Biodiesel available in Melbourne now

[grimbo]

I found a servo in Prahran last night that is an eco friendly one. It sells ethanol based petrol but more importantly to blends of biodiesel. It has a a B20 which is a blended low sulphur and biodiesel and a B100 which is I’m guessing a more biodiesel than fossil diesel blend. It is located at 118 High St Prahran just near the Chapel St corner. The price was the same as normal diesel (I filled up with the B20 blend) So far it seems to run smoother and it started much better this morning in my GU Patrol. I’ll be using this from now on and try and guage fuel consumption and seat of the pants performance changes. The guy running it is the president of the biodiesel club of Melbourne so get on board and support them I reckon. His website is www.conservo.com.au

[bogged]

The price was the same as normal diesel

for me that is the issue.... it should be 30cents cheaper at least to get people to use it.

[Gwagensteve]

Biodiesel of some form or another (I am not sure of the blend or base) was avilable from Environmental Oil in Laverton for well under the price of regular diesel for years- well before it was trendy- maybe as long as 10 years.

Steve.

[grimbo]

Biodiesel of some form or another (I am not sure of the blend or base) was avilable from Environmental Oil in Laverton for well under the price of regular diesel for years- well before it was trendy- maybe as long as 10 years.

Steve.

yep and this is where he gets it from.

As to the price to be honest I didn't actually check exact prices against normal diesel as I had no fuel and it happened to be the first servo and I just pulled in.

In the end I'm happy to pay the same if it means its available for use. Hopefuly with more users the price will change

[Toy80Diesel]

Just wondering... did it have a hi-flow pump? I might have to try it out this weekend.

[dogbreath_48]

Theres also an outlet on the corner of Boronia and Scoresby roads (not quite in Melbourne i suppose). I think it's Australian Farmers Fuels. They've been operating for a while now and IIRC are usually a few cents cheaper. I think they have a 100% Biodiesel as well as a bio/fossil blend available.

http://www.farmersfuel.com.au/ <---Few other outlets in vic, it appears.

-Stu

[grimbo]

not sure about a hi flow pump wasn't really paying much attention at the time.

i reckon it's just a good idea to run it and I'll be supporting them especially as its just around the corner from work which makes it easier than Boronia for me

[ddr]

The price was the same as normal diesel

for me that is the issue.... it should be 30cents cheaper at least to get people to use it.

They are paying FULL excise it will never be much cheaper until our govt get a clue & stop sucking up to the oil co's. It was for a while cheaper excise, but the govt changed that late last year & now it attracts the full lot.

Only reason I dont use it is because of the dodgy Car manufacturer statement on non use of Bio Fuels in their Cars as the car is still under warranty (for what ever thats worth )

[zagan]

The biodiesel should run fine.

Just keep an eye on the injector pump for leaks because biodiesel seems to run real thin it's watery slight oil in it, it'll look like water rather diesel.

anyway the reason to keep an eye on it is because if the seals are on their way out you'll end up getting leaks, and you'll need to get your injector pump looked at.

normal diesel fuel doesn't seem to get this problem but if the seal are on the way out they will still leak just not as much as running biodiesel will.

in other words if the seals and o-rings are had it you need to get it fixed no matter what fuel you run.

old seals only last 10 years max and the newest good seals only came in around 2003 or so.

[sparehead2]

I have now filled up my 2.8 Lux 3 times from that servo with B100 and once with B20. I was there the second day they opened.

I have now replaced my fuel filter as he power was dropping, now back to normal.

One other thing to note its Gell point is -10, Should be good for the snow.

The pump for B20 or B100 is not a High flow.

[sparehead2]

Just went there today (Tuesday 21/8), and they are out of B100, wont get anymore untill late in the week.

Bugger. I should not have told everyone.

How many of you have filled up with B20 or B100 in the last few weeks.?

[RoldIT]

Ran the biodiesel from SAFF in Boronia for a few months.

I was going through a fuel filter every month and having to clean the guaze filter as often. Symptoms were the standard Patrol loss of power at or around 2500rpm+. This was in a 2000 GU 4.2td.

Been told be a fairly reputable source that it will clog your injector pump over time with sludge as it's a fat based oil. I'm told it's not highly refined enough as yet but should get better over time.

