DPF and Bio

[Islebio]

Hi,

Can you run a vehicle with a Diesel Particulate Filter on Biodiesel? I am looking into purchasing a van, either a Mercedes Sprinter or VW Crafter. I am aware that the purity of the bio is key, i am now water washing and drying to get it as pure as i can.

Any help appreciated.

Rod

[dgs]

How long is a piece of string? Some people on the uk forums report that they can use B100 with no problems whilst others are restricted to blending a few litres of bio per tank of derv.

I don't think it is a case of purer bio (water washing etc) but more will you get the bio passing the rings during the re-gen cycle and increasing the oil level.

If and when the time comes for me to buy a vehicle with a dpf it wouldn't last long, ie gutted and re-mapped within days of purchase.

[Islebio]

Hi DGS,

Cheers for that, so are you saying that you would have to take the DPF out? What is the issue with bio and the DPF. Does it clog it up, does it not combust?.

Cheers

Rod

[dgs]

Hi Rod, When the DPF goes through a re-gen cycle fuel is injected into the engine on the exhaust stroke (as opposed to the compression stroke) this fuel vapourises and cleans out the build up of carbon in the DPF.

When using bio which vapourises at a higher temperature than derv, some of the bio can/does pass the piston and rings and find its way down into the sump, mixing with your engine oil. This can lead to a sort of gum formation and ultimately wreck the engine.

This doesn't happen on every engine fitted with a DPF and on others to a greater or lesser extent but it is a bit of a risk using bio in high %'s. Only safe way is to get the DPF removed and the ECU re-mapped.

[DavidShinn]

If and when the time comes for me to buy a vehicle with a dpf it wouldn't last long, ie gutted and re-mapped within days of purchase.

And I wouldn't like to be the man who tried to stop you Dave!

[K.H]

62,000 miles from new, with a DPF, no issues yet

[kamaangir]

The trouble with most of our cars is, we get them used and don't really know how it was driven etc.. I know that my dads 08 bmw 320d has a dpf issue, majority of his mileage was motorway runs and the previous owner was some sales rep who clocked up over 100k in 3 years. The car has never seen a drop of bio.

If one of us bought that car at 3 years old and after a year it developed a dpf fault we would attribute it to bio.

Modern cars are designed to just about limp over 3 years/100k miles, after that its not the manufacturers problem.

[Bill]

62,000 miles from new, with a DPF, no issues yet

Don't keep us in suspense, what car?

[K.H]

62,000 miles from new, with a DPF, no issues yet

Don't keep us in suspense, what car?

Nissan Juke, previous was a VW beetle, that also spent its entire life on bio

[Islebio]

Cheers for all the help, this has given me a good idea of what to do.

Sounds like make high quality bio, gut the DPF if there is one and introduce it slowly to the vehicle,

Cheers for the help

Rod

[Scruff Bag]

Hi,

Can you run a vehicle with a Diesel Particulate Filter on Biodiesel? I am looking into purchasing a van, either a Mercedes Sprinter or VW Crafter. I am aware that the purity of the bio is key, i am now water washing and drying to get it as pure as i can.

Any help appreciated.

Rod

Don't know if this is helpful, but I speficically chose my 04 reg van, as it was within a particular age range of not having cetain parts fitted. And on further investigation by contacting Renault UK online via chat, they were able to tell me exactly what parts were fitted at point of assembly - whether it had rubber seals, DPF, common rail etc.

Perhaps once you've settled on the type of van you want and the purpose you need the van for, you can get in touch with the manufacturers to find out what it was assembled with?

Edit: Don't forget that some manufacturers since (I think) 2009 stated that future models will run on bio to a certain %. Worth checking out.