Approx 5,000kms ago I posted a thread that in essence said That I swapped to SAFF B100 Bio Diesel ,and that I would give a feedback report re same after using it for service period, which in my case is 5,000kms.
(1) Cost – Usually 3-4 cents cheaper than petro diesel
(2) Availability – only 4 stations in Victoria with one in
Melbourne (Boronia) close to my daughters residence, so no problem attending, accessing same.
(3) Type of Bio Diesel used – B100 where available an B20 elsewhere. (B100 close to 100% Bio – B20 80% diesel/20% bio)
(4) Bio Diesel Source – Canola oil (aust) however Aust Govt has quota on how much Canola may be diverted to fuel production. In absence of Canola , Palm oil is imported from Indonesia . (yes! there are all sorts of moralistic issues with this, however, until the govt allows more canola for fuel production, that’s the next source of suitable vegetable oil in large quantities).
(5) First fuel load produced a noticeable quieting and smoothing out of the engine at idle. Power was unaffected. Black smoke under load disappeared and smell was like fish and chips (canola) I don’t think there was any increase in power, only a quicker response to the pedal which gave one the allusion of possibly a bit more power.
(6) Downside – used noticeably more fuel to produce the same outputs of diesel. ie fuel consumption up and less kms in range.
Now having said that, my test run went from
Melbourne to Warraweena, to
Port Lincoln, to
Fowlers Bay, to
Ceduna, up
Googs Track to
Woomera, to Kadina, to
Melbourne, in the filthiest wet gale force wind 3 weeks of this year, whilst towing a CT with a GCM of 5 tonnes.
I didn’t bother looking at the fuel to cost ratio as if I had I would have turned around and come home. (LOL) Funnily enough a heap of caravaners I spoke to on the trip were having the exact same problems and had also resorted to ignoring all things fuel consumption/cost related.
(7) Fuel filters – I use the CAV system and only change the fuel filter every 20,000 – 40,000kms after inspecting the two fuel bowls of the unit for any chit,
water etc etc.
Regular inspections of the aforementioned fuel fowls revealed nothing, however an in line filter I have on the reserve
tank showed a fair bit of rubbish,
water etc so I changed that only.
(8) On the Trip to SA and Back I was on B100 approx 60% and B20 for 40%. This was due to availability as not all SAFF servos have the B100, due to insufficient bowsers/outlets in some of the country towns. Note: the whole trip was on either B100 or B20
(9) I have gone back to BP Petro Diesel to see how the fuel consumption goes and for another reason which I will Post on later.
Summary
Would I use Bio Diesel again, yes I would and will. I am currently experimenting with something else and running Petro Diesel re same, however I fully intend going back to the Bio Diesel for more test purposes .
Never experienced any softening of rubber or leaking seals.