I only use BP diesel where possible now as my rig seems to like it. Bio initially gave me a little more punch but lost it's edge real quick due to the filter issues. I too found easier starting without the usual initial puff of white smoke.

Either way, not trying to poison anyone against it, just putting forward my experiences.

[bogged]

Bugger. I should not have told everyone.

I thought Grimbo did..

FWIW, I'll wait a while to see what issues like Roldit others have over a 6mth period...

[sparehead2]

In another forum (overlander)

(
Joined: 10 Jan 2004
Posts: 178
Location: Melbourne
Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2007 9:44 am Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About a Week ago I put in B20 for the first time, second day conservo was open. only traveled 200km on that. Then yesterday filled up on B100, I was driving past.

I have noticed a slight drop in high revving.

I have a spare filter in the car. I will have to get the tools ready as well.
)


Also I have told family and friends. Thats what I meant. Not in this Thread.

[grimbo]

I'm only going to use the B20 initially to see how it goes. Mine is due for a service and filter change soon as well so will be able to gauge how much gunk it flushes through then.

[chuckles]

well made bio diesel looks exactly the same as dino diesel and there isnt any oil in it. bio diesel (properly made) will not stuff your pump, the diesel engine was after all developed to run on peanut oil. what it will do is dissolve all the crap thats sitting in your tank as it is a good solvent, it then ends up in your fuel filter. being a good solvent it will also slowly soften older non viton style hoses to the point where they will suck air and your fourby will run like a hairy g^*t so if your using anything above b50 carry a spare fiter, on pre 84 models (threabouts) change the rubber lines in your system to the newer viton type lines and your away. this is definately the way of the future. theres even talk of harvesting pond algea to produce bio fuel

[RoldIT]

well made bio diesel looks exactly the same as dino diesel and there isnt any oil in it. bio diesel (properly made) will not stuff your pump, the diesel engine was after all developed to run on peanut oil. what it will do is dissolve all the crap thats sitting in your tank as it is a good solvent, it then ends up in your fuel filter. being a good solvent it will also slowly soften older non viton style hoses to the point where they will suck air and your fourby will run like a hairy g^*t so if your using anything above b50 carry a spare fiter, on pre 84 models (threabouts) change the rubber lines in your system to the newer viton type lines and your away. this is definately the way of the future. theres even talk of harvesting pond algea to produce bio fuel

This is the theory but how much gunk do you think a 135,000 GU would have in it? ... 6 months x 5 filters worth? Don't think so ...

As for the peanut oil theory, that was an engine from over 100 years. I'm guessing injector pumps are just a little bit different on modern engines ...

[sparehead2]

It might not be just Fuel gunk, It could be rust from the fuel tank.
If sitting for a while with a little water in the tank it could rust.

Bio will get rid of the rust over time two.
Others have put a cheeper prefilter to improve the life of the standard filter untill the BIO gets rid of the crap.

It could take a year or two on a badly damaged fuel system/tank.

It will improve, and it will be better for it.

[RoldIT]

... was daily driven with tank cycled from full to enpty. Never had to empty any water from the filter ...

[sparehead2]

Where you the only one to own the truck. It could have had a very restfull past life.

[blurredvision]

The BP refinery in Brisbane is tooling up to refine a percentage of Tallow(animal Fat) into all of its diesel in the not so distant future.

[sparehead2]

Good artice on Conservo.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st ... 41,00.html

Where the fuel comes from.
http://energetix.com.au/biodiesel/

[Emo]

The next big thing in diesel will be GTL (Gas to Liquid). Natural gas is converted to liquid and then modified to use in different types of engines. Diesel is the big one at the moment. Apparently GTL diesel has a cetane level almost twice as high as standard refinery diesel. Audi are using it in their diesel race cars. It's also going through trials for certification as a replacement for Jet A1 fuel used in commercial passenger planes. Emmissions from GTL is also meant to be heaps less than standard barrel oil fuels. The technology is just taking off and it'll be a few years before it filters down to the Australian market.

[shanegtr]

I have used the B20 blend from gull over here in the west. I was typically getting and increase in fuel consumption of 1L/100 (i drive a 1hz 80, my old mans rodeo gets worse consumption too so at least its not just me). So economically Im better of buying dino diesel especially since you can get it for about the same price