Arclighter

The solitary dealer in Adelaide South Australia - have you ever wondered when after having your car serviced you read that list of ticked checkboxes and wonder whether the work has been done?? I don't any more because after my 30,000km service the dealer had checked the box for replacing 4 new sparkplugs -on my Octavia 2.0 Tdi !!!!!!!!!!!

there is no sludge build up from Bio Diesel quite the opposite. Bio Diesel removes the wax and heavier weight hydrocarbon build up - if you have been using Dino fuel and you change to Bio you will need to change your Fuel filter at least 3 times - once after each successive tank full to remove dino sludge. As far as particulate filters go their effectiveness also depends on your driving habits - if all your trips are short then avoid Bio - if you do a good quick 50km highway trip per week that should get the system hot enough to burn the DPF clean - if you don't have a DPF there is no reason why you shouldn't use a 10 - 20% Bio mix - it significantly reduces engine and fuel pump wear esp. if you are using ultra low sulphur Diesel 10ppm or less

This is the link for the FAQ on Biodiesel in South Australia SAFF Premium Diesel - FAQ

I used B20 in my Golf 2.0Tdi which has now done 56000km and runs super economically = 4.7L/100km on trip. My new Occy 2.0 Tdi is going to get its first injection of Bio today - I buy 100% Bio and put 500 - 600ml per tankful into the tank - this gives a 1% mixture which gives a substantial reduction in engine wear particularly if you are using Ultra low sulphur Diesel ( < 10ppm ). In South Australia we have a " Premium Diesel" blend which is 20% Bio in summer and down to 5% in winter depending on how cold it is. Because it meets and exceeds all government standards for Diesel the manufacturers have no reason not to allow it. The main hazard of using straight Bio is the sudden cleaning of your fuel lines if you have used lots of petro distillate or deterioration of unsuitable rubber components in the fuel line.

Quick assessment of the downunder Octavia? Excellent - always gets a few looks on the road It has been mistaken for an Audi and an E class Benz from the rear 3/4 view great roadholding - a harder ride than my Golf - 16" tyres on the Occy v 15" on the Golf as far as fuel economy goes mine must be a very tight motor at idle it uses 0.9L/hour the Golf 0.4l/hour _ I have always used at least 1% Biodiesel in the Golf - the motor didn't fully bed in until about 35000km and oil changes were always Mobil 1 after the first 15000km. It ran on B20 for at least 20000km. Here it's called Premium Diesel and meets the Australian Standard for diesel. As from 1 Jan 2009 Australian diesel will have a maximum sulphur content of 10ppm currently 50ppm which is even more reason to use at least 1% Bio.

Thanks to all for the welcome - the Octavia is certainly a conversation starter here in Oz - usually with - " you bought a what???"

I bought a new Silver Octavia Elegance wagon ( Estate) _ 6 sp Man 2.0 Tdi in Melbourne and drove it home to Adelaide. South Australia in 42C heat! Has anybody got a long term fuel economy figure for this combination - I had a Golf 2.0 Tdi and managed to get 4.7L / 100km for this trip - but with full Air Con on and a head wind - only 7.0L / 100km