How do you convert a W reg (2000) Toyota Landcruiser 3 litre Turbo Diesel to run on biodiesel?

Question

How do you convert a W reg (2000) Toyota Landcruiser 3 litre Turbo Diesel to run on biodiesel?

Answer 1

There is no modification required to run biodiesel. Currently, many motor makers warrantee upto a 5% blend of biodiesel (B5). Since your Landcruiser is 7 years old it will be out of warrantee anyway so you could run straight bio. (B100)

You should keep an eye on your injector tips and fuel pump too.

If you are going to run home made biodiesel and are going to have any trouble..it will be with the fuel delivery system.

Biodiesel is more viscous (gloopy) than fossil diesel so fuel pumps have to labour more, Bosch pumps are generally the best for biofuels...

It would also be a good idea to insulate the fuel tank and lines so you don't get any cold start problems this winter.

Answer 2

You don't need to modify a diesel car or truck to run biodiesel.  

Diesels run on a wide variety of fuel oils.  Dr. Rudolf Diesel designed his engine to run straight vegetable oils as fuel.  

However fossil mineral diesel fuel "took over" because it (was) much cheaper.  And also thinner (less viscous)  than vegetable oil.   So engines are no longer built to be able to inject a fuel as viscous as vegetable oil.  

One solution is to modify the fuel to be less viscous; that's what biodiesel is all about. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiesel

The beauty of biodiesel is you don't need to modify the vehicle at all.

The other option is to modify the vehicle to deal with the thicker straight vegetable oil (SVO) and skip the biodiesel process. This usually means preheaters in the fuel lines.   Most SVO-modified cars use two fuel tanks, they start on regular diesel and switch to SVO once the engine has warmed up.

Now there are three mechanical issues that can come up.

#1 on older cars which use natural-rubber fuel lines (which are obsolete and not particuarly safe anyway), biodiesel can corrode them.

#2 biodiesel is good at breaking loose mineral build-up inside the fuel lines, and this stuff ends up in the fuel filter, reducing its filtering capacity.  So change the filter once.



#3 In freezing weather, biodiesel is somewhat more prone to gelling.  So in northern climates in winter, you'll want to switch to a biodiesel blend with fossil diesel.

Answer 3

Actually diesol engines were used to burn coal dust! So they quite happily burn vegetable(and animal oils and fats.) The bio deisol process is all about making those products compatible with the style of engine in modern vehicles. Use bio deisol and feel good about your driving!

Here in the tropics they use straight coconut and oil palm oil direct without any problems on the toyota landcruisers. But then it never gets cold here.

The recomendation for replacing rubber fuel lines and changing the fuel filters are wise. As are the suggestions to move to a blended fuel in the very coldest months.

Answer 4

http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_ma...

Answer 5

No difference.  No conversion needed.  Just pop open the gas cap and fill her up!  You can find a nice directory and article explaining biodiesel at http://www.allsitessorted.com/Renewable_... - the Biodiesel Directory.