Caltex vortex premium diesel

[jazd]

So it looks like people who live in Newcastle and Hunter Valley are the lucky ones....

Where did you get that quote from?

edit. Did some additional digging:

http://microsites.caltex.com.au/thestar/issues/40-Dec-Jan-08/a_Biofuels-_the_choice_of_the_future.asp

Its a fairly old article, wonder if its still the case or if we are getting an even higher mix of bio now. It says all Newcastle Terminal supplied service stations are getting B2 but on the right it says that Hexam supplies B5?

Anyone know where I can find the fuel specs for B2 and B5? Would it be higher Cetane?

[bluey]

Where did you get that quote from? [...]
Anyone know where I can find the fuel specs for B2 and B5? Would it be higher Cetane?

I emailed Caltex LubeLink technical support. The article you found was 2008, so I think the B5 is no longer available based on what Caltex told me.

The info on B2 and B5 shouldn't be too hard to find esp from a european source where it is more likely to be available. B2 is fabulous lubricity improver and any more than B2 doesn't bring any more gains. Try this http://www.biodiesel.org/docs/ffs-pe...y-benefits.pdf. Lot of biodiesel articles at US National Biodiesel Board Biodiesel Fact Sheets - Biodiesel.org

Wikipedia on cetane number says animal fat biodiesel has cetane 56-60, vegetable fat bio 46-52. So the cetane benefit from bio at small percentage is likely to be small.

[jazd]

Yeah right, so it wont help Cetane number much but 2% should be enough to give the fuel good lubricity. It would still be good to have an actual data sheet for each fuel so we could compare them, might email Caltex.

[cru22z]

So is the Vortex Diesel better than ordinary BP Diesel?

[meremale]

Would love to know the answer to this one also, as not sure whether to change to BP or stay with the Vortex.

[Diesel_vert]

Would love to know the answer to this one also, as not sure whether to change to BP or stay with the Vortex.

Give the other a try and alternate between a few tankfuls. I doubt you'll notice any difference.

[meremale]

We've been thinking about that, just not sure whether to go the normal or there ultimate. Most prob will end up trying both to see how much difference there is.

[Amalgam]

Hi All,

I am new to the forum, so please be nice

I have just taken delivery of a new MY12.5 Passat 125TDI wagon and I am really loving it. It is my first time with a VAG product and diesel.

Reading this thread and others, it appears that BP Ultimate and Caltex Vortex are the preferred diesels to use and that a blend with 2% biodiesel is even better.

My question is can I blend my own concoction?

As you are no doubt aware, in Perth we have Gull B20 and conveniently within 2kms there are both a Caltex and BP servos. So if I put in 7 litres of B20 and top it up with Vortex or Ultimate I should get the B2 that is so highly regarded. I don't mind the double fuelling considering the excellent fuel economy give me at least 3 weeks between pit stops.

Is this OK or is there a flaw in my logic? Is Gull B20 so bad that it should be avoided even this concentration?

BTW the Passat has only been fed Ultimate so far.

Thanks for the wisdom of the forum and Hi to all the Perth members.

George

[Diesel_vert]

Reading this thread and others, it appears that BP Ultimate and Caltex Vortex are the preferred diesels to use and that a blend with 2% biodiesel is even better.

My question is can I blend my own concoction?

Yes, you can.

As you are no doubt aware, in Perth we have Gull B20 and conveniently within 2kms there are both a Caltex and BP servos. So if I put in 7 litres of B20 and top it up with Vortex or Ultimate...

That's exactly how you do it.

I don't mind the double fuelling considering the excellent fuel economy give me at least 3 weeks between pit stops.

It's an awful lot faffing about in my view, but if you can be bothered, go for it.

Is this OK or is there a flaw in my logic?

You mustn't forget not to exceed putting 7 litres of B20 in the tank. Or just drive off and forget to fill the rest of tank with diesel.

Is Gull B20 so bad that it should be avoided even this concentration?

As long as there's nothing inherently wrong with the quality of the fuel itself, it will be fine. It's not Gull's fault that your car isn't supposed to tolerate biodiesel blends higher than 5% (due to the particulate filter).

[Amalgam]

Thanks for the confirmation.

