Nissan patrol 4.2 diesel and Biodiesel

Hi Boc,
My brief experience with biodiesel was early this year on my trip east (from WA). Have got a Series I 4.2 TD-T GU. Bought SAFF diesel (20% biodiesel) in SA, and had no problems, didn't really notice any change in performance or consumption. In NSW bought another brand (forget the name, getting too old) which was 40% biodiesel. Over two tanks noticed the consumption had increased about 2L/100km for both tanks-full, similar driving conditions to normal driving. I spent $40 on a new fuel filter after that to see if that would fix it, but by that time I was heading back west and back to regular diesel. Fuel consumption back to normal, haven't had a chance to check biodiesel again. ie, results inconclusive.
But I understand that there is less thermal energy in biodiesel. The savings on the cheaper biodiesel seemed to be soaked up by less mileage from the fuel.
That's all I can add to the argument.
cheers,
Gerry

Bloke at work is making it and running it in an 85mdl Patrol with a 3.3l turbo and hasn't had any problems......yet. His biggest prob from what I can gather is getting the process right. He's had to redo a few batches and that of course costs you extra money.

Leroy

Until the cooler weather I ran 100% bio in the humvee with no problems except that as the overnight temps dropped it became harder to start in the mornings.
On B100 it went better, pulled better and was much smoother.
About the same time the servo stopped selling 100% for the colder months.
I recently filled up with B40 (40%) bio at Dubbo and compared to dino diesel it was down on power and seemed to run hotter as well.
So I suspect that it may be what the bio is made from and how good a quality it is rather than the % mix that affects consumption and performance.
There are quite a few running the 100% from the central coast nsw with no noticeable difference to power or economy who make the observations as I have.

Hi Boc
i have not used it myself but was speaking to chap who ran his vehicle on canola oil, he had to start the van on diesel and switch over to the canola which was running through a heat exchanger to lessen the viscosity, apparently with bio diesel to break down the viscosity he said that glisorides(not sure on spelling) were removed hence some of the lubrication properties which will lead to fuel pump wear etc. He said the biggest prob with the oil is making sure that the vehicle was turned over to diesel before being switched off but apparently at $1/ltr it could be worth it.

Mattie

G'day Ozboc, I can not offer you any experience with bio-diesel at all. I see from the responses you've had already the talk is about 'economy, performance and cost'.
I presume when I start(read soon) using bio-diesel it will be because that will be all that will be available. 'Terms' as in the above will be negated being replaced by need and enviromentally affordable.

andy
'we are just on the verge of the next revolution'

Got my first tank of bio diesel the other week. 1hz 80 series d

First start cold the next am you would have thought a bomb had exploded in my street. Clouds of smoke and hard to start. Fine hot starts that day. Seemed to not smoke at all , even less than normal.

Second start smoke cloud and harder

Third cold morning start no smoke and so far no smoke since.

Seems smoother to run but slow to warm up. Seemed loss of power when towing van the other day but perhaps more when unloaded ?????

Otherwise to be ok maybe a bit noisier engine, going back to normal diesel after this tank for a while as I was tricked into the fill up. The sing on the bowser was tiny and I did not know until 75 litres later.

Will monitor the economy on this tank.

Thanks for your post

skinny.