Bio Diesel and common rail engines

[Amin]

Here's the deal, a friend of mine, fuel distributor is starting to sell a bio diesel, made from cooking oil, he sells a 50-50 bio and normal diesel mix and a 100% bio diesel.
Is it safe to use on a common rail system engine like those on our Hiluxes? Anyone has had any experience with it?
I am asking because I run two farms, we use over 2500 liters of diesel/month, and this bio diesel is like 40% cheaper than regular diesel, not even mentioning low sulfur super duper diesel, but before I start buying and using that stuff I reckon I need some extra input if possible.
Thoughts? experiences? data?

[Amin]

Hoping to hear from the forum soon!!!

[mattwhite]

I find bio is much more prone to algae growth but I can see why you'd consider it with your fuel consumption. You might be ok because you'd obviously have a high turn over but I avoid it personally.

[rory18]

Amin, did a bit of work on farms up past emerald and they were running straight bio diesel in V8 land cruisers with no issues...Yet.

[Amin]

Awesome....am gonna do a test with 20 gallons on my UTE, since it is by far the most sensitive of all the engines here.....will keep you guys posted.

[rory18]

Might be worth asking BDG about bio fuel and denso injectors. I'm sure they would know more.

[harto_44]

Hey mate, my old man makes and uses bio on he's 2500 Dodge Ram at a 90 bio-diesel to 10 normal diesel and it works fine. I have only used it once at 10 bio-diesel to 90 normal diesel, it ran fine and was all ok. But after doing a far it of research common rail diesel don't react well with bio-diesel.

I would suggest if you are going to run it install as system such as;
http://www.dieselcare.com.au/toyota-hil ... filter-kit

This way there is no way any water can enter the engine and even if you do get a bad batch of bio-diesel this filter system will take the hit not your engine or ejectors...

[Amin]

Gotta love newhilux.net...thanks.

[BDG]

from our experience (and please keep in mind we only see it when it goes 'wrong'), Bio fuel has the propensity to 'gum up' at high temperatures. And high pressure and low flows found in common rail make it bloody hot in there.

Biggest issue is that the higher water content, under extreme conditions becomes separated in the fuel system and then causes issues from there. If i had an older truck with a standard system, i'd consider it, but in this case (with late model hiluxs and Common Rail Injection) i certainly wouldn't.

[Amin]

Thanks to all, specially BDG, for his specific answer...I will go with the Biodiesel for the tractor, an 1984 lamborghini, and for the work trucks, all running standard system injection. and I will keep my common rail hilux with normal diesel just to be safe, and injection pump or an injector change is a costly thing.

[BDG]

Funny story, Just was contacted today from a new BioFuel company who wants to commission us to do a bunch of practical testing. So maybe i'll have a much more specific answers for you in the future!

[boxhead55]

Good luck

[Raptor-VR]

From my personal experience running a B30 blend made from canola oil through various machinery the most trouble I have had is from the older machines. The first being filter blockages probably due to build up in tanks etc being stripped off by the bio diesel. Secondly lift pump & injector pump leakages I put this down to the bio diesel not being compatable with old type seals etc causing them to either stretch or go hard. In contrast we have run thousands of litres through modern commen rail machinery & vehicles with no such issues only finding a waxy build up on the top of the fuel filter. I ended up Changing filters more regulary for this!

[CraigB]

watching with interest

please keep us posted Amin...

[tonymtber]

I made B100 myself for years and ran it in a TD42 GU patrol for over 200000kms with no problem.

Bio is a great solvent/cleaner and with older vehicles and tanks it will clean everything out which is why people have problems with blocked filters.

Also it attacks the older (pre late 80s seals i think from memory) in the injector pumps....the newer pumps use a viton rubber which is not affected.

If made properly its a great cheap fuel and can be used in mechanical injection systems with no problems, but a lot of home brewers can't get the quality for common rail engines.

The commercial manufacturers make it to a much higher standard but it should still be used as a blend to overcome the gumming up issues.

I won't use my own made fuel in my Hilux as i know the quality is not high enough. If I could get B50 blend locally i wouldn't have any issues using it.