Bio Diesel and impact on hoses - problem?

[FlyingBarney]

Hi all,

While doing a regular 5,000 service at CVI, I asked Butch about the impact of bio-diesel on the Delica. So far, it has been regular diesel, but as we shift into a warmer weather (yes, I know it will happen), I plan to use more and more bio-diesel. Right now, I am on a B20 (20% bio, the rest regular), yet am hoping to be on a B100 in the summer.

I know that in my Golf, I had to replace the oil & fuel filters after a few tanks of bio-diesel. Here, Butch tells me there might be an impact on the hoses as well, and I wonder whether anyone knows about it - or anything else I need to keep in mind as I switch over.

Thanks,
Simon

[mararmeisto]

Point of clarification: are you running WVO or bio-diesel (there is a difference)? WVO should not have much of a issue with older fuel lines, while bio-diesel may. A little cut-and-paste from the Frybid Forums:

On this one I don't know all the science or the chemicals. But I do know that:

Rubber hose (like heater hose) WILL dissolve in WVO and BioD.

Standard fuel line will NOT dissolve in WVO, but WILL dissolve in BioD.

Viton lines will NOT dissolve in WVO or in BioD.

Jeff

Hope this helps...

[Kuan]

Yes, biodiesel will dissolve older fuel lines, IP seals etc. However, its not all of a sudden and they become soft and squishy (the fuel lines). Noel(enviroimports) might have more insight on the lines on the Delica.

I have not had any problems on the Delica or our Toyota with over a year running B100 or close to that. A couple fuel filters replaced in the beginning was about it.

Kuan

[jskrepnek]

Our IP seals melted after a few months on B100, leading to all sorts of problems (fuel leaks, air leaks), especially running WVO.

Take care!

I know that in my Golf, I had to replace the oil & fuel filters after a few tanks of bio-diesel. Here, Butch tells me there might be an impact on the hoses as well, and I wonder whether anyone knows about it - or anything else I need to keep in mind as I switch over.

Thanks,
Simon

[parkside]

I've had a Pajero in the shop a week or so ago where I had to fix this exact problem. We had to replace some lines due to failure, the inside of the lines were beginning to break off in chunks, believe it or not, and were clogging the fuel filter. Problem solved now after replacing lines.

Jesse Smith
Parkside Automotive
604-309-7718
parksideauto@hotmail.com