Now using some Veg oil

Post by **aerodynamica** » 18 Feb 2008, 23:08

Well after reading many experiences on here of tipping in some of the old 'SVO' into the DERV I finally plucked up the courage to mix 3x3l of Sainsbury's finest yellow. So 3l of SVO into the approx 5 l of derv left in the tank and then I filled up another 20l of derv and returned home to top up with the other two 3l bottles to make 9l added.

Car still working

I did note that after tipping in the first 3 l to the 5 l DERV in the tank, starting up after filling up at the station with diesel the 'water in diesel' light was on. Anyone have any suggestions as to why it came on at this time? is veg oil conductive? - I thought not?

Oddly though when I got back and stopped, filled up with the final 6 l of SVO, went for another short run and now the water light was off.

Anyone had similar?

I'm not happy using 100% SVO as of yet. I'll just be using say 30-40% of diesel for now.

As for thinning the SVO with unleaded - wouldn't this disagree with the rubber bits of the diesel system?

Post by **CitroJim** » 19 Feb 2008, 06:22

STOP!!!!

Is that in the Xantia D? If so, it may well have a Lucas pump and SVO in these is a death sentence for the pump, reputedly in quite low ratios.

Using SVO in a Lucas pump interferes with lubrication of the rotor head which then seizes up and shears the shaft. They are irrepariable when this happens.

Only a Bosch pump can be used with SVO with any degree of safety.

It is quite possible to do a transplant.

colpac · Post by **colpac** » 19 Feb 2008, 08:23

I have just started this in my Citroen dispatch (bosch pump), at the moment im doing a 50/50 mix with diesel and its running perfectly if not a little smelly!!

Im now interested in mixing with unleaded as yet again it will be a little cheaper so what sort of mix should i do?

Is it safe? i.e petrol usually knackers diesel engines?

weety · Post by **weety** » 19 Feb 2008, 09:25

colpac wrote:I have just started this in my Citroen dispatch (bosch pump), at the moment im doing a 50/50 mix with diesel and its running perfectly if not a little smelly!!

Im now interested in mixing with unleaded as yet again it will be a little cheaper so what sort of mix should i do?

Is it safe? i.e petrol usually knackers diesel engines?

in winter i run a mix of 80% SVO, 10% petrol and 10% diesel, low quantaties of petrol are ok in an older diesel engine (and it has better thinning quantaties than diesel).....

remember to carry spare fuel filters and get yourself a bookers card (55p a litre SVO

)

Post by **aerodynamica** » 19 Feb 2008, 10:25

!!! I forgot to mention; I checked in advance what type of fuel pump was fitted and it says 'Bosch' quite clearly on it unless someones playing silly buggers that is..

It is a non-turbo but it's one of the last before the model was superseeded altogether and perhaps by that time it they were all fitted with the bosch type?

Anyway, I was asking about the water symbol that was breifly on - where is the sender for this light? maybe in the diesel filter housing?

G

Post by **CitroJim** » 19 Feb 2008, 10:55

Sorry G, I was worried

If it says Bosh then it is. Alls well that ends well.

Now, in my experience, only early Xantias had the water in fuel light and indeed the sensor is in the botton of the fuel filter housing. The newer housings have a blind boss for it.

It works by poking two electrical prongs into the diesel and relying on the fact that water is conductive and diesel (or veg) is not. It takes only a tiny, tiny drop of water to complete the circuit between the prongs and light the lamp. It is terrible for "crying wolf" at the slightest trace of water. I reckon this is why the light was discontinued on later models.

My old 1.9TD has one and it is foever flashing on and off, I think due to some water in the tank that gets churned around and mixed with the diesel. I regularly drain the filter housing but it still happens so I don't worry too much these days. My old Pug 405s used to do the same thing.

I did a test of veg the other day and found it is an excellent insulator so, prima facie, the veg has nothing to do with it unless you've got hold of some water contaminated stuff but this is very unlikely.

In any case the filter, if good, will stop any water getting to the pump.

Sorry for not answering your original question first off but as I say, I was worried and it was very early in the morning

Post by **aerodynamica** » 19 Feb 2008, 21:26

And I very much appreciate it Jim!!

