Hi Folks,
As requested by Robert, here is a bit of detail on a vehicle - mine. It has been running largely on biodiesel for most of the last 50,000 km and I am not looking to turn back!
I will include a bit of a profile here and may update this as time goes on to show an ongoing profile of a vehicle and any performance or other issues that may come up that may be of interest to someone trolling around looking to read of the experiences of a biodiesel user if they are looking to shift to biodiesel with their current diesel vehicle.
It will also give some detail relating to a specific vehicle configuration for those looking to purchase a diesel vehicle so they can move away from petrol to an environmentally preferred fuel. My strongest advice is to work out what your needs are and all of the considerations are for you and to perhaps make up a table in excel or something and then list the specifications and considerations for each of the vehicles you look at. Eventually this should help you to make a solid decision as to what meets your needs. As you will read my vehicle is pretty bloody big (but still fuel efficient) but it was what I needed to meet my needs. Being a pommy car it pisses me off occassionally but overall I am happy.
Others might find that an old mercedes or a vw golf or a diesel van or smaller ute than mine or even a diesel gemini suits their needs better. The reality is that diesels in Australia are still mainly commercial vehicles like utes and vans and are often 4wd. The diesel vehicles coming out of Europe have amazing fuel efficiency and fantastic performance and with great pollution reduction technologies as standard. Combine all of that with biodiesel and you are making some headway (but remember to walk or ride your bike more or public transport it more and drive less all the same!) because we have already reached the age of 'Peak Oil'. You can read up on that elsewhere as well. We might put some links onto the forum somewhere.
I researched a lot about what to get once I had heard about biodiesel and wanted to get away from petrochemical fuel. I had previously considered shifting to gas but even though I figured that it would be better than petrol it is STILL a product of the petrochemical companies that I was trying to get my money away from. Those same companies are associated with the ongoing reliance on agricultural chemicals (chemical fertilisers and chemical pesticides) and the abuse of farmers and home growers around the world - particularly the developing world but us as well - with the introduction and hard sell of hybrid plant varieties and genetic modification of seed etc
As someone interested in organic gardening these things are bad! You can read up on that lot somewhere else though. We might put up a link for you ...
The things I wanted were a small intercooled turbodiesel that was not computer controlled so I could learn to fix it and wouldn't leave me stuffed if it went haywire out the back of Bourke. I looked for an engine that had a good reputation for reliability and longevity. It had to be efficient for running around but also have the ability to carry and pull heavy loads safely. The 300 tdi was the last of the non-computerised engines that Landrover brought out before they went for the newer td5 motor which can be tweaked up through the use of an upgrade chip for better performance. Interestingly though it is fairly well accepted that the 300tdi (which superceded the 200tdi) is more fuel efficient than the more modern td5. It doesn't have the same get up and go but that was not my primary concern. I drive smooth and steady for efficiency - I don't try and drag off from the lights. This makes a big difference too.
I also was after an engine and vehicle package that would tow really well and that could allow me to still carry 5 passengers and a heavy load of tools or whatever I needed to cart. We often run educational displays and events and so I need to take all the stuff we need in one run plus 4 helpers. That is where the 130 configuration kicks in. 130 is a reference to the length of the wheelbase in inches.
The 130 is a dual cab ute which suited my purposes although it is one long sucker! They have crap turning circles but after a little while I have gotten used to it and just modify my driving and plan what I do with a slightly different attitude - ie a quick u-turn on a busy street is just not an option! The rear seats are a bit upright but I have found that my solar panel also fits in perfectly protected from bumps and jolts behind them. I have a 50 litre water bladder under the rear seat as well so I have power and water without compromising passenger space.
I have a dual battery set up under the passenger seat which gets recharged by the solar panel when I am camping and an air compressor is mounted under the drivers seat. Soon there will also be a pressure pump for hot showers and washdowns. This will also be a useful setup if we are ever unlucky or careless and need to clean any little spillages when fuelling up with the biodiesel. So far with careful management of the process I have never had a problem.
The HCPU reference is landrover speak for a 'high capacity pick up' which means it is a ute with a tubbed back rather than a flat tray. It can legally carry 1.5 tonnes which it has on many occassions whether we were building a permaculture garden somewhere or setting up a display or something or just moving stuff for work. Strangely this vehicle with a 4 cylinder engine, at only 2.5 litres, is smaller than many on the road has the highest legal load capacity on the market and it lugs it with ease. Higher than a 6-7 litre Ford F250. Until you move up to a full on truck this thing carries the most. It also tows the most - in this case the same as the 7 litre V8 Ford F250 though with nowhere the same grunt. I would notice it - especially on hills and would need to rely on gearing rather than simply having an enormous fuel guzzling engine. For thsoe sorts of weights you would need to be towing a trailer with brakes but I have it set up with an electric brake controller as well.
More in the next post...
