Biodiesel FAQ
Thread update:
VWDerf's original Biodiesel FAQ has been merged at top of this thread. AF section has too many stickies.
Q) What is B100, B33, B20, etc
B100 stands for 100% biodiesel. The first B stands for Biodiesel and the number after that is the percentage. B20 is 20% biodiesel and 80% regular diesel (sometimes called dyno Diesel)
Q) Will biodiesel void my warrenty.
Maybe...and maybe not. During the last few years, VWoA has repeatedly stated to North American TDI owners that use of any Biodiesel fuel will void warranty claims for fuel-related problems/failures. VW owners manuals state that warranty claims for damage/failure due to the use of any bad fuel will not be honored. VWoA justifies its position stating that, unlike in Europe, North American Biodiesel types vary widely, and unregulated for quality. However, more than a few VW service departments are informed enough to know that Biodiesel usage reduces the probability of intake manifold clogging due to the use of sulphur-laden fuel. Some U.S. states are now beginning to mandate the use of Biodiesel-blended fuel in percentages from 2% to 5%. Thus, expect VWoA to revisit its official Biodiesel policy.
Q) What is biodiesel made of?
Biodiesel can be made up of many items from recycled fryer fat to Soy Beans, Rape Seed, etc. In the US, commercially available Biodiesel is often made up of Soy beans. In Germany it is often made from Rape Seed (similar to Canola oil).
Q) What is Biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a non-petroleum based diesel fuel (oil) derived from renewable sources like animal fats and vegetable oils.
Q) How is Biodiesel made?
Biodiesel is made thru a process called transesterification. This process separates usable diesel fuel from unwanted oil components, like glycerin.
Q) Is waste vegetable oil (WVO) or straight vegetable oil (SVO) the same as Biodiesel?
No. Both WVO and SVO contain glycerin. Glycerin can be corrosive to some fuel components. While Biodiesel can be made from either WVO or SVO, the glycerin has been removed in Biodiesel.
Q) Can Biodiesel be used in any climate?
RUNNING ON B100 IN COLDER WEATHER IS NOT RECOMMENED. Biodiesel will generally begin gelling at temps below 4C/40F. To use Biodiesel below this temperature, heating must occur to prevent gelling or additives can be used to reduce the gelling point. NO KNOWN ISSUES WITH USING B20 (WITH WINTERIZED PETRODIESEL) HAVE BEEN NOTED. Biodiesel will generally begin gelling at temps below 4C/40F. To use Biodiesel below this temperature, heating must occur to prevent gelling or additives can be used to reduce the gelling point.
Q) Will using Biodiesel fuel harm my engine?
Volkswagen TDI powerplants from 1996 through the 2003 model years run very well on Biodiesel. One thing to know is that with vehicles that have never used Biodiesel, the older the vehicle, the higher the probability of microbial growth accumulating in its fuel tank. Biodiesel, being the terrific solvent that it is, can and will loosen these growths/deposits and send them downstream to the fuel filter. Anyone who is just starting to use Biodiesel in an engine which hasn't previously used it is cautioned to have at least one spare fuel filter standing by in case of fuel starvaton due to clogging. In new or near-new vehicles, microbes should not be a problem.
Q) Is Biodiesel harmful?
No. Biodiesel is not toxic or harmful to people or pets. Be aware that Biodiesel, when spilled on body paint or rubber parts (hoses, tires, etc.), can do damage, no differently than dino-diesel fuel.
Q) Is all Biodiesel the same in regard to quality?
Like dino-diesel fuel, the Biodiesel fuel you buy is as good...or not good as the way it was made and the way it was stored. Most Biodiesel is made by firms specializing in its manufacture. However, there are also many individuals who have become "backyard biodieselers" by making their own, usually from waste vegetable oil. Whatever your source of Biodiesel, good judgement and caveat emptor applies.
Q) Biodiesel costs more than dino-diesel fuel. Why use Biodiesel?
One reason is that Biodiesel use pruports to lengthen the life of an engine. One interesting study summary about this from the University of Saskatchewan is available here. Buying Biodiesel supports the farmer who grew whatever your Biodiesel is made from (beans, seeds, pigs, cows, etc.). Another reason is that Biodiesel, which contains no sulphur, burns cleaner than dino-diesel fuel, thus no sulphuric soot which contributes to acid rain, lung problems, etc. Biodiesel usually has higher cetane content than dino-diesel. Of course, dependence on Middle Eastern oil is somewhat reduced by Biodiesel usage. Biodiesel sales have dramatically climbed every year since records have been kept.
Q) Can I use Biodiesel with my new '04 Pumpe Duse engine?
