Biodiesel in a Disco 300 TDi

get this months LRM (I think) - there is a good well written piece about bio fuels in there

Si

Not many I think. There were a couple of threads about this, ooh, a month ago. Here's what I wrote then...

I've been vaguely experimenting for the last two months. My land rover is a 1997 300Tdi 110. I buy mine from a local supllier and just stick it in the tank. I started using small ratios of bio to regular diesel, and gradually increased the mixture. Just before the really cold weather I reckon I was running on 80% biodisel.

I added a cheap see-through fuel filter from Halfords just before the main filter in the engine bay. This filter is easy to change and cheaper than the main eingine filter. I've changed it twice in about 2000 miles.

Performance-wise, it feels fine (and these remarks are based on quite a short period of not very scientific testing!). The engine is definitely smoother and less clattery on biodiesel, but there's no loss of power once it's warmed up. When the weather's cold, and when I was running on 80% biodiesel, it took more cranking (5 or 6 seconds maybe) to start the engine, was a bit smokier to start with, and for the first mile or so the engine was reluctant to rev and was quite sluggish. However, I'm prepared to put up with that for the sake of cheaper and cleaner fuel.

What I don't know is a) What ratio of bio/regular diesel I should be using at MoT time. b) What, if any, the long-tem effects on the engine will be.

The down side for me is that it takes a bit more organisation to run on bio (phone supplier, check that he's got some, arrange time to pick it up) and for the last month I've been too busy, and have ended up just filling up with regular diesel. It's also messy - I get it in 25 litre containers, so I need to decant it into small fuel cans and then into the tank, or get a friend to hold the funnel whilst I pour the whole thing into the tank. I always spill some, usually on my shoes! I hope that one of these days it'll be on sale with proper forecourts and pumps and the like!

hope some of that helps

Olly R

Hiya,

I ran a Disco 200tdi on modified vegetable oil for about 9 months. This is where I used a thinner to modify vegetable oil over a month. Stick it in a 5 gallon drum and let is stew for a month then use it.

This was not bioDisel that was made with Sodium Methoxide though - that is a totally different process. Biodiesel properly made will be fine for Disco's. No damage will result. I recommend you change your fuel filter a little more often and make sure you have new glow plugs. Your emissions will be lower for the MOT.

Now on the modified vegetable oil with thinners:-

Starting was difficult at anything over 50% mix. Glow plugs had to be brand new The engine was quieter You need to change the oil more often, about 3000 miles (went much thicker). MPG was slightly improved, maybe an extra 5 mpg per tank. More smoke on start up but then fine after that. Emissions were very low for the MOT.

Now the real bad side - Turbo died. Seems there has been some research in the US that this can be a side effect. I am not too sure of the reasons and someone who knows about these things will tell us.

I would use pure Biodiesel made with Sodium Methoxide - stay away from any ideas of thinners.

Yours

Andy

Disco 300TDI - errr seems to be reliable

OUCH ! Died how ? Bearing failure ?

...but unless all your O rings in the pump are Viton, then the residual methanol can knacker them apparently.

Steve

I have a Defender 1990 110 2.5TD that I use on veggie diesel. (Reggie the Veggie).

I buy mine from a guy in Bristol in 205 litre drums for 95p a litre.

The only modification (so far) is a heat exchanger with the cabin heater. I run with 5% ordinary diesel. Over the summer I plan to fit a pre heater and a 3 port valve so that I can run on ordinary diesel to start with then switch to veggie when the engine is warm. That should mean that I can use veggie all year round.

I have noticed no problems in starting (except when the temperature is very low) no difference in performance (even when towing) veggie is supposed to be better that diesel as it provides more lubrication in the bores. You get used to the "chip shop" smell. No problems at MOT time, emissions were virtually non existent.

Note - this is veggie diesel not bio diesel. Veggie can cause problems with some injector pumps (because of the increased viscocity) bio-diesel (I understand) can rot some rubber seals.

Any more questions feel free to e-mail me off group.

Cheers

Peter

From what I've read only, Lucas pumps really don't like bio, Many Bosch pumps are OK, but not all.

Has useful information.

Steve

Yup bearing failure as far as I understand.

Andy

That might be because SVO bypassing the rings and contaminating the sump oil changes the properties of the sump oil and stops it getting into the turbo properly. SVO can gel mineral oils AFAIR.

Steve