Diesels Bio-Diesel.

[Brett Dikeman]

At 12:10 PM -0400 5/27/03, Ed Birch wrote:
>  > AFAIK Bio Diesel is recommended in Europe for the older type Diesel
>>  engines.  Talking to some Germans about pouring Bio Diesel in a 2001
>>  common-rail MB car - they said they wouldn't do it - litterally, "the pump
>  > is too expensive".......

Since the subject line was changed and you didn't cc the original
writer, I have no idea who wrote that, but it's exactly the opposite
of the truth.

BD is used in 1-2% or stronger blends to improve the lubricity of
low-sulfur diesel fuel, and to keep diesel components clean.

Further, BD is incompatible with older diesels that used natural
rubber seals, but it runs perfectly in modern diesels, TDI or
no...and a number of European manufacturers have certified their cars
for BD, usually at least BD25(25% BD).  BD can lower NOx emissions if
the timing is altered slightly.  In fact, a number of fleets use
diesel with BD to meet emissions requirements, rather than buy new
equipment- I believe one of the Univ. of MA schools did this in their
fleet, and it saved quite a bit of money.

>
>>From what I've read and heard water contamination in Bio-Diesel fuel is the
>problem.

I have never heard of this, and in fact, water is used by some to
process BD(I think when using animal fats as sources, not sure)-
"washing" the BD removes various contaminants that would cause
problems for the car's components- but, to my knowledge, are still
environmentally safe.

It's amazing how many lies pop up around alternative fuels.  Most of
the world still thinks the Hindenburg caught fire because it was
filled with hydrogen, and is convinced it is extremely dangerous,
when in reality it's far safer in almost every way compared to
gasoline.  If we only had an efficient, clean way to produce it- it'd
be a damn near perfect fuel.

B
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