How can I worsen my fuel consumption?

falling-out-with-my-car · Post by **falling-out-with-my-car** » 31 Oct 2009, 23:00

peter,
no need for that mate i'm still a newbie here and I have listened and been back and double checked I have also asked a few more questions for which I am still awaiting answers about fuel pump lubrication.
fair enough there have been bad stories about pump failures all over the place My fathers pump has just presented with a leak in the last few days just running Straight new Veg oil, so it happens to anyone for what ever reason, i'm glad i had this conversation with you all tonight because doubt makes you hunger for even more knowledge in an effort to make things right.

regards Nigel.

Post by **Peter.N.** » 31 Oct 2009, 23:30

Hi Nigel

There is a lot of expert knowledge on the subject here but I have never followed the course of vegetable oil myself because I didn't want the hassle of any additional problems, especially on the 2.1 pumps which are like hens teeth compared with the 1.9s. I'm getting on in years now and am not so enthusiastic about taking things to peices as I used to be, I still do whatever repairs are necessary but much more slowly

I,m sure if I had been a few years younger I would have gone down the same route as you.

Peter

falling-out-with-my-car · Post by **falling-out-with-my-car** » 31 Oct 2009, 23:50

Peter,

ive just got hold of the BMW and Merc manual recommended ratios for adding petrol to ordinary #2 Diesel during all weathers.

100F (38C) or above add 10% rug/petrol or 20% kerosene
75F (25C) add 15% rug/petrol or 25% kerosene.
50F (10C) add 20% rug/petrol or 30% kerosene.
32F (0C) add 25% rug/petrol or 35% kerosene.
25F (-4C) add 30% rug/petrol or 40% kerosene.
0F (-17C) add 35% rug/petrol or 45% Kerosene.
-25F (-31C) add 405 rug/petrol or 50% Kerosene.

I am told that this is the information given in the service manuals for both BMW and mercs, so i would hate to be the one to tell them their bussiness and that their pumps might fail because they are not being lubricated properly and might be damaged, personally i think they would tell me to get knotted dont you?
and i'm only using 10% ratio at the moment and its nowhere near 38 degrees C outside.

regards Nigel.

rmunns · Post by **rmunns** » 01 Nov 2009, 07:32

Seems, as usual, the original intention of the post has got somewhat diluted.

Post by **Peter.N.** » 01 Nov 2009, 08:51

What was that then?

Nigel

Do those dilution figures apply to common rail engines? due to the much higher pressures involved and the fact that diesel is less 'oily' than it used to be, modern engines are much more critical to fuel specifications. The old engines would run on almost anything that burnt, including quite a lot of water on the old Perkins engines

The modern injection systems seem to fail at the drop of a hat even with the correct fuel - that's why I only run '90s cars.

Peter

falling-out-with-my-car · Post by **falling-out-with-my-car** » 01 Nov 2009, 12:41

firstly appolagies to rmunns of France,

secondly Peter, my motor is an Xantia 1.9 td 1998 only difference between mine and earlier models is the exhaust re-burn system.
fortunately it is not an HDi.

what I cant get over is the ignition is far better from a cold start much less cranking is required.

if I could get road kerosene I would use that instead, but as it stands kerosene is illegal for road use in the UK.

XantiaMan · Post by **XantiaMan** » 01 Nov 2009, 12:58

falling-out-with-my-car wrote:firstly appolagies to rmunns of France,

secondly Peter, my motor is an Xantia 1.9 td 1998 only difference between mine and earlier models is the exhaust re-burn system.
fortunately it is not an HDi.

what I cant get over is the ignition is far better from a cold start much less cranking is required.

if I could get road kerosene I would use that instead, but as it stands kerosene is illegal for road use in the UK.

There are a number of differences between yours and earlier models, the pump is semi electronic aswell with some functions controlled by ECU.

It will start better, because the oil is thinner and is more easily atomised. But, and its a big but, you wont get problems over 10c and if you do, then you have something else amiss.