On this page we have included some frequently asked questions. Or you can view the our biodiesel page.
| Does the fuel alter the performance of the car |
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There have been a number of studies on this point, showing a range of results from a slight deterioration to a slight improvement. Theoretically biodiesel contains slightly less energy than Mineral diesel but it contains oxygen and so theoretically it combusts more efficiently. We have not noticed any difference, expect with homebrew biodiesel where excess methanol in the fuel gives a bit of kick! Sorry, we take it out as it has bad long term effects. Also the higher lubricity of biodiesel leads to smoother running. On an older diesel like Jon’s Peugeot 205 that’s noticeable as a reduction in noise levels. For a car running on biodiesel most of the time, it is possible to retard the timing on a diesel engine to improve economy and emissions at the expense of performance; for a super-green option, the lack of sulphur in biodiesel allows the fitting of a catalyst and particulate trap in the exhaust. Both these steps are strictly for the purists though. Biodiesel is really a drop-in replacement for mineral diesel and most of the time you will not notice the difference. |
| Can I mix fuels in the tank, if we are away from Oxford |
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Yes. This is one of the best things about biodiesel; its a very practical fuel. It can be used in any blend with mineral diesel. Blends of B5 and B20 (5 and 20 percent biodiesel) are becoming available in parts of the UK and are widely used overseas. French normal diesel (gazole) contains a proportion of biodiesel so you may already have used a biodiesel blend without knowing it. The two fuels will mix in the tank without any problem. |
| I have a boat - can you do red - untaxed fuel |
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Yes. However there is a drawback on price. This is how the taxation of fuels breaks down:
We are able to be nearly competitive with road fuel on price because we pay 20p less tax. With ‘red’ diesel however there is no such difference, so the added cost of manufacturing the fuel gets passed on to the consumer. In practice this means that to break even we will have to sell ‘red’ biodiesel for around 20p/litre les than road fuel. In Oxford, boaters can end up paying over the odds for normal red diesel. With the small amounts used yearly by many boaters (~100 litres) a switch to biodiesel might only add £20 or so to their annual fuel bill. Boat owners who have a strong interest in sustainable living (like ourselves) have already told us they plan to switch as soon as possible. For farmers and other users who buy red diesel for much less and use much more biodiesel is obviously not going to be an option in the short term. |
| What kind of quality guarantee can you supply? |
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The UK has adopted the European standard EN 14214, which is a development of the existing German DIN standard. This is not a formal requirement but is a good point to aim for as it was developed along with the engine manufacturers Our aim is to produce fuel to EN 14214. As this is a fairly stringent standard it will take some time to reach this. It will involve lab tests of our fuel and fine tuning of the process. We know that our basic process is well tested and that the fuel we make will work with no problem in most Diesel vehicles. At the moment anybody can claim to reach the standards and some biodiesel producers are doing so with very little evidence. When we get our fuel tested we’ll provide details on the website: we’ll try to stay away from wild claims until then! We would advise customers who have very modern Diesel engines (ie common rail or unit injector types) to use the fuel as part of a blend with mineral diesel rather than ‘neat’. Some people like to try this approach anyway just to convince themselves that the fuel is OK before going for pure biodiesel. |
| Will biodiesel work in a turbo engine |
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Yes. Turbo diesels are becoming increasingly common. They offer similar performance to a petrol engine with potentially greater fuel efficiency. A turbo is an addition to the engine which uses the waste energy in the exhaust to increase the efficiency of combustion. We are not aware of any negative effects of using biodiesel in a turbo-equipped engine. At the higher revs such an engine may run at, the added lubricity of biodiesel will be an asset. Many recent VW, Seat, Audi and Skoda TDIs have engine warranties which approve the use of biodiesel (based on DIN standard biodiesel) |
| I’d like to do it but the cost differential must be small |
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Some people have commented that we cannot hope to establish a business unless we make biodiesel cheaper than mineral diesel. At the moment (Sept 2005)we can just do this owing to the rapid price rise of fossil fuels. On a small scale it is only just possible to compete with mineral diesel financially, while complying with all the relevant regulations. We have always felt that there are people who would be willing to pay a little more for biodiesel if necessary, just as many of us pay more for organic and fairtrade food. Our research has shown this to be true in Oxford. Some other aspects of the pricing issue:
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| I presume a petrol vehicle cannot be modified to use bio-diesel |
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You presume right, unfortunately. In some cases petrol vehicles can have a replacement diesel engine fitted, though this is a rather extreme step in most cases. Dan’s Landrover started life with a petrol engine but now has a diesel. In Brazil, petrol engines are often converted to run on proalcool, which is 85 percent ethanol from sugar cane. This is the biggest experiment in biofuels in the world. It has been going on since the 1970s and is enjoying a new lease of life due to technological and political progress. Ethanol is unfortunately largely unavailable in the UK, though some progress is being made behind the scenes. Diesels are reliable and economic. In France over 50 percent of new cars sold are diesels! |
