Diesel - Three Choices

Hi Trekkie,

Low sulphur diesel is undoubtedly better for your vehicle and bio-diesel has the potential to be better again. However, until bio-diesel is commercially manufactured under rigid quality control measures, the variation in bio-diesel quality is open to debate, especially from "backyard" dealers. But then again, even standard diesel has such a wide variation in quality that the current crop of available bio-diesel may be just as good.

Personally, I go out of my way to make sure I get low sulphur diesel from BP outlets only. This way I have what I believe to be the better quality diesel and should anything go wrong (bad batch of fuel etc...), I only have the one manufacturer to lay the blame at and no chance of buck passing. But when away from suburbia, occasionally I have no choice of where to purchase.

Cheers

Captain

Apparently bio diesel isn't too good for newer engins & can clog Fuel pumps & injectors. Previous experience from Mercedes.

My 2c worth

I did not know the "normal diesel" was still being sold. It is my understanding this is (or will be) illegal to sell in the near future. I am sure someone can clarify this statement.
Your newer truck would suit the low sulpher diesel no probs, only some of the older models with older seals in their pumps will have probs with the low sulpher content buggerring up these seals.
I have no knowledge or opinion of the Bio-Diesel.

Cheers Trevor.

Trekkie,

Your vehicle is a 100, not a 105 . The 105 series vehicles are the ones with the rigid front end, and came with either the 1Hz diesel or the 6 cyl petrol.

AFAIK all diesel sold now is low suphur. As your vehicle is a 2001 model, the low sulphur is fine. Re biodiesel, the blended stuff is probably OK, but I'm quite happy for someone else to try it :-))

Cheers
Phil

Quick Question, what is defined as a new diesel engine. I have a 200o Jackaroo, is that considered new when talking about fuel variations. I am cosidering using some bio-diesel as there a a couple of service stations selling it near my place in perth

Normal Diesel, since January 1st this year, is the 50ppm sulphur spec. per the Clean Fuels Act.
Caltex is bringing its revamped Diesel Hydrotreater at Kurnell online starting this week after a series of delays in its construction phase.

Up till now they have been buying Diesel in to maintain supply and market share during the delays.

Bio-diesel will be a viable alternative only when, as touched on in another post, the standards of testing and consistent quality control are in line with the current production systems used within traditional oil refineries. Until they can guarantee that quality week in week out, Bio-diesel will not be used in my expensive diesel motor.

Coogee Chemicals is (amongst other things) a fuel import company that imports fuel into W.A. via it's facility at Kwinana. Their marine jetty is about 1 km along the coast from BP's own jetty. They are a competitor to BP, but they do carry ou "mutually beneficial" swaps from time to time.

Coogee have publicly stated that they will be building a bio-d refining plant on their site at Kwinana. BP are considering their options.

It's coming guys - get used to it.

A diesel engine will run on just about anything as long it's clean and it's viscosity is such that it can be passed through a fuel injector - and it doesn't "detonate" when compressed.

Bio-d is good stuff, just ask my old Ford Mav ute that ran on doses of it fer years and is still pulling stumps out.

Bilbo

Having run my 4.2td on bio the last couple of trips I have found the following.
1st trip a 50/50 blend of bio = no diff in power or fuel consumption and vehicle ran well with those complaining from behind that the exhaust odour was making them hungry.4wd Club outing. Bio made from fish n chip oil. 550 klm,s
2nd trip 1575 klm.s Vehicle ran on 100% bio Purchased at Narrandera = no diff in fuel consumption or power. Vehicle ran well and reved out easier and still smelled like fish n chips.

Friend who makes his own bio has been using it since 2002 continously in a GQ and a GU both 4.2td vehicles the GU is a tray back.
He had a few probs with the consistency of the bio when in the learning phase but has had little trouble since and both vehicles still perform the same as mine.
The plusses for him are longer distances between oil changes as the sump oil does not get any where near as dirty as when run on normal Diesel.

In future when doing long trips I will fill my main tank with bio 90ltr and the sub with normal Diesel 85ltr. then will pump over when the main gets low thus bringing the vehicle back to normal fuel for the next fill and if bio is available will do the same again. Provided that the bio is reasonably priced.

It must be noted that the Fed Govt will still want their cut in taxes out of bio.

For your info
The new BIO diesel ARfuels plant has cranked up in Bunbury and some Gull Servo are offering a blend of Bio and normal diesel.(Bio_20)Apparantly is some 5c a litr cheaper.Parks Gull Servo in Bunbury is selling it .

Regards

Darryl

Those of us that know how good bio-d is, especially "home brew" really should keep quiet about it,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Otherwise, THEY'LL ALL WANT TO START USING IT!!!!!!!

;)

It's gotten so bad now that there's a cutthroat mentality to gettin' yer hands on USED CHIP FAT!! Beleive me, I used to get it anywhere, but now every man and his dog is after it!! They even put a chain & padlock on the 44 drum at the back of our local chippy!

Bilbo