While Biodiesel can be safely used with VW TDI model years 1996 thru 2003, little is currently known about Biodiesel use in the new Pumpe Duse (PD) engine, other than VW's guidance not to use Biodiesel, both in North American and European PD models. The main difference between the PD and earlier engines is that the PD injects fuel into the cylinder at pressure up to 29,000 PSI, where older TDI injection systems (pre-2004 in North America) operate around 16,000 PSI.
What about SVO and WVO? What's the difference?
WVO means waste vegetable oil, or vegetable oil that is recycled, typically from restaurant fryers. SVO means straight vegetable oil, oil that has not been used yet. Biodiesel can be made from both sources of oil. Some people who "homebrew" biodiesel reclaim WVO from their local restaurants for free. Commercially manufactured biodiesel is usually (although not always) made from SVO. Biodiesel made from WVO typically has a higher gel point than biodiesel made from SVO, which means that WVO biodiesel will gel (and potentially clog fuel lines and filters) at a higher temperature than SVO biodiesel. Untreated petroleum diesel fuel can also gel in low temperatures, usually at temperatures lower than biodiesel. See the TDI FAQ entry on "winterizing" (http://tdiclub.com/TDIFAQ/TDiFAQ-3.html#c) for more details on this phenomenon. Proper care must be taken to operate diesel vehicles on biodiesel in cold temperatures, either by adding anti-gel agents to your biodiesel, or lowering then blend of biodiesel used.
Can diesel engines can run on vegetable oil?
The original prototype of Rudolf Diesel's engine, demonstrated at the World's Fair in Paris in 1900, was powered by peanut oil. Diesel envisioned farmers growing their own fuel to power their tractors, or generators. (Henry Ford also envisioned his cars powered by farm-grown biofuels; the Model T was designed to run on ethanol). Modern diesel engines, however, operate at much higher pressures that Diesel's original designs. The viscosity of both WVO and SVO is insufficient to operate the relatively delicate fuel injector pumps. However, there are aftermarket conversion kits by Greasecar (http://www.greasecar.com), and Elsbett (http://www.elsbett.com) that will allow operation of some TDI engines on pure vegetable oil. Any such operation will require a tank heater. Some configurations require a second tank for starting and stopping the engine on regular diesel (or biodiesel). Details of such operation is beyond the scope of a mere FAQ, however, interested individuals are encouraged to do much more research before making a decision to convert any diesel vehicle to operate on pure SVO or WVO.
Additions to the FAQ can be suggested in this topic.
Thread update:
VWDerf's original Biodiesel FAQ has been merged at top of this thread. AF section has too many stickies.
Q) What is B100, B33, B20, etc
B100 stands for 100% biodiesel. The first B stands for Biodiesel and the number after that is the percentage. B20 is 20% biodiesel and 80% regular diesel (sometimes called dyno Diesel)
Q) Will biodiesel void my warrenty.
Maybe...and maybe not. During the last few years, VWoA has repeatedly stated to North American TDI owners that use of any Biodiesel fuel will void warranty claims for fuel-related problems/failures. VW owners manuals state that warranty claims for damage/failure due to the use of any bad fuel will not be honored. VWoA justifies its position stating that, unlike in Europe, North American Biodiesel types vary widely, and unregulated for quality. However, more than a few VW service departments are informed enough to know that Biodiesel usage reduces the probability of intake manifold clogging due to the use of sulphur-laden fuel. Some U.S. states are now beginning to mandate the use of Biodiesel-blended fuel in percentages from 2% to 5%. Thus, expect VWoA to revisit its official Biodiesel policy.
Q) What is biodiesel made of?
Biodiesel can be made up of many items from recycled fryer fat to Soy Beans, Rape Seed, etc. In the US, commercially available Biodiesel is often made up of Soy beans. In Germany it is often made from Rape Seed (similar to Canola oil).
Q) What is Biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a non-petroleum based diesel fuel (oil) derived from renewable sources like animal fats and vegetable oils.
Q) How is Biodiesel made?
Biodiesel is made thru a process called transesterification. This process separates usable diesel fuel from unwanted oil components, like glycerin.
Q) Is waste vegetable oil (WVO) or straight vegetable oil (SVO) the same as Biodiesel?
No. Both WVO and SVO contain glycerin. Glycerin can be corrosive to some fuel components. While Biodiesel can be made from either WVO or SVO, the glycerin has been removed in Biodiesel.
Q) Can Biodiesel be used in any climate?
RUNNING ON B100 IN COLDER WEATHER IS NOT RECOMMENED. Biodiesel will generally begin gelling at temps below 4C/40F. To use Biodiesel below this temperature, heating must occur to prevent gelling or additives can be used to reduce the gelling point. NO KNOWN ISSUES WITH USING B20 (WITH WINTERIZED PETRODIESEL) HAVE BEEN NOTED. Biodiesel will generally begin gelling at temps below 4C/40F. To use Biodiesel below this temperature, heating must occur to prevent gelling or additives can be used to reduce the gelling point.
