New here...and running E300TD on biodiesel

[Steve@Avantgarde]

rjevon

Your post is intersting. My father in law has been making his own bio diesel for a couple of years now, he has invested in all the proper kit and uses methanol as a mix to get the right burn. I too have thought of doing it as I have plenty of space in my workshop but what stops me is that I would have to, or so I thought, run an old pump diesel engine, I didnt think that CDI would be too happy with it but what you say changes that. What would you say constitutes good bio diesel?

Is it the quality of the mix or what the old oil was originally used for? If I am making it mysellf how would I know what good bio diesel finished product would be suitable for cdi use?

 

[turbopete]

dad ran his c220 cdi 203 on it for around 30-40k miles and although there was a dip in performance and MPG had no troubles whatsoever

 

[rjevon]

Steve,

Quality of the Bio would be based on the overall reaction and how complete it has happened..

Titraion of the WVO or SVO would allow you to calc the correct catalist qty's.

A couple of easy tests, without the expens of EN testing, cabn be done :-

1. 50/50 Water test, shake 50% Bio Diesel and 50% de-ironised water together and watch... it should separate quickly leaving clear water at the bottom and clear bio diesel at the top. There should be NO emulsion / cream between the two layers.

2. 23/7 test, this mixes 23ml of Methenol and 3ml of Bio Diesel together and the Bio Diesel should completely disolve. Any oil drop out in the form of oily blobs will show that the reaction has not been complete as the WVO/SVO will not disolve in the Meth. A percentage based on the size of the drop out (if any can then be calculated based on the size of the oil droplet)- Simplistically anyway.

All the info is on the link I provided and they are all more than happ to answer any questions.

Plus, please do remember that these guys are experts and have been producing for many many years..

Richard