View Full Version : Anyone tried bio diesel?
Read somewhere today as a legit supply (ie not from your chippy!), it's only 30 pence per litre.
True or false? Any stations selling it in the UK?
I am sure I heard one of the supermarkets was selling it (sainsbury's?), but it was only about 5% veg oil in normal diesel and cost the same as normal diesel - not sure what the point of that is really!
As long as the duty gets paid to gordon brown you can do it yourself (just filter it and add a bit of ethanol I think), not sure I'd want to put it in mine though ;)
cheshire cat
22-02-2003, 10:29
re: biodiesel 100% bio properly made is OK in indirect injection motors and less sophisicated direct, too early to tell in newer stuff. It will always be more expensive than dino' diesel unless you make it yourself, in which case the first thing to do is talk to H.M. customs and get legal. Mr Clarkson is probably responible for mutch grief up and down the land with his lamebrain oil stunts, but who listens to that idiot anyway. The duty on homemade is approx 25p?litre. Hope this helps :rolleyes:
The agricultural diesel they sell hear is sortof a mixture of bio/normal. I'm not using it though.
Besides there have been quite a few problems hear with normal diesel, f@cking up cars engines (to high sulfur content I think).
Originally posted by cheshire cat
The duty on homemade is approx 25p?litre.
But how can they possibly know how many litres you should be paying duty on ;) ...if you get my drift...
cheshire cat
22-02-2003, 16:47
well I guess it depends on playing it straight, BUT they will find out if your making it, I understand it's like living next to the chippy!!!! ps how do you like the 130, ours should be here next week- hopefully :
shirudell
22-02-2003, 20:34
Ive used pure biodiesel frequently when driving back from Germany, you can buy it there for about 47p per litre, and it causes no problems at all. So long as your engine is less than about ten years old, meaning there are no natural rubber seals in it, it won't cause you any grief. It has better lubricating properties than normal diesel too. Most diesel in Europe is in fact (AFAIK) around 5% biodisel now anyway, as this is added to improve the lubricating properties.
Making Biodiesel properly isn't that difficult if you're brave and not daft, check out this site:
http://www.journeytoforever.org/biodiesel.html
Im starting to make my own very soon, just waiting on a few stainless steel vessels and bits. I've got all the chemical ingredients sorted thanks to a guy I know who is a chemical supplies salesman.
I have told customs and excise of my plans, and they have no specific procedure you need to follow in order to pay over the duty. They told me to just keep a record of the number of litres I make as and when I place it in my tank, as the duty is only owed once the fuel is being used on the road. I guess I'll just send them a cheque every month once I start. I think duty is 27p a litre at the moment. Chemical ingredients cost is about 12p a litre, and the kit to make the stuff will cost about 300 quid if you do it properly but using recycled parts. The raw oil can be any used oil, vegetable or animal, I plan to use used palm oil as I have a ready source of this from a local potato processing plant!
:cheers:
Originally posted by cheshire cat
well I guess it depends on playing it straight, BUT they will find out if your making it, I understand it's like living next to the chippy!!!! ps how do you like the 130, ours should be here next week- hopefully :
They just won't find out how much of it you're making...
It hasn't been a 130 since 9 days after I got it, but it's pretty good all round if some way short of perfect. If you have realistic expectations of yours then you should be blown away...
driveforward
25-02-2003, 09:28
Originally posted by shirudell
http://www.journeytoforever.org/biodiesel.html
Im starting to make my own very soon, just waiting on a few stainless steel vessels and bits. I've got all the chemical ingredients sorted thanks to a guy I know who is a chemical supplies salesman.
I have told customs and excise of my plans, and they have no specific procedure you need to follow in order to pay over the duty. They told me to just keep a record of the number of litres I make as and when I place it in my tank, as the duty is only owed once the fuel is being used on the road. I guess I'll just send them a cheque every month once I start. I think duty is 27p a litre at the moment. Chemical ingredients cost is about 12p a litre, and the kit to make the stuff will cost about 300 quid if you do it properly but using recycled parts. The raw oil can be any used oil, vegetable or animal, I plan to use used palm oil as I have a ready source of this from a local potato processing plant!
:cheers:
Shireudell, I am very interested in the use of Biodiesel, please keep us informed on your progress with this alternative fuel.
Cheers, Ian.
Leon the Diesel
25-02-2003, 10:07
The supermarket chain starting to sell a 5% mix of Rapeseed oil and normal derv is TESCO'S. It'l be in a yellow pump.
No problem for VW Group cars. However my other car a 2001 Renault Megane Scenic 1.9dci 105 (ie the latest engine technology for Renault that is). SPECIFICALLY forbids the use of Rapeseed Oil in part or whole.
The moral of the tale is read your manual first gentlemen!
And your quite right. My sources tell me that there will be no price difference!
My sources tell me that there will be no price difference!
That's cack. My main interest was 'cos I'm tight bastid! :D
IMHO you'd be mad to take the chance of using rapeseed oil if there's no benefit in terms of cost.
Leon the Diesel
25-02-2003, 10:43
Tight Bastid? Heeeeyyyy me tooo! Thats why I do French trips so often. Thursday I be goin on the Euro Watsit Tunnel Thingy to Calais for the princely sum of nine of her majesties finest quids! - RETURN!!!
