the truth about veg.

[declantg]

Someone please explain veg running to me? As I had a 15 minute lecture off my MOT mechanic about how dangerous it is and how much it will kill my engine.

[D@wson]

Ive been using SVO for over 4000 miles. The only problem i've had was perished leak offs which is normal ware and tare.

[Dan!]

I can't stand clueless twats who spout bullshit to make themselves seem intelligent/superior.

Veg will be worse for the seals in your fuel pump, and that's about the only 'danger'. But even that is negligible, I know people, Jake for example, who have ran hard tunes and big turbos etc for thousands of miles with no problems. Crack on!

[kernow_joe]

depends what engine you have, an old xud with a bosch will run on anything within reason, mine ran on a mixture of diesel, veg, 2 stroke, petrol, used and new gearbox oil, radio control car nitro fuel and engine oil, was a lovely mixture and cleaned my shed out a treat!
edit just to confirm what dans saying I was running big pump big turbo with moderate tune at the time, no worries

[Toms306]

Did you explain to him that it was a Bosch and will run on anything lol?


Btw, mechanics don't always know best!

[Andy]

I've also listened to a mechanic talking before and the words 'Clueless fooking Idiot' sprung to mind.

They 'Think' they know best. Its usually just their oppinion that they try to pass off as fact.

Crack on with the Veg man.

[darrenjlobb]

Hes just talking on what he thinks hes knows...hes right in some ways, ALOT of diesel cars do DIE if you run them on veg...this is all he knows, hence he just assumes all...whereas in reality, older VE pumped diesels without lift pumps, and FINE on veg / no issues at all....

[Mattcheese31]

Sunflower oil is where it's at . . .

[lewisdmz]

Last time I got my remapped HDI mot'd they told me that de-cating diesels 'makes absolutely no difference'.

[declantg]

Thanks everyone!

[Harky]

Been running veg for well over a year now, well over 10k, both with standard pump and turbo and big pump and big turbo. Standard issue of fuel filters thats it.

When you do get running it...tell people you plan to run it, let them tell you that it'll kill the pump in a day etc etc, then inform them you've been running it straight for a year... Stand back and look smug!

The local Bosch pump specialist beside me told me that the veg was just as kind to the pump if not better due to the lubricity of it.

[declantg]

His words were "you think veg has the same combustion value as fuel? Think again!"

[Mattcheese31]

His words were "you think veg has the same combustion value as fuel? Think again!"

well it doesn't, but not too far off . .

[Toms306]

Yeah, He is right there, but its cheap, you aren't gonna worry about losing a few horses for a pound a litre.

It's the other reasons that would stop me using veg though.....terrible cold starting for one lol. I know you can mix in petrol and stuff before anyone says. And the smell, its bad enough smelling rich diesel on a cold morning, but veg is much worse!

[kentiiboii]

Something I've wondered. If I was to buy the 1.9 dturbo. If I was to Bosch pump it would i be able to run it on pure veg? Would there be anything else needed?

[Jake]

Hope you told him where to go! I get this so many times... Got threatened by a man once that he was going home to call the police, because what I was doing was highly illegal, and classes as tax evasion.

Veg is great through 6 months of the year. But it's the starting in the cold that pisses me off!

[strictly_perv]

Wasn't the early diesel engines originally ran on pea-nut oil but turned to diesel as it was more readily available ect anyway?

[the milkman]

Something I've wondered. If I was to buy the 1.9 dturbo. If I was to Bosch pump it would i be able to run it on pure veg? Would there be anything else needed?

once bosched mate they can just run pure veg yea, could mix afew things in like some other guys just to fire up easier in the mornings

[Connor]

Rule of thumb, if it has a Bosch and it fits down the filler neck, itll run on it

[kentiiboii]

Cheers always wondered.
So what's the ins and outs with the law on running veg?

[the milkman]

Don't let everyone know for the reason you are tax dodging and it smells so buy air fresheners

[RadiationBeta]

It's not tax dodging. It is perfectly legal to use. Just don't use more than 2500l in a year otherwise you have to declare for fuel duty. Keep a log to show the feds should they pull you.

I personally think the smell is amazing!

[Dan!]

Don't let everyone know for the reason you are tax dodging and it smells so buy air fresheners

Just wow. I refer you to my earlier post in this thread.

[burnmw]

Something I've wondered. If I was to buy the 1.9 dturbo. If I was to Bosch pump it would i be able to run it on pure veg? Would there be anything else needed?

once bosched mate they can just run pure veg yea, could mix afew things in like some other guys just to fire up easier in the mornings

Probably won't run on pure veg in the cold though as the veg just congeals in the fuel lines and then you're stuffed. Some people have added pre-heaters but as far as I'm aware just upping the diesel content usually works fine (I think some go 50/50 or even 75/25 diesel/veg in the winter).

It's not tax dodging. It is perfectly legal to use. Just don't use more than 2500l in a year otherwise you have to declare for fuel duty. Keep a log to show the feds should they pull you.

I personally think the smell is amazing!

This, otherwise you can't prove you've not used more than your allowance and they might get a bit upset with you. Having said that I wonder how many veg users do actually keep a log?

Don't let everyone know for the reason you are tax dodging and it smells so buy air fresheners

Just wow. I refer you to my earlier post in this thread.

I do believe that was sarcasm... Although what you save in fuel costs you pay out in air fresheners...

[Harky]

With regard to the mixing of it with diesel, someone in another thread mentioned 10% petrol has the same thinning effect as 50% diesel. I personally got away on straight veg during last winter, although cold starts weren't great!

With regard to the law, grand up until 2500L. I got pulled not that long ago and the cop started asking lots of questions, asked him how they would know if I had used more than that, he ummed and aaahed, I through him a line and said would they just go by MOT mileage and average mpg, his reply was no, "they can tell by your car" :-)

[cwspellowe]

Given the mpg of an xud, you'd have to do near 30k miles in a year to use your full allowance, which is like 80-odd miles a day every day. Which is a lot.

Common sense would say that's not likely but you always get one jobsworth...

Incidentally the allowance is for svo only, wvo has to be declared and used engine oil is a definite no no

[zx_volcane]

Cold starts are a pain, but only really when its really very very cold.

Leak off pipes need replacing quicker, and always carry a spare fuel filter and tools to change it.

Hardest thing is finding a cheap reliable supply.

Can get biodiesel on the pump round here for around £1.10

[kentiiboii]

Cold starts are a pain, but only really when its really very very cold.

Leak off pipes need replacing quicker, and always carry a spare fuel filter and tools to change it.

Hardest thing is finding a cheap reliable supply.

Can get biodiesel on the pump round here for around £1.10

Thanks for the information everything. It's something I've been thinking for a long time back when I had my 1.4 but everyone that doesn't know anything put me off. I think when I've fixed my hdi I'm going to go for a nice phase 1 and veg it.

[Dum-Dum]

It is fine but it might leak a little from some seals and pipe joins but nothing thats difficult to replace mate.

[Scott]

What sort of MPG figures do you guys get out of running on veg?