Volkswagen not yet planning to support higher biodiesel concentrations
Back in 2007, when Volkswagen was kicking off its Dieselution tour, we asked VW of America CEO Stefan Jacoby about official support for biodiesel concentrations higher than five percent. At the time there was no national standard for B20 biodiesel blends and Volkswagen would not provide warranty coverage for engines that used higher concentrations. However, Jacoby indicated that once a fuel standard was in place, the company would revisit the issue. Last June, a B20 standard was finalized, and it goes into effect in October. During the Jetta TDI drive last week, ABG asked about B20 use in the new car and VW communications director Steve Keyes responded that VW was not yet prepared to support B20 use. The new standard is primarily targeted at commercial fuels and supported fuels are still not widely available. There are concerns that the higher bio concentrations will result in excessive ash build-up in the particulate filter and other issues. Mercedes gave ABG a similar response in June when we drove the BlueTec diesel SUVs. Both companies will continue monitoring the fuel situation and the situation may change in the future.
Apparently, this hasn't stopped the proprietor of DieselGreen fuels in Austin TX. Jason Burroughs has just bought a brand new 2009 Jetta that he is running on B100. Burroughs is documenting his experience with the pure biofuel manufactured by New Energy Fuels of Houston on the TDIClub Forums. So far he hasn't had any issues, but plans to regularly test the condition of the engine oil and post updates on his progress. For those planning to buy a new Jetta or any other diesel vehicle, we don't recommend following this path while your vehicle is still under warranty. If you get some bad fuel, you could be out many thousands of dollars. However, if you are doing this let us know how things are progressing, because biodiesel has a great deal of potential.
[Sources: TDIClub Forum, DieselGreen]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
why not the LS2LS7? 11:56AM (9/22/2008)
That's cool someone is doing a test for themselves. And testing oil composition will help find problems with turbos breaking and such, but it won't tell if the cats are filling up with ash.
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jason burroughs 1:17PM (9/22/2008)
Hey thanks for the write up!
Check out http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=224644 for the post on TDIclub tracking my progress. I am now at 800 total miles (first 400 on diesel, last 400 on biodiesel) with no issues. I do plan to sample at 1000 miles and send to Blackstone.
For some background info on my plans for this test, check out http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=220989
I'm a little annoyed at the comment not to use biodiesel in your new Jetta because "if you get some bad fuel, you could be out many thousands of dollars". This is actually true for any vehicle. Bad fuel can kill any engine - and that goes for bad biodiesel, bad diesel, or bad gasoline. Anyone using B100 in any vehicle should be especially careful that they get quality fuel. Biodiesel is produced (generally) in the thousands of gallons at a time, not the millions that diesel is produced. Because of this, and the fact that biodiesel can be made in a variety of methods with a variety of feedstocks, only biodiesel tested to meet the ASTM D6751 standard should be used. We get a Certificate of Analysis with each load we buy, and offer these to any consumer who would like to see them.
Thanks again for writing about us, and if anyone would like more information, they can contact me directly.
Jason Burroughs
DieselGreen Fuels, Austin TX
http://www.dieselgreenfuels.com
512-247-FUEL
jason@dieselgreenfuels.com
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Sam Abuelsamid 1:21PM (9/22/2008)
Sorry about that Jason. It was just a little CYA on my part. Most people using biodiesel have no problems, but I don't want anyone blaming me, implying that I recommended anything that would their warranty. Good luck with your efforts and I hope everything works out.
Mattias 2:02PM (9/22/2008)
I am very sceptical on Biodiesel, aka "Rapsmethylesther" as it is called here. Just the rape seed is used and the process for converting the Straight Vegetable Oil to the Esther consumes water and energy.
So SVO could be a better choice -- especially with old engines that do not use common rail systems and that are properly converted.
The best approach seems the BTL process pioneered by Choren were biomass is converted to diesel directly. The process can be done on wood, straw, bamboo, hay, elephant dung...
Volkswagen is quite right not further supporting the RME bandwaggon but propagating the more efficient Choren method instead.
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Sasparilla 2:20PM (9/22/2008)
From their choice of a 2.0 liter diesel engine for power (instead of something smaller and more economical like the previous diesels offered here in the US - economical is why you buy one for the most part) to this truly boneheaded "I don't get that this would have great marketing value and just be a good thing move" decision to ignore the B20 standard to the fact that the vehicle they sell most associated with "greeness", the Beetle isn't slated to get a diesel...seems to really indicate that VW execs in charge of things here in the US are incompetent as they are squandering chances to sell significantly more cars left and right.
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Steve-O 3:13PM (9/22/2008)
This is cool...I wouldn't buy a vehicle such as this if I didn't think I could use bio-diesel in it down the line. Algae and other promising technoloogies for bio doesel are emerging and petroleum is going to keep dwindling, polluting, and getting more expensive. And somebody has to try it. By testing his vehicle and reporting on the progress Mr. Burroughs is actually doing many thousands of buyers of the new VW TDIs a great service. Thanks!
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Snowdog 5:20PM (9/22/2008)
Well "the service" is primarly promoting the use of bio-diesel, which he sells.
Also I don't see how checking the engine oil alleviates the concern with clogged exhaust filters or injectors.
VW is right to take it slow allowing this as the new systems have a much more stringent tolerance, much higher expense and much tougher emission standards to meet.
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David Fox 12:25AM (9/23/2008)
I disagree Snowdog, But let me say first that I believe Biofuel can only be part of the answer. We need efficient cars, better public transport, PHEVs, etc. VW needs to make an investment and get behind biofuels.
One way to do that would be to subsidize in-warranty engine repairs (should they be needed). How much could it cost (maybe nothing if it works out)? And look at how much VW could gain from a broad-based 'wisdom of the crowds' test. VW has huge goodwill among a vocal group of innovative people (also known as alpha consumers who are notoriously hard to reach and influence via advertising).
For the price of a few 30 second TV spots...sigh...come on VW - take the brave pill!! We need the best and brightest working on every possible way to quickly move beyond gas driving motoring as we know it.
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John Rees 9:22AM (9/25/2008)
I would be concerned about support from VW. View my VW experience at: http://www.reesphotos.com/VW/
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