturing BioDiesel will readily state it. Unfortunately in recent times the two main sides in the alternate fuel game ie veg-oil & biodiesel proponents have taken to defending their side vigorously whilst attacking the other.
From an environmental viewpoint we need both sides to continue and prosper, there's plenty of room for both in the market place.

....anyway, the question of whether SVO will cause problems with an engine, over a prolonged period, depends on many factors including the design of the engine, the condition of the engine, the ratio of SVO used, the driving style of the operator and other factors.
There are few scientific studies offering data on the potential damage SVO can do. Some engines will tolerate it for only a very short period of time before suffering damage whilst others have been shown capable of using it for extended periods without difficulty. Elsbett used to manufacture their own engines which were specifically designed to run permanently on 100% veg-oil.
As there have been no scientific tests to tell us how well the Surf engine tolerates SVO, you will have to make your own judgement. For this the experience of others is of course helpful. As many others on these forums have stated they have used varying ratios of veg-oil with great success. Some have had leaking top-seals on their fuel pumps, but I'm unaware of any other difficulties encountered.
Personally I've generally been using up to 80% (and occasionally higher) in the summer and 50% in the winter with no adverse effects over the last 60,000Km's or so. This is on a 3rd Gen Surf with winter pack (inc heated fuel filter) but no other fuel system modifications of any type.

[flymo]

Svo / Wvo

Hi There.
at this moment i run a 2.3 frontera but i'm getting a 2.4 surf tomorrow.
I have run my frontera on SVO for the last 18 months with no probs at all.
my mix has been anywere from 30% veg to 100% veg.
At the moment i am running at 99% veg with 1% petrol aqnd still no probs.
In the last 18 months i have covered 30000 miles. only problem is cold starting which takes a little longer.
As from tomorow i will be using my 2.4 Surf and i will try all the diferant mix's and i will let you know of any problems.
Also, i have run Citroen xm 2.1td, xantia 1.9td, ford escort 1.8td, Renault Master van 2.5d (1998) and some others on a veriaty of mix's with no problems other than cold starting.
Looking forward to getting my surf.
Yours, FLYMO

[sledge]

Hi There.
at this moment i run a 2.3 frontera but i'm getting a 2.4 surf tomorrow.
I have run my frontera on SVO for the last 18 months with no probs at all.
my mix has been anywere from 30% veg to 100% veg.
At the moment i am running at 99% veg with 1% petrol aqnd still no probs.
In the last 18 months i have covered 30000 miles. only problem is cold starting which takes a little longer.
As from tomorow i will be using my 2.4 Surf and i will try all the diferant mix's and i will let you know of any problems.
Also, i have run Citroen xm 2.1td, xantia 1.9td, ford escort 1.8td, Renault Master van 2.5d (1998) and some others on a veriaty of mix's with no problems other than cold starting.
Looking forward to getting my surf.
Yours, FLYMO

just don't try it with petrol unless it's a 4runner