I have discovered that Gull sell B100 in bulk. I have sent them an email to enquire about purchasing and the minimum quantity required. Hopefully I will be able to add 1.4L of B100 before topping up.

As a point of interest, I found this article "Biodiesel Effects on Diesel Particulate Filter Performance" March 2006 operated for the US Department of Energy.

http://www.biofuelsforum.com/attachments/general_biodiesel_discussion/207d1150808282-biodiesel_particulate_filters_dpf-biodiesel_particle_filters.pdf

Executive Summary

This document reports results of research on the performance of biodiesel and biodiesel blends with ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) and a diesel particle filter (DPF). In particular, tests were conducted using a 2002 model year Cummins ISB engine (with exhaust gas recirculation or EGR) that had been retrofitted with a Johnson-Matthey catalyzed DPF, a passively regenerated filter. Tests were conducted from August 2005 through January of 2006 in NREL’s ReFuel facility. This report also documents completion of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Fiscal Year 2006 Annual Operating Plan Milestone 10.2, which is also Corporate Planning System Milestone 24050. These milestones support the U.S. Department of Energy, Fuels Technologies Program Multiyear Program Plan Goal of identifying fuels that can displace 5% of petroleum diesel by 2010.

The impact of biodiesel and biodiesel blends on DPF performance was assessed by making the following measurements:

• Balance point temperature (BPT, the DPF inlet temperature at which the rate of particle oxidation approximately equals the rate of particle collection)
• Filter regeneration rate (assessed by monitoring DPF back pressure as a function of time after pre-loading with particles and ramping to high exhaust temperature)
• Transient emissions testing with and without the DPF installed.

Tests were conducted using 2007 certification diesel, a commercial ULSD known as BP-
15, and biodiesel derived from soybean oil.

Results show that on average, the BPT is 45°C and 112°C lower, respectively, for B20 blends and neat biodiesel, than for 2007 certification diesel fuel. Filter regeneration rate measurements indicate that biodiesel causes a significant increase in regeneration rate, even at the 5% blending level. Transient emissions tests show a 25% particulate matter (PM) reduction for B20 without the DPF installed. Installation of the DPF caused PM emissions to drop by more than a factor of 10 for petrodiesel. Use of B20 with the DPF produced an additional PM reduction of 67% as compared with the petrodiesel plus DPF configuration. The use of B20 caused a 2.9% increase in fuel consumption, consistent with the lower energy content of this fuel. Installation of the DPF caused a nearly 2% fuel economy penalty for both ULSD and B20.

Overall the results suggest significant benefits for the use of biodiesel blends in engines equipped with DPFs. The significant lowering of BPT and increase in regeneration rate might allow passive DPFs to be used in lower temperature engine duty cycles, avoiding the need for actively regenerated filters and their associated fuel economy penalty. Actively regenerated systems might require less frequent regeneration, also resulting in a lower fuel economy penalty. These hypothetical fuel economy benefits have yet to be demonstrated, and this will be the subject of future research.

[Transporter]

Overall the results suggest significant benefits for the use of biodiesel blends in engines equipped with DPFs.

These hypothetical fuel economy benefits have yet to be demonstrated, and this will be the subject of future research.

For the sake of your DPF, be careful with that biodiesel. There is no fuel saving when using B20, the engine will use more of it, so cost per km will increase, your fuel filter, engine oil and the oil filter will need to be changed at 1/2 of the normal service interval compared to petro diesel as well, so there is no real saving at all.

I've tried B20 in my T5 4motion, but switched back to petrodiesel for the above.

Make no mistake, the biodiesel will shorten the DPF's life. That document is out of date.

[Amalgam]

Thanks Transporter,

I only intend to put B2 into the Passat, but I thought that the article was interesting.

George

[bluey]

If VAG-engines are approved to use EN590 spec diesel - up to 7% - can we presume that 2% should cause no problems apart from reduced wear due to improved lubricity?

[Transporter]

The question could be asked if our diesel is really as good as EN590? Before you start to mix it with the biodiesel.

[bluey]

Alright, so we know our diesel doesn't meet cetane specifications of EN590, but biodiesel has a slightly higher cetane than standard. We still need to use a cetane improver to avoid DPF problems. I thought from looking at it some months ago that our diesel apart from the cetane problem was about equivalent to EN590 specification.