Best diesel car to buy for running on veg oil?

[Kentish]

As per the title really.

I guess an older common rail diesel is best, possibly normally aspirated too?

And which engine types should be avoided?

[Egbert Nobacon]

Mercedes W124 250D/300D & 190 250D are a good place to start

[Kentish]

Egbert Nobacon said:

Mercedes W124 250D/300D & 190 250D are a good place to start

Thanks Eg.

I'm not too up on my Mercs and not sure which the W124 series are. Which series and years etc?

How about the old E34 525 diesel - most are blown though?

[abdulaziz]

Go for the 190E or any of the old shape E - Class from the same era as the 190E

[cptsideways]

Older is generally NOT common rail, you want old skool indirect injection. Yep the mercs are good but not especially efficient though they rarely go wrong.

Peugeout XUD 1.9 lumps are good for veg if you can put up with the rest of the car falling apart around you. VAG Tdi the 90/110 bhp versions are ok too. Both of these you'll want fuel heaters for if not using biodiesel but straight veg.

[OSR]

Or wrap you're fuel pipe round something warm i.e. water pipes etc. Then run it on what ever dino/bio mix you need to get a cold start in the winter. There are 2 tank systems available for a few hundred quid that let you start on dino then switch to bio when the engines warmed up.

[Parrot of Doom]

Kentish said:

Egbert Nobacon said:

Mercedes W124 250D/300D & 190 250D are a good place to start

Thanks Eg.

I'm not too up on my Mercs and not sure which the W124 series are. Which series and years etc?

How about the old E34 525 diesel - most are blown though?

W124 is the early nineties MB with the rectangular headlamps:



Also look at the W210 (see my profile) with the E300TD engine. I run mine on veggie (50:50 this weather) with no problems.

[Egbert Nobacon]

Parrot of Doom said:

Kentish said:

Egbert Nobacon said:

Mercedes W124 250D/300D & 190 250D are a good place to start

Thanks Eg.

I'm not too up on my Mercs and not sure which the W124 series are. Which series and years etc?

How about the old E34 525 diesel - most are blown though?

W124 is the early nineties MB with the rectangular headlamps:



Also look at the W210 (see my profile) with the E300TD engine. I run mine on veggie (50:50 this weather) with no problems.

1986 - 1995 for W124 E class.

[russ_a]

hasn't veg oil shot up in price so there is no cost difference in running on veg oil than diesel (unless you own a chippy)

[Kentish]

which oils can you use then?

old engine oil?

[Parrot of Doom]

If you filter it, yes, although its nasty stuff to be honest. Also you can use power steering oil, transmission oil, peanut oil, etc.

[Kentish]

Parrot of Doom said:

If you filter it, yes, although its nasty stuff to be honest. Also you can use power steering oil, transmission oil, peanut oil, etc.

Seriously?

I was only kidding!

[Morningside]

Anyone else noticed veg oil seems to be following the price of Diesel? Coincidence? NAH!

[ELAN+2]

Common rail and Unit injector type high pressure diesels wont tolerate vegetable oil and long term wont like pure bio diesel, approx 10% bio in a mix is all they will cope with.
What you need is an older style diesel, turbo or non turbo will work fine. Fuel heaters are a good idea as these reduce the viscosity of the oil (the thickness) and will make cold starting easier and put less strain on the pump. Run a mix of regular derv with veg oil in the winter to ease cold starting, I ran approx 50/50 in the winter with my 940 estate, it was a bit reluctant to start on very cold mornings and a bit sluggish till it warmed up a bit then it was fine. I have run it on straight (used) veg oil during the summer months with no problems. Fuel consumption is the same regardless of fuel type(about 40mpg) as is performance. As to what car to get for yourself? what do you need it for? as a daily economic comuter machine, the 306 turbo (pre HDI) or the rover 25 td would be ideal, 55+ mpg, if you want a load lugger then the volvo940/w124 merc would be hard to beat. I'm biased so I'd recommend the Swede every time

[minimatt1967]

My mates 205 1.8 diesel dog loves a bit of veg oil be it new or used no worries..... just smells like a fry up has driven past

[sniff petrol]

minimatt1967 said:

My mates 205 1.8 diesel dog loves a bit of veg oil be it new or used no worries..... just smells like a fry up has driven past

XUD engines have a heated fuel filter. I've not had problems doing many miles in PSA diesels on SVO but have broken 4 Ford injector pumps doing the same.

[AndrewW-G]

did almost 95K over 4 years with a 2003 golf tdi Mk4 with absolutley no problems at a ratio of 40% costco veg oil to 60% sainsbury diesel

[tali1]

sniff petrol said:

minimatt1967 said:

My mates 205 1.8 diesel dog loves a bit of veg oil be it new or used no worries..... just smells like a fry up has driven past

XUD engines have a heated fuel filter. I've not had problems doing many miles in PSA diesels on SVO but have broken 4 Ford injector pumps doing the same.

Tried 50/50 diesel /SVO on Pug 405 TD initially ran well -then car reguarly stalled at first time starts (even in hot tepmratures)- so ditched SVO and stuck with diesel - no stall probs

[Parrot of Doom]

Morningside said:

Anyone else noticed veg oil seems to be following the price of Diesel? Coincidence? NAH!

Not when you consider that all foodstuffs have been rising in price.

[Kentish]

How about a E36 325tds circa 1995?