Biodiesel
See this thread at the US BenzWorld forum on the G. http://www.benzworld.org/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=1175260&posts...
I have always been fascinated with this subject..... running a diesel car on biodiesel is about as eco-friendly as it gets with conventional explosion engines, but this is virtually unknown in the UK, as opposed to other European countries.
In Germany, biodiesel has such a fuel duty reduction that it can be sold to the public for the equivalent of 45 pence a litre, yet in this country, the best I could find was home delivery for 1.29 pounds a litre with home delivery of 25 litre containers!
Some Tesco and Sainbury's filling station sell diesel with a 5% bio content, at the regular diesel price (currently over 83 pence a litre!)
It fills me with disgust that the rich and famous can fill up their Rollers with LPG at 39 a litre and yet if I want to go green I have to pay such ridiculous prices!!!!!
Does anybody out there know where to buy biodiesel at reasonable prices or should I just take the used oil from my deep frier -genuine oilve oil, of course, at an arm and a leg!.
Cheers,
Thanks for that link. I heard about that bloke from California in a newspaper article and wondered where I could find out more about him and his G.
In the latest Orange magazine there is a bloke who drove down to Spain from the UK (not in a G) and he just used oil from chip shops...
genuine 100% rapeseed oil 46p per litre (next to all the other oils), I always feel so hungry when I walk past the exhaust pipe though :wink:
Been pondering this one for some time , hasten to add that despite tank of red diesel/35 sec heating oil in shed I cannot bring myself to ues it in either "G" or Galaxy on the road ,
however to my knowledge HM C&Excise have got it stitched up in that it "is an offence to run a roadgoing vehicle on fuel on which the duty has not been paid
More relevently I specifically queried Customs and Excise Officer ( they had a stand at RUAS specifically about laundered and altn diesel fuels ) about brewing my own biodiesel --- could I pay them the duty directly and how much would it be -- seemingly this is not an option!
And anyway , why would anyone pay 40p approx for LPG when it only costs 20p when bought for heating --- and they cant hardly "dip" for non kosher LPG!
So a G500 and LPG conversion it is then!
Marcus
Marcus, I think you were mis-informed, it is perfectly legal to produce your own fuel either from waste oil or from rapeseed (as the swedish farmers do), in fact I beliece on c+e website there is a downloadable form to keep track of your usage and send them the tax.
Thank you Guerdeval ,
Thought I had seen some reference to that option in the past ,that is why I raised query to that end with HM C&Excise officer, he was either not au fait with their own regulations or diliberately choose to put me off the scent. Said enquirey only one month ago , anyway thanks again for your help.
Marcus
There's an article about this on page 4 of the Times, Saturday June 5th.
An environmental group in North Buckinghamshire is running courses (The Low Impact Living Initiative) and selling twin-barrelled tanks for £600.
How Biodiesel is made :
1. Filter waste vegetable oil to remove food scraps
2. Heat oil to remove water
3. Perform "titration" to determine how much of the catalyst, the lye, is needed
4. Prepare sodium methoxide by mixing 99 per cent methanol with the lye
5. Heat oil, mix in the sodium methoxide while stirring
6. Settle, remove glycerine
7. Wash and dry
The final word is that you can make your own biodiesel for half the normal price but still have to pay the 26p mandatory duty (per litre?)
there is a place in N Wales that supply in 1000l tanks, I'll dig the name out,rog
genuine 100% rapeseed oil 46p per litre (next to all the other oils), I always feel so hungry when I walk past the exhaust pipe though :wink:
Rog, have you actually done it? Is that it - pure rapeseed oil? No other mods?
Has anybody else here done it on a G yet? I heard that if it is cold you need to add a preheater - is this necessary in the UK?
Just found this link which seems quite comprehensive. Just waiting for someone else to be the guinea pig first ;)
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html#3choices
I have to confess I had my 230 G converted to gas 6 years ago and guess what, my house had LPG heating at 0.17p a ltr, Thats equivalent to 60 miles to the gallon. Hence I always used my G wagen. There is know way HM cutoms can nick you unless they can actually see you filling up from your tank.
