Bio Diesel and ZD30

It would give Nissan a perfect excuse not to warrant your motor if anything happened to it. with a 3lt I wouldn't use it.
Cheers Dave...

I use GULL Bio-Diesel in my old Toyota, I believe it thrives on it.
I understand it's about 20% Bio/Diesel

Mainey . . .

Sounds like Russian Roulette with two chambers loaded. A ZD30 AND Bio Diesel.

No - no experience sorry, but plenty of warning re running it in my DID Paj from a friend that spends all day every day rebuilding injector pumps for a very well known diesel specialist. Don't use it in the rotary pumps or common rails is his strong recommendation. Bio fans will strongly refute and discredit this though. Me - at several $k for a new pump I'll not take the chance thanks. The ZD30 also uses a rotary pump or is common rail in the later ones.

Pat

I used 100% BioD for some time with our ZD30. In SA we have SAFF who make BioD to the Aust Standard so (other than a couple of well publicised but one-off problems) you can be fairly sure its good stuff.

There is a lot written about BioD being a solvent and a lubricant. BioD users will mostly vouch for both. My Trol never ran quieter and like oils that should be a good sign (lubricant aspect). It's well known that when you start using BioD you need to replace fuel filter after first tank or two - solvent aspect due to BioD cleaning your fuel system.

Clean fuel system, and a well lubricated motor – sounds good to me. As for any risks – well personally I think greenhouse is a bit of a risk………..

These days my problem is that our Trol is only used for trips and you can rarely get BioD in the bush, so you'd have to replace fuel filter often (and yes we’ve had a clogged filter twice – you must always carry a spare), going from one fuel to the other. So I'm not using BioD much now.

From first hand experience, Nissan attitude to BioD is not good - my personal view is that they have been so vilified due to ZD30 problems that BioD is something they can blame it on. My local Nissan dealer obviously knew nothing about the stuff - came out with all sorts of rubbish. On the other hand though, you can't always be sure BioD not made in someone's back yard - surely a car manufacturers nightmare.

Hi All

Read Thread 177241 things might have changed since then.

Cheers
Daza

Rosss
I can remember reading an article on this subject Bio-diesel in a ZD30 Patrol and it was stated while the donk will run happly the injector pump does not like it and using it, even B20, can lead to expensive repairs. Personally I wouldn't risk it.
Mike

If it's the first time you are going to use bio-diesel make sure you have a spare fuel filter. A friend of mine had to wait 2 days for a new filter after he filed up with bio-diesel.
Arthur

Regarding comments above, a spare fuel filter needs to be carried always with BioD IMO – not just for first tank.

Fuel companies vary the base product of BioD depending on conditions. They were using a Canola based BioD blend in winter because of low cloud point (minus 5 °C I think). But due to drought Canola got expensive and so for summer BioD they were using Tallow based Bio – think cloud point could be plus 5° C. So if you were to drive to an alpine area or experience a chill over summer you could easily get caught.

We had a blocked filter in early February last year. Just one cold morning did it (fuel company paid for a new filter because it occurred due to circumstances and not due to gunk in the system). Bottom line is if you want to use BioD, these issues can easily occur. So carry a spare filter and if you’re going somewhere cold, dilute with normal diesel or use up Bio first and then fill with normal diesel.

Interesting stuff this Bio-Diesel, the following is a C & P from Toyota's Australian website,


Can I use Biodiesel Fuel Blends in my Toyota?

Toyota and its Fuel Injection Equipment suppliers encourage the future development of fuels based on renewable energy sources.

However, with regards to biodiesel fuels, there are no mandated Standards as currently apply to mainstream fuels.

Toyota will endorse biodiesel fuel blends using FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Esters that comply with either EN14214 or ASTM D6751 standards) of up to 5% volume concentration when mixed with conventional diesel fuel. The final product B5 (5% Biodiesel blend) at the pump must conform to the national Diesel Fuel Standard which is based on EN590.

In the absence of biodiesel fuel standards and due to the many variations of biodiesel fuel blends under production in our market, such as B20 & B30 (biodiesel blend 20% & 30%) Toyota is not in a position to evaluate the long term effect that these varied biodiesel fuel blends will have on engine overall performance, fuel injection equipment durability, fuel economy and exhaust emission compliance.

Accordingly, Toyota cannot recommend concentration of biodiesel fuel blends greater than 5% volume as mentioned above.

This statement is provided to inform Toyota owners of Toyota's position with regard to the use of biodiesel fuels in its products and also serves to confirm that Toyota New Vehicle Warranty will not apply to any failures that are attributable to the use of such fuels.