Cheers,
Cameron
As requested by Robert, here is a bit of detail on a vehicle - mine. It has been running largely on biodiesel for most of the last 50,000 km and I am not looking to turn back!
I will include a bit of a profile here and may update this as time goes on to show an ongoing profile of a vehicle and any performance or other issues that may come up that may be of interest to someone trolling around looking to read of the experiences of a biodiesel user if they are looking to shift to biodiesel with their current diesel vehicle.
It will also give some detail relating to a specific vehicle configuration for those looking to purchase a diesel vehicle so they can move away from petrol to an environmentally preferred fuel. My strongest advice is to work out what your needs are and all of the considerations are for you and to perhaps make up a table in excel or something and then list the specifications and considerations for each of the vehicles you look at. Eventually this should help you to make a solid decision as to what meets your needs. As you will read my vehicle is pretty bloody big (but still fuel efficient) but it was what I needed to meet my needs. Being a pommy car it pisses me off occassionally but overall I am happy.
Others might find that an old mercedes or a vw golf or a diesel van or smaller ute than mine or even a diesel gemini suits their needs better. The reality is that diesels in Australia are still mainly commercial vehicles like utes and vans and are often 4wd. The diesel vehicles coming out of Europe have amazing fuel efficiency and fantastic performance and with great pollution reduction technologies as standard. Combine all of that with biodiesel and you are making some headway (but remember to walk or ride your bike more or public transport it more and drive less all the same!) because we have already reached the age of 'Peak Oil'. You can read up on that elsewhere as well. We might put some links onto the forum somewhere.
I researched a lot about what to get once I had heard about biodiesel and wanted to get away from petrochemical fuel. I had previously considered shifting to gas but even though I figured that it would be better than petrol it is STILL a product of the petrochemical companies that I was trying to get my money away from. Those same companies are associated with the ongoing reliance on agricultural chemicals (chemical fertilisers and chemical pesticides) and the abuse of farmers and home growers around the world - particularly the developing world but us as well - with the introduction and hard sell of hybrid plant varieties and genetic modification of seed etc
As someone interested in organic gardening these things are bad! You can read up on that lot somewhere else though. We might put up a link for you ...
The things I wanted were a small intercooled turbodiesel that was not computer controlled so I could learn to fix it and wouldn't leave me stuffed if it went haywire out the back of Bourke. I looked for an engine that had a good reputation for reliability and longevity. It had to be efficient for running around but also have the ability to carry and pull heavy loads safely. The 300 tdi was the last of the non-computerised engines that Landrover brought out before they went for the newer td5 motor which can be tweaked up through the use of an upgrade chip for better performance. Interestingly though it is fairly well accepted that the 300tdi (which superceded the 200tdi) is more fuel efficient than the more modern td5. It doesn't have the same get up and go but that was not my primary concern. I drive smooth and steady for efficiency - I don't try and drag off from the lights. This makes a big difference too.
I also was after an engine and vehicle package that would tow really well and that could allow me to still carry 5 passengers and a heavy load of tools or whatever I needed to cart. We often run educational displays and events and so I need to take all the stuff we need in one run plus 4 helpers. That is where the 130 configuration kicks in. 130 is a reference to the length of the wheelbase in inches.
The 130 is a dual cab ute which suited my purposes although it is one long sucker! They have crap turning circles but after a little while I have gotten used to it and just modify my driving and plan what I do with a slightly different attitude - ie a quick u-turn on a busy street is just not an option! The rear seats are a bit upright but I have found that my solar panel also fits in perfectly protected from bumps and jolts behind them. I have a 50 litre water bladder under the rear seat as well so I have power and water without compromising passenger space.
I have a dual battery set up under the passenger seat which gets recharged by the solar panel when I am camping and an air compressor is mounted under the drivers seat. Soon there will also be a pressure pump for hot showers and washdowns. This will also be a useful setup if we are ever unlucky or careless and need to clean any little spillages when fuelling up with the biodiesel. So far with careful management of the process I have never had a problem.
The HCPU reference is landrover speak for a 'high capacity pick up' which means it is a ute with a tubbed back rather than a flat tray. It can legally carry 1.5 tonnes which it has on many occassions whether we were building a permaculture garden somewhere or setting up a display or something or just moving stuff for work. Strangely this vehicle with a 4 cylinder engine, at only 2.5 litres, is smaller than many on the road has the highest legal load capacity on the market and it lugs it with ease. Higher than a 6-7 litre Ford F250. Until you move up to a full on truck this thing carries the most. It also tows the most - in this case the same as the 7 litre V8 Ford F250 though with nowhere the same grunt. I would notice it - especially on hills and would need to rely on gearing rather than simply having an enormous fuel guzzling engine. For thsoe sorts of weights you would need to be towing a trailer with brakes but I have it set up with an electric brake controller as well.
More in the next post...
Cheers,
Cameron
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