And the likely hood of them dipping your diesel family car for chip oil or red diesel is a million to one, just dont tell anyone and they wont put you in it.
I've tried running my 290GD on all sorts of things - off road of course. My favourite is Asda's vegetable oil, which is about 45p a litre. Runs perfectly at anything up to 80% concentrations, the balance being pump diesel.
I've also tried bio diesel, from Ecomag, details below. They will supply a 1000 litre container, delivered to you, from which you can fill your motor. I looked quite seriously at starting a business making biodiesel, and the only reason not to was that I couldn't find an acceptable way to dispose of the glycerine, which is a by product. People suggested burning it or burying it, but I couldn't find a solution for large volumes of it at a sensible cost.
The only concern I have about biodiesel is whether I need to change any of the fuel lines since the methanol will eat any non-silicone based rubber hoses. I don't know whether G-wagens have any, but I would rather not find out by observing the contents of the tank on my drive one morning! Anyone know the answer to that?
MC
Steve Colman - 0845 0940761
28 Beeching Park, Station Rd, Kelly Bray, Callington, Liskeard PL17 8QS - Ecomag Ltd.
steve@ecomag.co.uk
The only concern I have about biodiesel is whether I need to change any of the fuel lines since the methanol will eat any non-silicone based rubber hoses. I don't know whether G-wagens have any, but I would rather not find out by observing the contents of the tank on my drive one morning! Anyone know the answer to that?
Don't quote me on this but I am fairly certain you are ok with a 290GD. I seem to recall reading somewhere that all MB Diesel engines after the early 90s were ok to run on veggie oil with no problems. I ran a mix as you currently do for about 1-2 years with no problems.
Check out the links in the Resources Section, one of the .CO.UK ones (sorry don't remember which) lists all the engines it is ok to run biodiesel on and what if any conversions are needed for long term viability.
I know MB has been experimenting with biodiesel for quite a long time. Also you can get bio-diesel (5%) in the forecourts of most service stations in Germany.
And the likely hood of them dipping your diesel family car for chip oil or red diesel is a million to one
take it youve never lived in rural wales then ? VOSA checkpoints in villages in the arse end of no where are fairly common. C + E more frequent than VOSA , and if one person in the village/area gets dipped for cherry then they will set up camp every couple of days and do the village!!
dipping your diesel family car for chip oil or red diesel is a million to one
They certainly had field day during the fuel crisis, and they don't stop at checking fuel. Tyres etc etc
Just got a mail shot a work here, a firm calling itself Black Mountain Bio Fuels Ltd trying to sell us Bio Diesel. I suspect there is a grant application involved somewhere.
Anyway 4 links included www.energyinst.org.uk
www.biodiesel.org/
www.agqm-biodiesel.de
www.ufop.de
Now how do I attatch an email attatchment on here ?
Marcus
Whow, as simple as that, an after me typing in those web addresses an all ?
Black Mountain Biofuels Ltd
Service/Product Offering
Biodiesel is a renewable fuel derived from vegetable oils and fats.
Its chemical name is Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME).
Dr Rudolf Diesel first developed the Diesel engine in 1895 with the full intention of running it on a variety of fuels, including vegetable oil. When Dr Diesel showed his engine at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900 he powered it on peanut oil. Since Rudolf Diesel’s time, the Diesel engine has been modified to run on the cheapest fuel available, petroleum. During the last three quarters of a century, many variations of Dr Diesel’s original engine have been produced. Most of these engines are designed to run on less viscous fuels than the vegetable oil which powered the original Diesel. In the 1970s, scientists discovered that the viscosity of vegetable oil could be decreased through a chemical process. The process yields a vegetable oil-based fuel that works as well as fossil diesel fuel in modern Diesel engines. This fuel is called biodiesel.
