High bio content diesel and older engines

[hinch]

Anyone know the impact / issues caused by high bio content diesel in older engines? Specifically KAD series engines in my case but assume any engine that isn't from the last 10 years like with the cars and E10 fuel.
My marina has recently changed to B10 spec diesel from the old B7 I think it was so its now 10% ethanol and before I go and put 500 liters of this twice as expensive diesel in, i'd like some confidence its not going to end up leaving me stranded at sea when it clogs all my injectors up

 

[rafiki_]

I think your injectors will be OK, but E10 will be much more susceptible to diesel bug. Best do some research on the correct dosage of Marine 16 or equivalent.

 

[Alanij]

B10 diesel doesn't contain ethanol (nor does B7), it contains 10% bio-diesel obtained from plants. It should be alright in older marine engines, it is in newer road vehicles that there can be a problem due to the assorted sensors and electronics that they have fitted.
quick edit - what Rafiki states re diesel bug is worthwhile info.

 

[westernman]

B10 diesel doesn't contain ethanol (nor does B7), it contains 10% bio-diesel obtained from plants. It should be alright in older marine engines, it is in newer road vehicles that there can be a problem due to the assorted sensors and electronics that they have fitted.
quick edit - what Rafiki states re diesel bug is worthwhile info.

Old diesels without fancy electronics and which are not super high power for their size should all be good on biodiesel (or almost anything including old oil from fish and chip shops with the lumps filtered out). My old Citroen CX Turbo ran very happily on 100% rape seed oil with no ill effects at all (unless you count the fact that the exhaust smelt like a chip shop).

New diesels with common rail systems and very high pressure injection systems won't be so tolerant.

The only issues with 100% bio diesel for an older engine might be the suitability of the fuel lines and some sealing rings.
With just 10% bio stuff you are not risking anything.

If you get your diesel from a pump which sells a lot of diesel you should not have any issues with catching the bug. It really does seem to behave like an infectious disease rather than be something which happens on its own.

 

[Bandit]

Avoid Bio fuel like the plague or a plague is what you will get!

B10 is not stable for long term storage eg over winter in a boat. Its fine in a truck when you fill daily or a

 

[andy59]

Avoid Bio fuel like the plague or a plague is what you will get!

B10 is not stable for long term storage eg over winter in a boat. Its fine in a truck when you fill daily or a

Bandit do you happen to know what is supplied in Guernsey ? . In ten years i have not had any problems but only fuel in Lymington , Guernsey, Weymouth and Plymouth.

 

[hinch]

Just concerned as Hull marina have changed from B7 to B10 without telling anyone and the price has jumped from 65p @0% to 107p @ 0% although I use the boat often it can still mean a tank sat for a month or so at a time sometimes. So all combined I don't want to fill up my 20 year old engines to then end up having issues the first time i go out of the Humber into the north sea, which you know sods law will happen.