Q) Will using Biodiesel fuel harm my engine?
Volkswagen TDI powerplants from 1996 through the 2003 model years run very well on Biodiesel. One thing to know is that with vehicles that have never used Biodiesel, the older the vehicle, the higher the probability of microbial growth accumulating in its fuel tank. Biodiesel, being the terrific solvent that it is, can and will loosen these growths/deposits and send them downstream to the fuel filter. Anyone who is just starting to use Biodiesel in an engine which hasn't previously used it is cautioned to have at least one spare fuel filter standing by in case of fuel starvaton due to clogging. In new or near-new vehicles, microbes should not be a problem.
Q) Is Biodiesel harmful?
No. Biodiesel is not toxic or harmful to people or pets. Be aware that Biodiesel, when spilled on body paint or rubber parts (hoses, tires, etc.), can do damage, no differently than dino-diesel fuel.
Q) Is all Biodiesel the same in regard to quality?
Like dino-diesel fuel, the Biodiesel fuel you buy is as good...or not good as the way it was made and the way it was stored. Most Biodiesel is made by firms specializing in its manufacture. However, there are also many individuals who have become "backyard biodieselers" by making their own, usually from waste vegetable oil. Whatever your source of Biodiesel, good judgement and caveat emptor applies.
Q) Biodiesel costs more than dino-diesel fuel. Why use Biodiesel?
One reason is that Biodiesel use pruports to lengthen the life of an engine. One interesting study summary about this from the University of Saskatchewan is available here. Buying Biodiesel supports the farmer who grew whatever your Biodiesel is made from (beans, seeds, pigs, cows, etc.). Another reason is that Biodiesel, which contains no sulphur, burns cleaner than dino-diesel fuel, thus no sulphuric soot which contributes to acid rain, lung problems, etc. Biodiesel usually has higher cetane content than dino-diesel. Of course, dependence on Middle Eastern oil is somewhat reduced by Biodiesel usage. Biodiesel sales have dramatically climbed every year since records have been kept.
Q) Can I use Biodiesel with my new '04 Pumpe Duse engine?
While Biodiesel can be safely used with VW TDI model years 1996 thru 2003, little is currently known about Biodiesel use in the new Pumpe Duse (PD) engine, other than VW's guidance not to use Biodiesel, both in North American and European PD models. The main difference between the PD and earlier engines is that the PD injects fuel into the cylinder at pressure up to 29,000 PSI, where older TDI injection systems (pre-2004 in North America) operate around 16,000 PSI.
What about SVO and WVO? What's the difference?
WVO means waste vegetable oil, or vegetable oil that is recycled, typically from restaurant fryers. SVO means straight vegetable oil, oil that has not been used yet. Biodiesel can be made from both sources of oil. Some people who "homebrew" biodiesel reclaim WVO from their local restaurants for free. Commercially manufactured biodiesel is usually (although not always) made from SVO. Biodiesel made from WVO typically has a higher gel point than biodiesel made from SVO, which means that WVO biodiesel will gel (and potentially clog fuel lines and filters) at a higher temperature than SVO biodiesel. Untreated petroleum diesel fuel can also gel in low temperatures, usually at temperatures lower than biodiesel. See the TDI FAQ entry on "winterizing" (http://tdiclub.com/TDIFAQ/TDiFAQ-3.html#c) for more details on this phenomenon. Proper care must be taken to operate diesel vehicles on biodiesel in cold temperatures, either by adding anti-gel agents to your biodiesel, or lowering then blend of biodiesel used.
Can diesel engines can run on vegetable oil?
The original prototype of Rudolf Diesel's engine, demonstrated at the World's Fair in Paris in 1900, was powered by peanut oil. Diesel envisioned farmers growing their own fuel to power their tractors, or generators. (Henry Ford also envisioned his cars powered by farm-grown biofuels; the Model T was designed to run on ethanol). Modern diesel engines, however, operate at much higher pressures that Diesel's original designs. The viscosity of both WVO and SVO is insufficient to operate the relatively delicate fuel injector pumps. However, there are aftermarket conversion kits by Greasecar (http://www.greasecar.com), and Elsbett (http://www.elsbett.com) that will allow operation of some TDI engines on pure vegetable oil. Any such operation will require a tank heater. Some configurations require a second tank for starting and stopping the engine on regular diesel (or biodiesel). Details of such operation is beyond the scope of a mere FAQ, however, interested individuals are encouraged to do much more research before making a decision to convert any diesel vehicle to operate on pure SVO or WVO.
Additions to the FAQ can be suggested in this topic.
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