Biodiesel is one of the most promising alternative fuels. It can be produced from either fresh or used cooking oil as well as animal fats. It is an environmentally safe, low polluting fuel that can be used in all diesel engines with little or no modification. It can be mixed in any ratio with petroleum diesel fuel and stored anywhere petroleum diesel is stored. It is made both commercially and privately around the world. The benefits include substantially reduced engine emissions, even with as small a blend as 20% Biodiesel with 80% petroleum diesel.
In 2000, biodiesel became the only alternative fuel to have successfully completed the Environmental Protection Agency (USA) Tier I and Tier II health effects testing under the Clean Air Act. These independent tests conclusively demonstrated biodiesel’s significant reduction of virtually all regulated emissions, and showed biodiesel does not pose a threat to human health. Biodiesel is biodegradable and non-toxic. 100% biodiesel is as biodegradable as sugar and less toxic than table salt. Biodiesel contains no sulphur or aromatics, and use of biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine results in substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter.
The oil plant from which the biodiesel is derived produces a greater volume of oxygen while it grows than the volume of carbon dioxide that is emitted from the car exhaust while the fuel is burned, thus it is considered a CO2 neutral fuel. When the energy used in the vegetable oil’s processing lifecycle is taken into account it has been found that there remains at least a 78.5% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions in comparison with petroleum diesel. Moreover, biodiesel has a positive energy balance. For every unit of energy needed to produce a gallon of biodiesel, 3.24 units of energy are gained.
Biodiesel Emissions
Biodiesel emissions are substantially lower than petroleum diesel emissions. Biodiesel has the following emission characteristics when compared to petroleum diesel fuel:
· Reduction of net carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 80-100%
· Reduction of sulphur dioxide (SO2) by 100%
· Reduction of soot emissions by 40-60%
· Reduction of carbon monoxide (CO) emissions by 10-50%
· Reduction of hydrocarbon (HC) emissions by 10-50%
· Reduction of all polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and specifically the reduction of the following carcinogenic PAHs:
o Reduction of phenanthren by 97%
o Reduction of benzofloroanthen by 56%
o Reduction of benzapryen by 71%
o Reduction of Aldehydes and Aromatic Compounds by 13%
o Reduction or increase of nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions by 5-10% depending on the age of vehicle and the tuning of the engine
Source: EPA (USA)
Using biomass for energy is carbon dioxide neutral. The organic matter fixes CO2 from the atmosphere as it grows, and then releases it when it is converted to energy, with a net zero effect, as illustrated below. Combusting fossil fuels, on the other hand, release CO2 trapped for millennia, increasing the overall global levels of CO2.
Illustration of the CO2 neutral
cycle for biomass energy
Quality Standards and Specifications
The European Union specification standards for diesel & Biodiesel fuels are EN590 and EN14214. EN14214 has been accepted as the British standard for biodiesel
(BS EN14214).
EN590 (actually EN590:2000) describes the physical properties that all diesel fuel must meet if it is to be sold in the EU, Czech Republic, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland. It allows the blending of up to 5% Biodiesel with 'normal' DERV - a 95/5 mix. In some countries such as France, all diesel sold routinely contains this 95/5 mix.
The EN14214 standard for Biodiesel is regarded by almost all vehicle manufacturers as evidence of compliance with the strictest standards for diesel fuels. The vast majority of Biodiesel produced commercially meets or exceeds this standard.
