No, this isn't an elaborate commuter coffee mug. This is a fuel filter for a 2005 Jetta TDI.
We are switching our TDI over from a diet of petrodiesel -- which comes from foreign countries that hate us -- to biodiesel, which comes from soy beans grown by American farmers.
We were cautioned to make this transition gradually by using B20 first (a 20 percent mix of bio- and petrodiesel). Since biodiesel is more solvent it might loosen deposits and clog the fuel filter. When I first filled up, a flier from the station actually recommended carrying an extra fuel filter in the car.
While driving up to San Jose this week I stopped at Community Volkswagen in Santa Maria and chatted with the boys there about boidiesel. Everyone had heard of it and surprisingly, everyone had a friend who was using it. But not everyone seemed sure if their "friend" was using biodiesel or the mysterious -- and free! -- waste vegetable oil.
Service advisor, Jeremiah Reeves, wasn't completely sold on biodiesel.
"B20 is fine," he said. "B99 will ruin your fuel injection pump." I asked what made him say this. He said a customer of his had been in with a faulty fuel injection pump and he felt that B99 was the culprit.
I went away not completely convinced of B99's damaging power but I did buy two fuel filters at $41 a piece. I even eyeballed the fuel filter's location (right on top of the engine) and took an inventory of what it would take to change it on the fly.
So, we plan to learn about biodiesel, and it's potential pitfalls, by running it on the stuff from here on in. Learn by doing -- that's been my motto. We are forced into using the strong stuff, B99, because it's all that is offered by our local station, Conserv Fuels.
And now for the numbers:
Miles traveled on biodiesel (B20 & B99): 920
Fuel economy (mainly highway): 48.5 mpg
Prices paid: $5.29 (B99) $4.95 (B20)
Problems: None.
billt9 says:
09:08 AM, 07/25/08
This is intro to chemistry about solvent polarity.
gasoline is nonpolar, bonds mostly by van der waals forces, ethanol is more polar, forming mostly hydrogen bonds.
The change in solvents from gasoline to E85 dissolves (melts) fuel line components because those fuel line components were designed not to be dissolved by nonpolar gasoline.
Same thing could be predicted with diesel to biodiesel. Though I'm guessing probably not as dramatic as nonpolar gasoline->hydrogen bonding EtOH.
With the solvent change, you'll dissolve the fuel line, which was designed and tested to not be dissolved by diesel.
It's like saying I designed this painted wall to be resistant to water, but it dissolves with oil. So when you pour oil on a surface designed to be resistant to dissolving in water, the surface dissolves/melts.
I wouldn't experiment with my car. But since Edmunds has no car-owner monetary attachment, Edmunds' vehicles would be perfect platforms to test these theories.
karjunkie says:
09:23 AM, 07/25/08
When do you plan to change filters? Do you plan to open the old filter and see how much got dissolved by the biodiesel? It would be very interesting to see that!
joefrompa says:
09:30 AM, 07/25/08
Since I just ranted in another post, I have to say I absolutely applaud Edmunds for these efforts and this blog post.
This is why the long-term car fleet is here....real people are considering buying real-used diesel vehicles to take advantage of real-offers such as bio-diesel, etc.
It's a great experiment, great information, and even a great example to say "So I bought 2 spare fuel filters and examined how to swap them on the fly"
How great is that?
Joe
P.s. This is info that is much harder to ascertain on new vehicles, and why I love the used vehicles blogs as well.
opfreak says:
11:34 AM, 07/25/08
I think this a better bet of edmunds money, then replacing M3 brakes.
blueguydotcom says:
11:40 AM, 07/25/08
Interesting.
Also interesting - $1300 tax credit from the government for buying a new TDI. That alone makes the TDI a steal as that's like a 5k tax write-off.
jahfakin says:
01:21 PM, 07/25/08
you won't need the fuel filter, unless it's time to replace them. I switched to B20 in my old TDi, and the filter never got clogged.
Same experience with most who run B20 on tdiclub.com.
jahfakin says:
01:25 PM, 07/25/08
blueguydotcom ,
VW stop selling TDi jettas/golf/NB/ back in '06. You currently can't buy them new. unless it's a Touareg TDi, which is one of the dirtiest engines around.
neatnick79 says:
02:28 PM, 07/25/08
jahfakin,
Blueguydotcom is referring to the '09 Jetta TDIs that should be arriving in dealerships in a month or two.
slickersdrip says:
02:33 PM, 07/25/08
OP,
I think that blowing up the Jeep Patriot instead of selling it at the end of the long term ownership would have been a better use of Edmunds money than the M3 brakes.
blueguydotcom says:
06:15 PM, 07/25/08
jahfakin - 2009 TDI is 50 state legal.
Philip Reed says:
12:53 PM, 07/26/08
I'm glad everyone is enjoying this real world test. I think we would stick with B20 if we could. Unfortunately, the only station near our office sells B99 so it kind of forces our hand in the filter clogging category. I'm planning to drive it for at least another week to see if there is any sputtering from the engine due to clogged filters. If this happens I will cut the filter open and take a picture of it.
I think we might run into fuel line problems and filter problems. Those are fairly easy fixes. But the fuel injection pump runs about $1,600. Apparently the biodiesel attacks the seals in it. But how long does that take?
jahfakin says:
12:09 PM, 07/27/08
Philip Reed,
A4/A5 models handle bio-diesel very well. besides maybe a clogged filter, I don't think you will run into other issues.
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=82466.
I live in Philly, and getting even b20 is a pain. I know of only one station that sells it in the whole city. I see no reason why B20 shouldn't be wildly available, if just about all gasoline is mixed with 10% Ethanol.
I don't think there is much of a future for diesel passenger cars in the US....things are moving too slow. Hybrid appears to be the way to go.
karjunkie says:
07:52 AM, 07/28/08
Philip, I don't see why B99 diesel would damage the seals on the injection pump. Certainly, you could get accumulated crud clogging the filter because of the detergent action of the B99, but I have never seen any study that shows that it is actually harmful to the seals on engine components. Worst case is that some of the crud that is holding the seals tight might be dislodged and create a leak. But I am willing to bet you don't have any problems with the pump. I am eager to see what the inside of the filter looks like after 1000 miles or so.
dino6 says:
05:10 PM, 07/31/08
"I think we would stick with B20 if we could. Unfortunately, the only station near our office sells B99 so it kind of forces our hand in the filter clogging category. I'm planning to drive it for at least another week to see if there is any sputtering from the engine due to clogged filters. If this happens I will cut the filter open and take a picture of it.
I think we might run into fuel line problems and filter problems. Those are fairly easy fixes. But the fuel injection pump runs about $1,600."
If so, that would be the best use of $1,600 edmunds has ever done. (again compared to the M3 brakes - *smile*)
This biodiesel experiment is one of the most useful and relevant things you're doing in edmunds right now.
Btw, was edmunds able to get a hydrogen vehicle from Honda?
drea83079 says:
09:27 PM, 03/12/09
For those who are interested, you can purchase a new 09 TDI Jetta from Lakes Region VW in NH. They originally told me that they were ordering months out (in June of 08 when I inquired) and that they could not get me a car until at least October or November of 08. I purchased the test model made available by VW at another dealership. So far, I love it. I do all my driving on backroads 50mph plus, give or take. I am averaging between 40-50 for 50 mph drives and city is right around 30mph. I have almost 13,000 miles on my car now and am due for my second service maintenance soon. I have had no problems at all with the car so far, and am loving my new vehicle and its great fuel efficiency. I am sad that I cannot use any higher blend of BD than B5, but anxiously checking on all reports from current 09 TDI owners to see what their experiences with B20, B100 are.