Very intertesting thread going on here. I realise I am a little late
into the conversation but I do have some direct experience in both
topics.
I have been making Biodiesel from waste vegetable oil (WVO) since 2005
and have successfully run it in the following vehicles: 2001 Audi A4
Tdi 130 SE saloon from 15,000 mls > 60,000 mls - No drama, 2003 Ford
Mondeo TDi 130 5 dr from 10,000 mls > 50,000 mls - No drama (and a
much better car!), Mercedes C270 CDi saloon from 20,000 mls > 35,000
mls - No drama and currently 2007 VW Golf 1.9 Tdi Sport from 6 mls >
currently 12,500 mls - No drama, despite the sticker on the fuel flap
saying NO Biodiesel!

Having worked in the retail automotive industry for 30 yrs plus I can
tell you that most manufacturers restrict or ban Biodiesel simply to
protect themselves and their engines from someone using unregulated,
un-tested, kitchen made gunk or worse. I actually read on an MSN
website article about 'green' driving that you could use straight
vegetable oil (SVO) in a diesel. Well you cannot, without modifying
the engine either through heated fuel lines or a twin tank system. So
the amount of dis-information/lack of knowledge on the whole subject
is worrying.

However it means that in reality, we can use proper Biodiesel in most
modern cars/vans/generators/fork lift trucks/tractors/lorries/WHY with
no problem - providing you know a bit about the subject!

For instance engines built prior to about 1994/5 will almost certainly
have rubber fuel lines and seals. Biodiesel will attack them. So
either use a newer engine (?) or change them to synthetic material.
Also bear in mind as previously stated in other posts here, Biodiesel
is an incredible solvent and lubricant in engines. It will dissolve
the gunk in a fuel system ( or external paint if spilt) so either use
it in a new engine (if brave enough!) or add it in a small quantity
initially, then change the filters and then increase the % over
aperiod of time until you can run on B100 if you want to. Forgive the
lack of detail here but amounts vary with circumstances.

The great thing about Biodiesel is that it is forgiving, convenient,
biodegradable, non-toxic and of non fossil origin. In addition it can
be made from re0cycled waste. And its cheaper - what more do you want
folks??

To try and increase the word about Biodiesel I have started a blog.
Please take a look if the subject interests you on:
http://making-biodiesel-news.blogspot.com

Finally on Satnav all I can say is that most speedo's are accurate at
30 mph ( by law) but read optimistically the faster you go. Comparing
all the speedo's on my cars against the Sat Nav shows the Merc to be
most accurate, then the Golf then the Ford then the Audi. I have
tested it against Speed cameras, police cars and speed guns - so far
so good.

Hope this helps
docbiodiesel

On 22 Jan, 11:10, deple...@msn.com wrote:
>
> I actually read on an MSN website article
> about 'green' driving that you could use straight
> vegetable oil (SVO) in a diesel. Well you cannot, without modifying
> the engine either through heated fuel lines or a twin tank system. So
> the amount of dis-information/lack of knowledge on the whole subject
> is worrying.

Your statement is only adding to the dis-information/lack of knowledge
on the subject.
How do you explain my 50k miles using up to 30% WVO in summer and 20%
SVO all winter? You are assuming everyone has a common rail type
engine, I may risk 20% SVO in a UK summer with common rail but this is
still a risk.
Saying you cannot use oil without modifications is basically wrong, an
old Mercedes in a warm climate will cope with 100% SVO. Indirect
injection using Bosch fuel equipment and glow plugs with after start
heating makes for an engine which is very tollerant of vegetable oil.
Most other vehicles need a thinner fuel though, blending is one way of
reducing viscosity, so is chemically thinning (biodiesel), and the
other way is by heating (twin tanks or electric heating).
For oil use info visit - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vegoil-diesel/
For biodiesel info - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Biodiesel/ or
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biodieselbasics/ and
http://www.biodieselcommunity.org