Half Time special, bookable online leave before 20:00 come back before midnight. So I'm going in the morning and coming back early evening. Offer runs out the 27th.
Diesel - about 48p a litre last time I looked. Fill yer boots!
Originally posted by Leon the Diesel
Diesel - about 48p a litre last time I looked. Fill yer boots!
Doesn't it leak out of the boot. Or make the carpet smell? :clown:
slim_boy_fat
25-02-2003, 13:16
I prefer to keep my fuel in the tank not in the boot as it does slosh about abit....lolss
:D
Leon the Diesel
25-02-2003, 13:17
:D
Good one. I have three ex army jerry cans. I'm not taking them on the tunnel as it's against the rules. BUT in the event we do go to war then I'm afraid I shall be hoarding diesel incase there's a shortage. (In my shed so it's not infringing the rules). I'll also have to get some unleaded in for my bike as well.
Just read that Diesel is currently 29% cheaper in France. Whereas Sans Plomb is only 9% cheaper. Better off in a TDI mate!
Originally posted by RB5
IMHO you'd be mad to take the chance of using rapeseed oil if there's no benefit in terms of cost.
Yup, I'll be sticking to Shell, BP or who-ever's finest.
Guys I asked my mate about this as he has a Passat TDI, he looked into it heavily because he's a tight git also ! ;)
Here is his reply:
There is a list of 100% biodiesel suppliers at:
BioDiesel (http://www.biofuels.fsnet.co.uk/biobiz.htm)
Cost-wise, most of them are only slightly cheaper than standard diesel. There are a few filling stations popping up that sell a 5% mix of biodiesel with ordinary diesel (which is actually normal in France). I think Tescos have just bought a 25% stake in one of the commercial producers of biodiesel, so I'd expect to see it in some form on Tescos forecourts soon.
I have tried making it, but you need methanol which is expensive, unless you have the capacity to buy it in 200 litre drums. If you use Tesco's cooking oil and methanol from a toy model shop (at £6 a gallon), it works out about the same cost as forecourt diesel (and thats without declaring any tax on it).
If you have a plentiful and free supply of used cooking oil, you could produce it cheaply, but its a lot of hassle (and in my eyes, the time required probably exceeds the cost of just buying fuel from a forecourt.
Leon the Diesel
26-02-2003, 14:29
Get a TDI mate. Not a coilpack in sight!
BTW French Diesel is 29% cheaper than UK diesel whereas Unleaded is only 9% cheaper.
This means a TDI owner can get a trip to france, a beer or two, a tank of Diesel all for say the same as it costs you to fill up your Cupra here in the UK.
Now thats the kind of economics I like!
TDI- it's like eating your cake, having another bit and having a oiled up naked supermodel feeding you more when you want it.
FAAANNNTASSTIC!
slim_boy_fat
26-02-2003, 14:38
And if you got to France French Tarts....The cakes are nice too....lolsssssss!!!!!!:D ;)
What are you guys paying for the liter or gallon?
Diesel is 0.70 euro
Ultra diesel is 0.715 euro
unleaded 95 0.97 euro
unleaded 98 1.02 euro
slim -
You sound hungry! why don't you grab a IDAS jelly dounut?;)
slim_boy_fat
26-02-2003, 14:48
Originally posted by prc
What are you guys paying for the liter or gallon?
Diesel is 0.70 euro
Ultra diesel is 0.715 euro
unleaded 95 0.97 euro
unleaded 98 1.02 euro
slim -
You sound hungry! why don't you grab a IDAS jelly dounut?;)
Diesel 85.9p 133 Euro Give or take
Ultra Derv ??????
unleaded 82.9 127 EU
Super 87.9 136EU
Originally posted by slim_boy_fat
Diesel 85.9p 133 Euro Give or take
Ultra Derv ??????
unleaded 82.9 127 EU
Super 87.9 136EU
:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
Leon the Diesel
26-02-2003, 15:27
:o
Wow! Scotland the pricey!
Down in deepest Ethics er Essex (yes thats better).
Diesel 77.9 p per Litre
Unleaded 79.9p per Litre
Tesco's this Saturday. Pretty standard price in Essex.
Oh Canvey Island Diesel was 79.9 at a MURCO station. Considering thats withing spitting distance of the refinery, sort of makes you wonder doesn't it?
Blimey !
And right down south :
Shell UL = 78.9p / L
Optimax = 79.9p / L
Diesel = is that the slippery stuff that gets on my brake pedal
:eek:
UL gone up 2 pence a litre in the last 2 weeks but Optimax hasn't budged :confused:
Originally posted by Stubill
Blimey !
And right down south :
Shell UL = 78.9p / L
Optimax = 79.9p / L
Diesel = is that the slippery stuff that gets on my brake pedal
:eek:
UL gone up 2 pence a litre in the last 2 weeks but Optimax hasn't budged :confused:
I guess optimax = 98 unleaded ??
I guess optimax = 98 unleaded ??
Yes mate :)
76.9 diesel
75.9 unleaded
At one shell station in Reading.
normal price is 78.9 at most stations around here.
Well we've got the fixed prices country wide.
I know we get ripped off for everything here, but why do we still pay more for diesel than petrol when it is 30% cheaper than petrol in portugal (and other european countries)??? We should be paying about 55p
Not sure Dave, but I think most european countries have close to the same price.