Is all bio-diesel sold at the pumps up to the quality of that skoda stipulate.

Also' date=' can you buy a barrel of it from anywhere? Just to "try it out".[/quote']The pre-blended bio/mineral diesel mixes, like Tesco's Global Diesel will contain biodiesel that meets the EN 14214 spec.

However, what Decron and myself do is buy 100% (neat) biodiesel and blend it with our preferred mineral diesel, so we know what the mineral component is.

Some of the suppliers of 100% biodiesel do not claim to meet any standards, and I for one wouldn't use any fuel which didn't at least claim to meet the spec.

The spreadsheet below lists some suppliers. A Google search will provide their websites. I've used Global's and Pure's biodiesel, and prefer the Pure Biodiesel RME stuff.

I'm putting about 4 litres in per tankful (approx 10% bio), so a 25 litre drum lasts me 2 months or so.

Been using bio/mineral blends for 36,000 miles with no problems.

Thanks Byran, out of interest do you know the general cost for the premixed bio-diesel that can be bought from selected UK fuelling stations? I have one which is local to my parents which I visit weekly and even if it's only 5p per litre cheaper i'd use it instead of standard diesel, especially if there are no obvious side effects. I assume the pre-mixed stuff is more expensive as someone else has already done all the leg work for you but will it just work exactly the same with nothing else needed (obviously the fuel filter needs cleaning as mentioned previously etc), and would it work just the same in winter? I'm game for saving money on fuel with no side effects and something which is truly easy just like filling up your car with regular diesel! I couldn't be arsed mixing it myself etc that's why I ask.

Also, my car is remapped, will this affect anything?

Just got off the blower to the local bio-diesel fuelling station, £1.01 per litre!!!

Think i'm going to stick to regular diesel :(

Green Gold in Manchester are charging 96p/litre for premixed and 92.5p/litre for 100% bio, according to their website. Rix outlets tend to charge about the same as standard mineral diesel, but I believe the Tesco stuff is a penny or two cheaper than mineral diesel. Problem with premixed is that you don't know what the mineral component is.

A significant difference between bio made from waste vegetable oil (WVO) and bio from rapeseed (RME) is that the WVO stuff can throw a sediment if it gets too cold (significantly below zero for more than 6 hours) - the RME apparently doesn't. Most but not all of the sediment goes away when the fuel is heated. In practice I've never had any problem but then I garage my car overnight so it rarely gets exposed to frost.

When my car was remapped it just purred away more strongly - no problem. I guess if you used the same bio blend for a long time it might be worth mapping the car for bio, but I don't know of anyone that has bothered.

Just got off the blower to the local bio-diesel fuelling station,

Bryand,

You say that you buy you diesel in bulk, I guess you get a barrel delivered or something?

Can you tell me who you buy it from and how much it costs?

Also, do you keep barrel in your garage or outside? and finally how do you get the bio into the fuel tank?

I've have an image in my mind of something that looks like a water butt, with a tap at the bottom.:confused: Is this what it is?

Bryand' date='

You say that you buy you diesel in bulk, I guess you get a barrel delivered or something?

Can you tell me who you buy it from and how much it costs?

Also, do you keep barrel in your garage or outside? and finally how do you get the bio into the fuel tank?

I've have an image in my mind of something that looks like a water butt, with a tap at the bottom.:confused: Is this what it is?[/quote']I have a pair of 25-litre polythene drums which I acquired when I was buying bio from Broadland Fuels. I now take them with me when I go to buy my bio.

I recently bought 50 litres of RME biodiesel from Pure Biodiesel in Stroud for

I was hoping that Bio was cheaper, as I do 20K miles a year and I'm always looking to save on my fuel bill whenever I can.

I've been paying 93.9p a litre for Shell 'Extra' recently, so Bio at over

Just got off the blower to the local bio-diesel fuelling station' date=' £1.01 per litre!!!

Think i'm going to stick to regular diesel :([/quote']

Whoa!

I pay 88p per litre in a 200 litre drum and £5 delivery so 90.5p per litre. I save around £5-£7 a week, this may seem peanuts for the effort but thats £260-£364 per year. I also have no fear of any fuel shortages and it also moore or less halves my emissions.

I have also just realised I need to order a new drum (There is a two week lead time on bulk...)

Have a look at http://www.bio-power.co.uk/agents.htm

Take it how you want to. You either take the plunge and do it or continue to wonder about what you could have done. I think it's insane that we dont reuse all such oils in this manner. No waste, less emissions, more stable supply uneffected by the global market (I could get political at this point but it's not worth it) and in theory Biodiesel (Of the correct standard) has a higher calorific value that mineral so if the car was tuned specifically it would produce more power for less fuel.

For now it does take the extra effort to use it and for some people this will be too much. I used to work with oils and I suppose you could say I know my onions but that's me and I find the extra effort just part of the fun of being different and the fact I am giving half the tax I would with mineral to the goverment.

Things are becoming plain to manufacturers though that this is an area of the market that need to be explored.

Biodiesel's time will come...

Biodiesel isn't as nasty as mineral diesel if you get it on your skin' date=' and it washes off easily.

[/quote']

It smell, feels and looks like cooking oil, except is does go sticky if left on any surface for a few hours. That said whatever you do, don't spill it on your tarmac'd drive. It will eat right through it...

From the pics, Decron is much more organised - his is in an oil drum in his garage and he appears to have a pump to fill up the car with.

A standard 200 litre drum and barrel pump, connected using a spare bit of garden hose.. Roughly 3 pumps equal a litre and if you are careful, zero spillage. If you are not careful refer to the above comment about the tarmac...

Decron,

I've had a quick look at the Bio-Diesel site, it looks good and I'm very tempted.

However, I can't see any mention of the relevant standards.:confused:

Does their fuel meet the standards that VAG specify?

The 200 litre drum...I guess you have to buy that from their agents????