Specifications:
Criteria Derv (EN590) Biodiesel (DIN51606) Biodiesel (EN14214)
Density @ 15°C (g/cm³) 0.82-0.86 0.875-0.9 0.86-0.9
Viscosity @ 40°C (mm²/s) 2.0-4.5 3.5-5.0 3.5-5.0
Flashpoint(°C) >55 >110 >101
Sulphur (% mass) 0.20 <0.01 <0.01
Sulphated Ash (% mass) 0.01 <0.03 0.02
Water (mg/kg) 200 <300 <500
Carbon Residue (% weight) 0.30 <0.03 <0.03
Total Contamination (mg/kg) <24 <20 <24
Copper Corrosion 3h/50°C Class 1 Class 1 Class 1
Cetane Number >45 >49 >51
Methanol (% mass) N/a <0.3 <0.2
Ester Content (% mass) N/a >96.5 >96.5
Monoglycides (% mass) N/a <0.8 <0.8
Diglyceride (% mass) N/a <0.4 <0.2
Tridlycende (% mass) N/a <0.4 <0.4
Free Glycerol (% mass) N/a <0.02 <0.02
Total Glycerol (% mass) N/a <0.25 <0.25
Iodine Number N/a <115 120
Phosphor (mg/kg) N/a <10 <10
Alkaline Metals Na. K (mg/kg) N/a <5 <5
A Lubricity Additive
Between 0.4-5% bio-diesel mixed with petroleum diesel fuel significantly increases fuel lubricity (i.e. the smoothness of the fuel). Diesel fuel was once lubricated primarily with sulphur. When fuel containing sulphur is burned, it produces sulphur dioxide, the primary component of acid rain. When the legal limit of sulphur in diesel fuel was decreased across the EU many Diesel engines experienced fuel system problems. Bio-diesel can be used to restore the lubricity of diesel fuel.
Energy Content and Fuel Efficiency
According to research conducted by the energy institute, Biodiesel contains approximately 2.2% less energy per litre than fossil diesel. The difference in energy content may be noticeable if 100% pure biodiesel is being used. However due to a more efficient combustion cycle, 80% biodiesel blends and below do not cause noticeable differences in power, torque, and fuel economy performance compared with pure fossil diesel.
Biodiesel = 35.6 Mega Jules/litre
Diesel = 36.4 Mega Jules/litre
102 litres of biodiesel required to supply equivalent energy content of 100 litres of diesel. No noticaeable drop in performance.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q) How is biodiesel different to ‘normal’ diesel?
A) Unlike conventional diesel, biodiesel is fully biodegradable and is made from natural renewable resources. Biodiesel smells as subtle as olive oil, is less toxic than table salt and is as biodegradable as sugar. Biodiesel is kinder to the environment as it eliminates the black smoke and fumes normally associated with diesel engines.
Q) How will using biodiesel affect my engine?
A) One of the many advantages of biodiesel is the benefit to your vehicle's engine. Unlike conventional diesel, biodiesel replenishes your engines lubricity - reducing engine problems and enhancing the life and efficiency of your engine. Biodiesel’s natural cleaning properties will also help to clean injectors, fuel lines, pumps and tanks, meaning that the overall engine maintenance costs are reduced.
Q) Who would benefit from using biodiesel?
A) Biodiesel is beneficial and cost effective for all diesel engines. Therefore anybody who uses conventional diesel can benefit by switching to biodiesel - from individual private cars to large fleets of lorries or agricultural vehicles. Extensive experiments have proven that mileage-fuel consumption is relatively unaffected, or better (in the case of blends) than that of conventional diesel.
Q) Can I use biodiesel as a total replacement for my current diesel?
A) Yes, however biodiesel will begin to freeze at –4C, so to avoid very cold weather starting problems it is recommended to mix with a ratio of 20-50% petro diesel when in use during very cold temperatures.
Q) Will my engine need any modifications to use biodiesel?
A) No, but in older or heavily used vehicles we do recommend that biodiesel is used at 50% proportions for the first 500 kilometres. If a diesel engine has been used for a period of time, it will have deposited sediment from the fossil diesel into the tank and fuel lines. Biodiesel will naturally clean out the tank and fuel lines, which is best done gradually over a period of time.
Q) Why hasn't this product been available before?
A) As a superior product, bio-diesel has traditionally cost more to produce than regular diesel, and has therefore not been cost effective in the past. This extra cost has meant that (at least in Britain and Ireland) take-up of biodiesel has been slow. However, increasing concern over global environmental issues has prompted the British Government to reduce taxation on 'green fuels’, which took place on 27 July 2002, and the Irish government has also introduced tax incentives within the past few years. These policies, combined with advanced processing and production techniques, means that biodiesel will now be priced in line with conventional diesel.
