running xantia on vegetable oil enquiry

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fotobright
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running xantia on vegetable oil enquiry

Post by fotobright »

Hi,

I was curious to know if, or how, I can run my 98 Xantia TD estate (pre HDI) on vegetable oil?

I seem to have been through lots of the classic issues, blower, passenger door hinges, spheres, rear windscreen wiper motor, heating matrix ect. I though I might generate a potential new issue with winter approaching here by running her on vegetable oil :)

Any thoughts or links welcome

Thanks
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Re: running Xantia on vegetable oil enquiry

Post by Xaccers »

Welcome aboard, here's a recent thread on the matter
http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =3&t=37303" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
1.9TD+ SX Xantia Estate (Cassy) running on 100% veg
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Re: running Xantia on vegetable oil enquiry

Post by fotobright »

Thanks for speedy reply, happy to be part of the FCF :)

Just read that thread, all good shorthand knowledge.

<replace the fuel filter before you start using it and expect to replace again after a few hundred miles>

Good

I need to establish whether i have a Lucas or Bosch pump. Is it easily identifiable?
Peugoet 207 SW Hdi 1.6 live*
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Re: running Xantia on vegetable oil enquiry

Post by CitroJim »

Welcome bright photo :D

If it's a 1.9TD almost invariably you'll have a Bosch pump which is OK...

If it looks more or less like this:

Image

It's a Bosch...

Sorry for the poor picture... It was taken sans armour to show the location of the stop solenoid...

A 2.1TD will have a Lucas pump and that's right out for veg, even bio-diesel. Generally only the early non-turbo 1.9 diesels had Lucas pumps...
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Re: running Xantia on vegetable oil enquiry

Post by fotobright »

Thanks Jim, I'm just about to start commuting to a newer workshop out of the city, a round trip of 40 miles, just trying to keep costs down. A half and half mix with a regular filter change and filter check sounds good and maybe some petrol or ignition additive for the winter. How does that sound?

First thing is to get a couple of newer tyres on the car, its just had another tracking arm done..yet another...and then get the wheels balanced and tracked properly. The front wear has been terrible recently!
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Re: running Xantia on vegetable oil enquiry

Post by Xaccers »

Start at 50/50, then increase the veg % until you're no longer happy with the running.
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Re: running Xantia on vegetable oil enquiry

Post by Spaces »

Having said that about Lucas pumps and recognising their unsuitability for running on viscous fuel, there are some on the veg oil forum who have run them on v high % veg mixes for many tens of thousands of miles, making sure they 'twin tank' their car - ie have a separate fuel tank for starting and stopping on diesel, to help prevent pump failure. The addition of a plate heat exchanger for winter use would make sense in this situation. Equally people have come to grief running Bosch-pumped cars on veg oil without checking injectors or glow plugs (poor injector spray pattern means incomplete combustion and eventual ring-gumming/sump oil polymerisation - which means you need a new engine not just a new fuel pump), or using waste oil which hasn't been thoroughly dried - which will damage the pump and injectors, but will steam clean the combustion chambers. :mrgreen:

I've read on the French forums of plenty running EPICS single tanked on a 80/20 veg/diesel in summer, 50/50 through winter with no problems over several years. The big no-no is revving them much before there's some heat in the engine, obviously!

Don't forget to change the engine oil more often as a precaution against lube oil contamination, every 3k in winter. Looping the fuel supply makes sense in winter especially with shorter journeys.
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Re: running Xantia on vegetable oil enquiry

Post by Xaccers »

I believe Davetherave has a lucas CX running on veg with a two tank and additional heater.
The problem with Lucas pumps is that they use the fuel as an internal lubricant, so if the fuel is too thick (ie veg not hot enough) the pump doesn't get enough lubrication and does damage eventually seizing up.

Thankfully the 1.9TD Xantias were fitted with the superior bosch pumps :D
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Re: running Xantia on vegetable oil enquiry

Post by davetherave »

Yep the cx has that setup, and seems to rather like it.
Bosch setup is much easier though! very little modification needed unless you run high percentages in winter!
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Re: running Xantia on vegetable oil enquiry

Post by fotobright »

excellent advice folks. Lets assume its a bosch pump to focus the mind

how easy is it to change the fuel filter by de way?
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Re: running Xantia on vegetable oil enquiry

Post by CitroJim »

fotobright wrote: how easy is it to change the fuel filter by de way?
Very easy :D Locate what looks like a little black domed gasometer on top of the thermostat housing, undo the four Allen screws on the lid, prepare for some spillage, swap elements, refit the lid, nipping the screws up fairly tightly but not too tightly. Give the primer bulb a few good squeezes and job done and dusted...
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Re: running Xantia on vegetable oil enquiry

Post by fotobright »

Ok excellent, I'll check back in after its u and running. Anyone know the fuel tank capacity of a xantia estate afor sign-off?
Peugoet 207 SW Hdi 1.6 live*
C5 2.2L HDi 16v estate (01)
Xsara Hdi 90 estate
Xantia 1.9TD estate, (veg oil)
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Re: running Xantia on vegetable oil enquiry

Post by Xaccers »

Don't use open bottomed fuel filters, use ones where the sides are open, like Halfraud's provide.
1.9TD+ SX Xantia Estate (Cassy) running on 100% veg
1.9TD SX Xantia Hatchback (Jenny) running on 100% veg for sale
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Re: running Xantia on vegetable oil enquiry

Post by fotobright »

ok, got ya. Thanks v-much will report back soon
Peugoet 207 SW Hdi 1.6 live*
C5 2.2L HDi 16v estate (01)
Xsara Hdi 90 estate
Xantia 1.9TD estate, (veg oil)
Zx 1.9TD hatchback
Zx 1.9D hatchback
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Re: running Xantia on vegetable oil enquiry

Post by CitroJim »

fotobright wrote:Anyone know the fuel tank capacity of a Xantia estate afor sign-off?
65 litres...
Jim

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