If the fuel is washed properly there are no negative effects to the fuel
systems, this helps control the pH and reduce the methyl content both of
which could be potentially damaging.
-Arthur
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeffrey R" <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, July 14, 2001 6:08 AM
Subject: Re: biodiesel

> In a message dated 7/12/2001 11:54:35 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
> kivka@EARTHLINK.NET writes:
>
> > here is no conversion of anything mechanical necessary
>
> In regards to biodiesel and the Vanagon. A listener called into car talk
> about year ago with a problem. The following is their account to the best
of
> my knowledge. And I pass it on, not as an expert, but just to put it out
> there and muck things up a bit. I myself don't have a diesel as I have to
> punch a time clock. Again to the best of my memory:
>
> A Vanagon owner living in a co operative
> community in Washington or Oregon called into the guys at car talk because
> they
> were having problems with biodiesel in the Vanagon. Seems they were
burning
> biodiesel in a tractor and a rabbit and some other vehicles and the
vanagon.
> Problem was the Vanagon kept not running--the other vehicles performed
fine.
> They would take The Vanagon to be repaired and I think it needed new fuel
> lines. Then the problem resurfaced a few months later. Same remedy this
time.
> But the owner was not impressed with the savings vs. repair costs while
using
> the biodiesel. The Tappet bros. suggested the Vanagon may not be
compatable
> with biodeisel as it is decomposing the fuel line and perhaps other
> components which I can't remember. The solution was to use diesel as
opposed
> to biodiesel in the Vanagon.
>
> Just food for thought.
>
> Jeff
> 83.5 Westy
> LA,CA