Now running on white diesel

[Burnham Bob]

Lil, to expand on the issue, white diesel contains a certain amount of bio diesel. bio diesel is hygroscopic - it absorbs water. diesel bug breeds in the interface between diesel and water so there is an increased chance of getting gllop and sline in your tank which will block the filters. it's not an issue with cars because they get through a lot more diesel. boat diesel stays in the tank a lot longer. also, some older engines and the seals in fule lines don't like biodiesel as it attacks certain compounds.

However, lots of people are using white diesel and some have even told me their engines run better. If you are worried about using white diesel, thenm Marine 16 came out really well in the PBO test and they do a maintenance liquid which is quite cheap. it stops the growth of the bug, breaks down any crud that's already there and apparently inproves lubricity of the fuel. just google marine 16.

Red diesel is only an issue if you visit Belgium. Holland and France are happy with it if you have it in your tank but they forbid red diesel in cans - so if you are hopping over the channel make sure your spare diesel is white.

Lots of people are avoiding belgium - like me! Instead of sailing over to Dunkerque and hopping up the coast to Ostend then Vlissengen, we'll be steeling ourselves to do the 25 hour trip to Vlissinegen from Burnham direct.

 

[sailorman]

Lil, to expand on the issue, white diesel contains a certain amount of bio diesel. bio diesel is hygroscopic - it absorbs water. diesel bug breeds in the interface between diesel and water so there is an increased chance of getting gllop and sline in your tank which will block the filters. it's not an issue with cars because they get through a lot more diesel. boat diesel stays in the tank a lot longer. also, some older engines and the seals in fule lines don't like biodiesel as it attacks certain compounds.

However, lots of people are using white diesel and some have even told me their engines run better. If you are worried about using white diesel, thenm Marine 16 came out really well in the PBO test and they do a maintenance liquid which is quite cheap. it stops the growth of the bug, breaks down any crud that's already there and apparently inproves lubricity of the fuel. just google marine 16.

Red diesel is only an issue if you visit Belgium. Holland and France are happy with it if you have it in your tank but they forbid red diesel in cans - so if you are hopping over the channel make sure your spare diesel is white.

Lots of people are avoiding belgium - like me! Instead of sailing over to Dunkerque and hopping up the coast to Ostend then Vlissengen, we'll be steeling ourselves to do the 25 hour trip to Vlissinegen from Burnham direct.

make sure you avoid Belgian territorial waters as well then

 

[Bru]

ChattingLil ...

The potential problem(s) with switching from UK supplied gas oil (a.k.a. "red diesel") to DERV fuel (a.k.a. "white diesel") is that

... Under EU law DERV has to contain a percentage of FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester a.k.a. bio diesel). FAME is significantly more prone to bacterial growth where there is a low turnover of fuel and is therefore a problem in, for example, boat fuel tanks! In other words, your more likely to have problems with so called "diesel bug" using DERV which contains FAME

... FAME is also a potential problem in older engines as it can attack components such as seals, cause excessive corrosion of components such as injectors, result in blockages in the fuel system etc.

It is my understanding that it would be legal to supply duty paid unmarked diesel without FAME for use in applications other than road vehicles (e.g. boat propulsion) but there is no infrastructure to supply it (at the retail end of the supply chain - the FAME is added at the distribution hub so it would be possible to deliver non-FAME duty paid diesel oil by the tanker load)

HTH

 

[ChattingLil]

right then I will proceed as usual and revel in my ignorance.

I've been using white for 18 months until my recent top up with red!

 

[Bru]

right then I will proceed as usual and revel in my ignorance.

I've been using white for 18 months until my recent top up with red!

If you haven't had a problem by now, you probably won't have a problem in the future

Note: Usual smarmy lawyer type disclaimers apply

 

[sailorman]

If you haven't had a problem by now, you probably won't have a problem in the future

Note: Usual smarmy lawyer type disclaimers apply

you dont look like a smarmy lawyer

 

[Koeketiene]

... Under EU law DERV has to contain a percentage of FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester a.k.a. bio diesel). FAME is significantly more prone to bacterial growth where there is a low turnover of fuel and is therefore a problem in, for example, boat fuel tanks! In other words, your more likely to have problems with so called "diesel bug" using DERV which contains FAME

Whilst I don't dispute the facts you mention, IMO this whole FAME business has a whiff of scaremongering about it.

If I buy one Euromillions ticket, I have a chance of winning the jackpot.
When I buy two Euromillions tickets, I have doubled my chances of winning the jackpot. But, let's face it, that is still not very likely.

Been sailing on white diesel for 3 years now - boat afloat all that time - and I have experienced no diesel problems whatsoever.

 

[Koeketiene]

Similar experience, after 4 years using red diesel, I have used white for the last 10 years with no apparent problems so a scam? Can't see the angle?

Neither can I - but people do seem to enjoy a good scare now and then.

Years ago everyone was worried about osmosis, yet the subject hardly gets a mention these days.

 

[Sixpence]

You mean, it was just a bubble

 

[Bru]

you dont look like a smarmy lawyer

See, the disguise is working a treat

On the wider front, I don't think the widespread initial concern about FAME was a scam but it did turn out to be exagerated.