Q) Why haven't I heard of biodiesel?
A) In many countries, biodiesel is in common use and well known. In fact, in France the law requires the use of biodiesel in all diesel engines! Biodiesel is now also extensively used in America - for example the U.S. Postal Service and the Florida Department of Transportation are just two of the many organisations using biodiesel.
Recent developments such as the Kyoto Agreement to reduce harmful emissions into the environment and the new European Legislation to promote the use of alternative fuels, will mean that for the first time in the UK it is will become more cost-effective for businesses and consumers to use biodiesel rather than conventional diesel.
Q) How is biodiesel good for the Environment?
A) When using biodiesel in a diesel engine, the emission of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and other harmful substances are greatly reduced, meaning biodiesel eliminates the noxious black smoke and fumes associated with normal diesel engines. And of course biodiesel is produced from largely renewable, sustainable resources which mean significantly less 'greenhouse' gas emissions are involved in production.
Q) Are there any other benefits to using biodiesel?
A) Biodiesel cares not only for the environment but also for you. Unlike fossil fuels biodiesel is essentially non-toxic and therefore does not contribute towards skin conditions such as dermatitis, cancer or allergies. For example, scientific tests have demonstrated that biodiesel causes considerably less irritation to skin than soap and water!
Biodiesel has a high flash point making it much safer to transport and store than conventional diesel and making it much more appropriate to use in storage tanks and back-up fuel containers.
Q) What's the catch?
A) Biodiesel is better for your car, better for you, better for the environment and better for your pocket, so understandably you may be wondering where is the 'catch'. If you decide to switch back to fossil derived diesel at a later date that presents no problems. The 2 fuels are completely interchangeable.
The fact is that the only ‘downside’ to your using biodiesel is that the large petroleum companies will see less of your money.
More information on using Biodiesel can be found at the following internet links.
Having said all these, I see no technical issue in running a OM603 powered GWagen on a mixture of 50% diesel + 50% SVO in winter and 100% SVO in summer.
Exactly, Motinson, fully agree. In fact, the 603 engine handles the svo somewhat better due to the better design of the combustion process compared to the 617 and the ELR(idle speed regulation) also lets it run smoother at idle when it is a bit colder.
Obviously the legal issues are something else...
I wonder if anyone was ever prosecuted successfully with an appeal to the European Courts, considering the position of some if not most of the other member states :?:
My pennies worth below.
I don't have a diesel car so I did not take any details but last summer we had a car show near Marina, in this show there were four companies promoting biodiesel there was a lot of interest on their display cars and marketing material they were quoting 22p a litre which was very attractive offer. I am sure if you guys Google for UK companies you will find these offerings.
Another thing to mention is that one of my previous colleague had 300D which he was running on a mixture of Diesel, Kerosene oil and Veg oil from the tin. At time I found it interesting but could not understand the mixture but few days ago I read in my G manual which says if your model is Diesel then you can mix kerosene oil at 50/50 or 80/20 depending on the temperature as kerosene is more flammable then diesel. Having read in the official manual I can now understand my old colleague’s theory of mixing the three. Also note that you can buy very large tins of veg oils from Asian supermarkets. This is almost 50% cheaper then buying at Sainsbury’s or Tescos etc.
One more point to mention on LPG & NPG although this one is not relevant to Biodiesel but I am sure lot of people will read this thread with interest and I shall publish this point under the LPG thread as well, is that LPG and NPG conversions are about 300-400 pounds in Bulgaria. I travel there every 2-3 weeks on business so if anyone wants to have this done or organise a group conversion then let me know I can put you in touch with our contacts there. Bulgaria will be in EU in couple of days time so no need to worry about taxes etc.
More information on the subject:
http://www.biodieselfillingstations.co.uk/alloutlets.htm
http://www.biofuels.fsnet.co.uk/
Wonderful information here, just a quote:
And another one:
http://www.biofuels.fsnet.co.uk/biobiz.htm
Cheers,