I am new to the forum and this is a note I put on the TDi site. Currently, I am advising energy firms on biodiesel production. I owned one of the first VW Rabbit Diesels in 1978 and lived in Europe, where I had a Peugeot 405 Turbo Diesel. I am looking to buy a Tdi or old MB 300SD.
Here is a review of Eurobiodiesel versus Amerobiodiesel. Global Change Strategies International, Inc. published an excellent review of North American biodiesel technology, production, supply and related issues. I covers the issues well, especially the technial ones on cetane, rape and soy, genetics, processing parameters, etc. http://www.ec.gc.ca/transport/publications/biodiesel/biodieseltoc.htm Cetane in soybean oil based methyl ester (SME) is 46.2 and with rapeseed oil (RME) it is 54.4 and this goes someway to explaining why VW has issues with US soyoil biodiesel (this assumes high QA processing). Also, the cloud point of the SME is higher at 2 C compared to RME at -2 C. Essentially, the problem with alkanes in petroleum diesel and saturates in vegetable oil is the same. These chemical homologues are the key to high cetane, but since these are mixed unsaturates with saturated, they cloud at higher temperatures than the unsaturates. Same with paraffins and olefins in crude oil. Also, a good standard measure to separate the two is Iodine Value (IA) as the Europeans are using 115 max (DIN 53241 Part 1), which could be a way to segregate as SME tends to be higher (117-143), hence less cetane, power, etc. compared to RME at 94-120. Also, the Europeans do not suffer cold winters as we North Americans do, so they are looking at variable quality feedstocks from fryer oil wastes and tallow as well as ethyl esters. With our cold weather potentials, we need lower molecular weights from mono-alkyl esters with higher unsaturates, especially for older diesel engines and injection systems that can withstand low QA. I believe that VW is concerned that too many homebrewers of biodiesel will hurt themselves handling methanol and caustic soda (read Á¡litigation prone USAÁ±) making poor quality biodiesel that would damage the TDi engines. Until the North Americans develop stronger QA in manufacturing, VW will no doubt keep its concerns known. As a former Eurocarowner, the US weakness is always QA. As the homily goes, "the Germans make an engineer's car, the Italians, a designer's, the French, a car of comfort, the British did luxury and the Americans, well, they sure make a lot of them." With B20 these issues are technical points, as the key component remains petroleum aromatics and olefins. However, lower US cetane is becoming an issue, ULSD will yet lower cetane. Biodiesel adds excellent cetane to petroleum diesel. Hope this helps. I look forward to contributing to the forum on issues of oil processing. I see a bright future of cleaner fuels run in high technology diesel engines. Eventually, the US which is 99% wholesale and fleet oriented, will demand high QA diesel and biodiesel and blends. It is long overdue. --- In biofuel@yahoogroups.com, Hakan Falk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Sounds a little bit stupid, since the European warranty does not specify or > have reference to feed stock. Probably someone who does not really know > anything about it. Could be a US political issue. So write to the parent > and ask, why they have different policies and do not consider the fast > growing use of biodiesel in US. > > Hakan > > > At 04:36 PM 1/13/2003 -0600, you wrote: > >This is the response I got concerning biodiesel and it voiding the > >powertrain warranty. > > > > > > >From: VIC Web Responses <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >To: "'[EMAIL PROTECTED]'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >Subject: RE: Product Information 1/13 db > > >Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 17:26:53 -0500 > > > > > >Dear Brian, > > > > > >Thank you for visiting the Volkswagen Web site. We appreciate your inquiry > > >on Volkswagen's position on using biodiesel fuel. > > > > > >B100 stands for 100% biodiesel. It is a diesel fuel derived from biomass > > >feedstock such as soybeans. It can be blended with regular diesel fuel > > >(B20 > > >= 20% biodiesel/80% regular diesel, for example). In Europe our diesel > > >engines are certified to operate any blend of the biodiesel that is > > >available in Europe. European biodiesel is different than biodiesel in the > > >U.S. since it is produced from different feedstock (the rapeseed plant > > >versus the soy plant). > > > > > >Our parent company does not agree with the specifications for biodiesel in > > >the U.S. and does not recommend its use in any percentage. Using biodiesel > > >will invalidate our warranty. > > > > > >If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact Volkswagen > > >Customer Care at 800-822-8987. > > > > > >Thank you for your submission. > > > > > >Dennis > > >Volktalk > > > > > > > > >-----Original Message----- > > >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >Sent: None > > >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >Subject: Product Information > > > > > > > > > > > >Name : Brian Allen > > >Email : [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > >Comments : > > > > > >Someone told me that VW does not cover biodiesel use in it's TDI warranty. > > >That can't be true since Europe has been using biodiesel for years, > > >correct? > > > > > >Thanks and I appreciate your help in clearing this up. > > > > > >/R, > > > > > >Brian Allen > > > > > >_________________________________________________________________ > >The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 2 months FREE* > >http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail > > > > > > > >Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > >http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > > > >Biofuels list archives: > >http://archive.nnytech.net/ > > > >Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. > >To unsubscribe, send an email to: > >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > >Your use of Yahoo! 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