My Skoda Fabia 1.9SDi (2000 W reg) is having problems in the cold weather. Went up to the Peak District and it was probably less than -10 degree C. It didn't start. Eventually after some effort with jump start leads it turned over. Started driving and it was struggling up hills, felt like it was choking. It's running B100 Biodiesel. Luckily half the tank was empty, so promptly filled it up with regular diesel. Limped on home, but could not get up to motorway speeds. I was A roads all the way back at 40-50mph max, could not go really beyond 1500 rpm.

Apparently my biodiesel may not have had enough winterizer in it. Think I'm going to go back to regular diesel now. Also think my battery is due a change, it's only 390amps (cold cranking), sort of surprised it even turned over. Has been in there the last 2 years since I bought it, and never thought to check. I'd advise everyone to see what they have under the bonnet. Apparently the AA guy who jumped started me two days before said my alternator and battery were perfect, just have the wrong battery.

Could anyone help with two things:

1. What is the best battery to get? I'm looking at a Bosch S5, can't find the 780amp one so opting for a 750amp one, is that sufficient, Halfords suggest the 780amp one. Not sure if this is correct?

2. Can I run biodiesel at all in the cold weather, should I be adding anything in, I read somewhere about people adding unleaded. Is this safe under high diesel compressions?

Just want my poor car to be back to normal. Have been limping on with no power steering for 2000 miles, saved me going to the gym!

Thanks

Edited 2 December, 201015 yr by nigelcm

I have a fabia SDi also. I ran it on veg oil and some bio diesel in the summer. No real trouble, but after smokey starts i stopped using it (and the fact that I wasnt keen on just running straight oil as it has all that glycerine in, and the bio diesel pump went dry, and making real bio diesel at home is a real task).

And I had trouble starting. Although I think my trouble starting was more down to my technique of leaving the key halfway for afew moments before turning all the way to turn over at the time my theory was that this would let the engine get ready or something, I have since reckoned you are actually meant to turn the key quickly as the glow plugs must heat up in those brief moments only. Infact when I turn my key i hear a slight electricy buzz for 2 seconds, which in my mind is the glow plug relay circuit. I could ofcourse be talking nonsense though.

I changed my glow plugs anyway, my fuel filter, and I ran an intensive engine/injector cleaner additive (it was quite expensive £15-£20, a german make) and redex diesel. But it did stop any smokey issues and it starts fine even in this sub zero temp.

Car manufacturers do actually recommend adding petrol to your standard diesel fuel in the winter. Its not common knowledge and many are scared to do it. But yeah, im sure you can find somewhere the safe percentage to use on the internet. But I would of thought that in any big fuel retailer in the UK will have put loads of additives in the diesel anyway. I guess you could collect abit in a container, leave it outside over night and see how thick it goes. But I think youve done the smart thing by ditching the bio stuff, atleast till the warmer weather is back.

If i was you I would definitely run some intensive cleaner through, and have a couple of long runs, and change your fuel filter.

Have a look at alpha batteries. I've just got a new one. Ordered one day arrived next. Difference is amazing although old one seemed OK apart from a slower than usual start at under 0C.

For the cold weather stick to good diesel. Your description is a classic description of waxing fuel. You can heat filter. Petrol does work (to a point) but isn't a lubricant and un-necessary today - 20 years ago people like Mercedes suggested adding 0.5 litre per tankful of diesel. Today's winter diesel is cost effective and no problems.

Hi,

Thanks for this advice. I think I'm going to change the battery and go back to regular diesel. I just changed the filter less than 1000 miles ago. I spoke to the chaps I buy the biodiesel from and they were very helpful. They think mine was the last batch of non-winterized stuff. Hence my trip up north must have turned my tank of biodiesel into a tank of lard. Great! I'm going to soldier on. I've got a spare filter so if needs be I'll change that, but hopefully, I'll managed to dilute out and finish the biodiesel, the car is still lumpy when I drive it even at a roughly 50/50 mixture.

I thought you have to wait for the glow plug light to turn off before your start or am I wrong? I really don't want to change the glow plugs, and hoping I can make it through the winter. A nice new battery from Costco (Bosch S5) is looking at £70 inc VAT which isn't too bad. Might help my flickering dash and headlamps if I'm lucky.

A bit worried about putting a cleaner through, because the 114kmiles of gunk in fuel lines and everything might clog up everything.

Is there a cheap way to heat the filter, might be useful even for temps below +10 degrees C because I hear rapeseed oil biodiesel begins to solidify below this temperature.

Once again thanks for this advice.

Edited 2 December, 201015 yr by nigelcm

I thought you have to wait for the glow plug light to turn off before your start or am I wrong?

Yes - shouldn't be too long even in this weather - mine was about 2 secs this morning

There are fuel heaters which either sit in the fuel line before the filter or wrap around it. They do work (I put one on an old Fiesta and it was grand), but as you add up the cost of staying on bio-fuels for a few months, it might be cheaper to just mark the calendar for a fuel changeover.