This morning I decided to go out and start the car from cold (although I wasn't driving today) I needed to familiarise myself with any rough running etc that might result from the cold wveg oil. The car started instantly! and ran smoothly without a hint of 'chugging' but The front suspension resoundly insisted on remaining asleep.

It eventually responded to the height selector but would go too high and stay there only to lower if the lever was moved. "broken plastic link" declared I 8)

But I'd just replaced the link the day before (Citroen keep them in stock!)and pressed the two sockets with grease together. The more awkward of the two had popped off it seems. I couldn't convince myself that the metal ball of the height corrector linkage would be more worn than the old plastic link so I reattached it quickly in the garage, played with the self levelling - worked well- and played with the height lever. Drove back round the block to the flat from the garage to find it not working properly again! Argh! and now I have to go out.

Decided t forget about it 'till I returned this evening, back in garage and sure enough it had popped off again. Cutting a long story short, it needed much greater force to pop the socket than I'd given it. The socket at the other end of the link is easy to give the force to as it's accessable a chisel levered one way and another to prevent the anti roll bar clamp link from bending and presto it's popped. Putting too much force on the other socket causes the height corrector lever to bend upwards I found that you need to have a thin chisel or sturdy screwdriver horizontally wedged from above, over the H-C lever but pivoted against the A-R bar. Only then can you put a hefty bit of leverage on the socket and lo and behold: it located with a significantly more determined pop.

Front suspension working very well now.

Veg oil engine running well, just did a 15mile trip to road test the corrector link and asses the SVO performance - all well it seems and the water light has not come back so far.. 8)

Post by **aerodynamica** » 20 Feb 2008, 21:20

Hi all, well it appears to be working very well on 40% SVO. I'm now experiencing the delights of the tail pipe stink

It's a strange smell; not quite like a chippy or frying, sort of 'burnt dinner' fragrance - hmm reminds me of home..

Maybe change to 50% soonish.

G

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » 21 Feb 2008, 17:10

Good for you mate! Just one thing I'd advise, especially if you intend to increase the percentage of SVO;- keep a careful eye out for leaks or anything unusual regarding the fuel system. I get the impression that, although the system holds up well against what must be massive increases in load, the strain will seek out any inherent weaknesses or partial failings possibly causing total failure of some part or another.

I've personally got a minor fuel leak from around the pump somehwere. I have also read about SVO causing blockages (not necessarily due to SVO directly but more likely due to it drawing dormant crud out of from where it's been hiding) that have fouled tank pick-ups, fuel lines, fuel filters and fuel filter housings. Poor starting, poor idling and excessive smoke - which my car suffers from at appx 95% SVO - are also classic symptoms of running on the thicker fuel.

Additionally, poor atomisation in the cylinder can allow SVO to mix with the engine oil and that earlier oil changes will offset this. Personally, I aim to change my engine oil every 3-5K miles

Post by **aerodynamica** » 21 Feb 2008, 17:48

Good advice thanks mate, I'll keep an eye on it. Probably keep it on 40% veg for now - I don't do great miles.

deian · Post by **deian** » 22 Feb 2008, 16:42

Good stuff, I've been running all sorts of diesel vs. veg oil ratios for a while now.

Recently it's been coldest so far this year, and I probably had about 70% veggie oil in it, and although it was a bit lumpy starting and idling, it was spot on then on, there was no flat spots during the drive.

Good luck.

Remember to check the fuel filter, fuel tank strainer too, these can get a bit short lived using veggie/diesel.

colpac · Post by **colpac** » 02 Mar 2008, 19:23

so where is the cheapest place to buy oil?

Tesco's at 56p a litre is the best i can find

XantiaMan · Post by **XantiaMan** » 02 Mar 2008, 19:56

colpac wrote:so where is the cheapest place to buy oil?

Tesco's at 56p a litre is the best i can find

You wont find any cheaper, unless you go to Bookers, where you will find it at £8.30 for a box, so your saving 10p!

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » 09 Mar 2008, 18:17

colpac wrote:Tesco's at 56p a litre is the best i can find

As predicted, Pura's gone up. Now on sale for 68p in Tesco today.

KP · Post by KP » 09 Mar 2008, 19:37

As said above, 55p/litre in bookers