Bio TD5

I have been researching the td5 and the use of bio fuels (diesel). People say you can not use it in a td5. There are many types of alledged bio diesel in the UK from home bodgers or the ill informed.

Bio diesel that conforms to EN 14214 will be very good quality fuel and will have been purified to reach the standard.

There is no need to add fuel system cleaner as it already has solvent properties that will clean your fuel system and improve it.

Change the filter at 1000 miles then at 2500 miles after that and then go back to normal service intervals.

It will save problems from the in tank pump dying from friction (common problem) and as the td5 has Viton seal it will not rot any part of your fuel system. I am running a 50/50 mix and have suffered not one problem. My emissions are down, and the engine seems to like it and is perkieer and quieter.

Before using bio I had lots of fuel probs but since adding bio they have stopped. I put this down to a cleaner fuel system with less friction (bio is more slippery) and before you say proper bio is the same viscosity as mineral diesel apart from extreme cold. You can then blend with min diesel or add a cold weather additive (same as what stops mineral diesel waxing) to solve it.

My td5 is definately alive and will be staying on the bio and it costs me 15p per liter. Thats a saving of £1.15 in South Wales.

Get proper spec fuel and get on the bio!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! if you have a td5

Morrisons at Rodgerstone, Newport do a quality B30 at pump number 6.

its a low percentage blend but a good place to sample the future. I am sure you will be happy.

Just be sure you change your filters at 1000k and 2500k after that. Tidy!

How long have you been running on it, and where do you get it from? Very interested in the idea, mine's doing £100 a week in diesel thanks to 'Mr Broone', so a viable alternative would be very welcome.

Anyone else out there doing this?

Rob

I am currently getting the fuel from Morrisons supermarket (B30 blend) as my local bio supplier started slacking on quality control and myself and some friends had issues with purity of fuel. The td5 should be no different to other common rails like VW and Ford offer. They will all run proper spec bio that is free from water and dirt.

If you are buying it check the producer dry filters the fuel and not water washes, it helps if they are using methoxide rather than caustic soda crystals as well as you do not need to dissolve the methoxide liquid. If you are after suppliers just type bio diesel suppliers into google and see.

Any reputable supplier should be able to put you're mind at rest. Give Greenfuels.co.uk a shout as they know there stuff and have people on td5's as well. The MD has a V10 Toureg on bio - I am sure he would not risk it if there could be "problems". Just remember the golden rule of change filters as mentioned and keep buying top notch fuel. Good fuel can be found for less than £1 per litre with all of the fuel duty and hassle taken care of so you will not be breaking any rules. Make it your self and it can be as little as 15p per litre if you can source free oil!

Ta

pindie said:

I am currently getting the fuel from Morrisons supermarket (B30 blend) as my local bio supplier started slacking on quality control and myself and some friends had issues with purity of fuel. The td5 should be no different to other common rails like VW and Ford offer. They will all run proper spec bio that is free from water and dirt.

If you are buying it check the producer dry filters the fuel and not water washes, it helps if they are using methoxide rather than caustic soda crystals as well as you do not need to dissolve the methoxide liquid. If you are after suppliers just type bio diesel suppliers into google and see.

Any reputable supplier should be able to put you're mind at rest. Give Greenfuels.co.uk a shout as they know there stuff and have people on td5's as well. The MD has a V10 Toureg on bio - I am sure he would not risk it if there could be "problems". Just remember the golden rule of change filters as mentioned and keep buying top notch fuel. Good fuel can be found for less than £1 per litre with all of the fuel duty and hassle taken care of so you will not be breaking any rules. Make it your self and it can be as little as 15p per litre if you can source free oil!

Ta

Click to expand...

The TD5 is not a common rail engine, just rather high pressure fuel feed. Other than that I agree. Mine runs v well on 50% mix from Purefuels in N London. I find it runs even better on BP Ultimate, but for that you have to be a millionaire....

TD5 uses Delphi unit injectors, which are also used in our trucks at work. These we have found to really not like bio, and when they go pop, so does your pocket.

Still not sure.....

Rob

RobCSH said:

TD5 uses Delphi unit injectors, which are also used in our trucks at work. These we have found to really not like bio, and when they go pop, so does your pocket.

Still not sure.....

Rob

Click to expand...

That's the worry, isn't it? How much longterm damage are you doing for short-term gain. You've got me worried now.
Incidentally both bio and BP ultimate are said to burn cleaner and are recommended for MoT. PureFuels have a lot of taxi clients, and they have reportedly found that a tank of bio gets them through the new tough emissions regs.
I've only used the 50% bio mix for long trips, as I pass the supplier near the start of a 250-mile run, and fill up again with diesel at the end of the run, so I've never used more than about 25% on a cold engine. Have a look at the PureFuels website. It's quite informative: Pure Fuels Ltd - London's Biodiesel Company.
Also dieselbob's veg page: Diesel Bob Tuning - Vegetable Bob

I have read diesel bobs site and they seem to think the same as most informed people on the bio front. You have to have clean fuel that has not oxidised (to much air to the fuel) and be water free (dry wash your fuel). if this is followed then the delphi injectors are rated highly.

Back to you get what you pay for with bio diesel. Crystal clear is the only fuel to put in that has be PH tested. If in doubt go to a chemist and buy some litmus papers and test the local suppliers fuel.

Bio seems to cause no problems to people covering lots of miles - I put this down to the fact the fuel never stagnates or has chance to degrade. perhap the answer is if leaving the vehicle for a week or more between use, add more dino diesel.

The Pure Fuels guy says that his bio is fine when mixed with mineral diesel and sloshing around in the vehicle tank ("keeps it sweet" were his words), but it goes off after a while if stored at home.