Bio Diesel confusion

first of all .. shame on Gull by trying to fob us with 4c less ..
at any other station I get 4c anyway ... for non bio diesel ...

The gull diesel should not smell like fish&chips ..
would not surprise me if a station owner makes a bit on the side
and mixes bio from other sources ... get a sample and have it tested ...

I stay clear of Gull diesel anyway, can't be bothered at no saving whatsoever ..

good luck
gmd

Im with Tim .I ran 2 tanks of Gull boidiesel through my HZJ75.
,I think you would need to dyno and test the the exhaust gases to say for sure it was cleaner and more economical,but it was cheaper.

Peter I would get a sample and send it off. White smoke from a diesel means something is causing the combustion process to be cooler than normal

Peter,

One thing with Bio is that it will clean out your fuel lines etc and you will notice that your filters may get blocked; however, once the gunk is gone you shouldn't have many problems. I use a CAV filter and it's not an issue ($5 for a filter cartridge).

Sometimes you will get the smell of fish and chips but that is because they are recycling - just makes everyone behind you hungry.

If it's blowing white smoke there could be something else rather than the bio.

Karl

Hi Peter,

Gull produces an 80 Dino to 20 Biod blend. I would also be surprised if I noticed billowing white smoke on one fuel and not another and agree it needs checking somehow.

An email to Gull, address is on their website, might be an easy first move. I understand that Gull are finding they need to turn over their BioD tanks to ensure the blend stays blended. I find this surprising and it might be an urban myth, but even if it is true, B100 shouldn't produce the 'billowing' clouds you describe. I run a cocktail of fuels and blend BioD and Vege, but am running a bit of Dino in there too after a country trip. No idea what ratios of what are in there at the moment, but I try to aim for around 50/50 BioD and Vege which seems to be a good mix. I certainly haven't noticed any separation in the drums of fuel I keep.

I'm not surprised you noticed a different odour from the exhaust - that's a benefit of BioD - geez I hate the smell of Dino both as a liquid and in the exhaust. White smoke instead of black is also a sign of BioD, but not the billowing clouds you mention. Australian Renewable Fuels are building a BioD plant in Picton and it's close to production. They're using animal tallow as their feedstock and this has a higher energy content than Dino, unlike oilseed feedstock which has a teensy bit less. They were going to sell it at a premium price to Dino as it is superior fuel in many ways, but now Gull are selling at a discount, I'm not sure what their pricing plans are. Anyway, I digress.

B100 can have a higher gelling point in winter than dino, and there is the well known cleansing properties, but I tend to agree with Gull's statements that none of these are issues when the blend is 80/20.

I think an email to Gull would give them the chance to respond and if there is a problem, address it for the benefit of all their other customers too. They are 'out there' amongst fuel suppliers in the nation and deserve support for their initiative.

Let us know how you go.

Tim

Hi
For you, i wouldstick to std diesel....there is something wrong with your fuel system that the bio upsets....maybe the pump needs reconditioning....because the bio is thicker, results in less pressure....dont know.just thinking aloud...but what is good is you can control one aspect of running diesel...and that is run bio every second small tank to keep the seals swelled in the pump...and no leaks.....if in the future, you need the pump done, you can try a complete conversion.......the cheapest fuel is notalways the cheapest in the long run.....you will get the bio cleaning out all the sludge, so if you havnt already, get a cav filter conversion....
Andrew hdftvx

I really wonder if its is worth the few cents a litre saving until there is some kind of standard set in stone. Compared to servicing, accessories, tyres, camp gear and the other costs involved in holidaying, not to mention the huge costs of diesel vehicles, the small savings that come with purchasing bio diesel, seem not to be worth the hassle and potential damage it could cause.. Michael

I have had some sucess with Bio 60/40 blend to Australian standards ( thats wot it had on the pump) bright yellow colour... Ok Jackeroo 2002 TD towing my gin palace I get around 6km/ltr on std Diesel but on this Biomix I picked up @ Volume Plus at Pambula I get around 7km/ltr....Now that is a staggering improvement & I am checking the math just to make sure that it's not a placebo effect....
I was very impressed, less engine noise and seemed to have more power, I noticed a reduction in smoke as well.

Some "Bio" I picked up @ Nowra has ethanol in it & that mix did nothing to my notice.

There maybe water contaminate in the fuel? I would have to agree with the fitting of said CAV filter system especially if you are going to run BIO on a regular basis. Keep me posted on your progress with this as I am interested as to what problems you may have in the future.

Regards,
Smitty (aka grayvox 105)

I used Gull bio blend when in WA a couple of months ago. I was very happy with all aspects. I'd buy the same stuff all the time if I could guarentee that it would work as well.

Peter,

As I said above, I'd be contacting Gull with the info about where and when you bought their fuel. They are the sellers and in my contact with them, are likely to show an interest in your story and help you explain it - if they can. At the least, it will help add to the body of knowledge.

I don't think changing your CAV filter will make any difference, unless you have separate filters for each tank.

I can forward your comments to the WA Renewable Fuels Association who are the WA experts in this stuff. I suggest it would be difficult to find a mechanic that was across BioD issues, unless on personal recommendation from a knowledgeable source. There are also many BioD sites and forums on the net, with far greater expertise on this issue.

I know I get more smoke when my vege oil blend is too high, but this is not BioD, and BioD should not create heaps of smoke, especially if Dino is not creating smoke. Normally any smoke just changes from black to white, and often becomes invisible.

Tim

when you say you tow a boat, are you puting it in the water every day , & if so how far does the water level come when your at the ramp , just a thought you might have a leak?cheers