Good Cars for BiofuelsVW TDI'sVW's popular TDI engines are reliable, fast, and incredibly fuel efficient. Highway mileage ranges from a low of 40 mpg to a high of 50 mpg with city mileage typically averaging a low of 35 mpg to a high of 45 mpg. These cars run forever and it's not uncommon to see strong-running TDI's with over 300,000 miles on them.
The 1996-1997 Passats and the 1998 Jettas are large vehicles that seat five comfortably and are great highway vehicles. Now almost 10 years old, these cars are still sought after, and range in price from approximately $6,000 to $8,000. Keep in mind that even perfect-looking specimens will probably need work. One particular area to check is the shock absorbers. They usually last 100,000 to 150,000 miles and cost approximately $850 to replace all four. 1999.5-2003 TDI's are lighter and faster, and they get incredible mileage, often up to 50mpg on the highway. They come in all the classic VW models: Beetles, Passats, Jettas, Golfs and Touregs. Because of the growing popularity of biodiesel combined with CARB laws, prices for these cars in California are typically several thousand dollars above blue book prices. Jetta station wagons in particular are more rare and often sell for astronomical prices. Buying out of state TDI's and either shipping or driving them back is very common. 2004 and later TDI's are blessed with the PD (Pumpe Deuce) engine– faster, quieter, more fuel-efficient still. These engines are just hitting 30,000 miles on biodiesel, and are still considered untested. One thing's for sure on these cars– bad fuel will send you straight to the shop to have your injector pump or injector nozzle replaced- so look for that BQ-9000 certified sticker. All TDIs require special grade full synthetic oil that is changed every 10,000 miles. Incorrect oil can lead to future problems with the turbo. The changing of the timing belt at specified intervals by a competent mechanic is critical to the reliability of the TDI engine. Don't take your TDI to the dealership to get it worked on. The VW dealerships have a poor track record when it comes to satisfied TDI customers. There are independent mechanics that are extremely knowledgeable about these cars. Check our Mechanics page for local recommends. An incredible online resource for TDI info is TDI Club. The site has a great Forum which has literally saved me many headaches and at least $1,000 in the past two years of TDI ownership. There are a couple of local dealers who specialize in used TDI's in Southern California. They charge premium prices, but are repected local TDI mechanics who go over the cars with a fine tooth comb before selling them: Mercedes BenzThe Diesel Discussion at the mercedesshop forum is a really good informative site for newbies and experienced mechanics alike. Plenty of Biodiesel SVO info here as well.
Chances are, if you've recently seen any cars running on Biodiesel or SVO, it was probably an old luxury Mercedes. Those cars were built to last, and in Southern California, they are still plentiful, but becoming more difficult to find. Starting in 1976 and going til 1985, Mercedes built their venerable 300D, 300TD (both with the 123 body) and 300SD (with the 126 body). Blessed with the 5 cylinder 617 diesel engine, these are the classic late 70's/early 80' slowriders and an excellent candidate for your Biofuel of choice. If you can find a turbo version (1981-1985), you'll be a lot happier (and safer) on those freeway entrance ramps. Check MB Diesel DIY for 123 buying tips. 240D's and 1970's and older Mercedes diesels will be happy running on biodiesel or SVO, just be prepared to get passed- a lot. Also, note that the "T" in "300TD" denotes that it is a station wagon, not a turbo. In 1987, Mercedes introduced the W124 with the 603 engine on their 300D and 300TD. Similar in many ways to their predecessors, but these cars feel more modern- they have a better suspension and are a bit quicker. If you're looking specifically for a station wagon, the last year MB imported a diesel wagon to the US was 1987 (what were they thinking?), but if you can find one in good condition, the 87 300TD was ahead of its time and drives very much like a modern car. The 87 and later 190D is a fast and fuel efficient offering. 1990-93 300D's and 250D's were the 124 body with a tough 2.5 liter engine In 1994, the 300D was renamed 300E like its gasoline counterpart. In 1995, the W124 300E diesel came equipped with the 6 valve 606 engine. This is a great car as 1995 was the best year of the 124's and the 606 engine is fast and tough. In 1996, the name changed to E300 and the body shape changed to the W210, but the engine stayed the same until 1998, when the 606 engine got a turbo. These turbocharged 1998-99 E300's perform like a big V6 gasoline engine- at 30mpg-, and take to biodiesel like a fish to water. Unfortunately, they weren't sold in California, so you'll most likely have to look for them out of state. Trucks and Other CarsFord, Dodge, and Chevy all offer diesel engines in their pickups. The Dodge Cummins engine seems to be an overall favorite among biodieselers along with the Ford Powerstroke. Because of the efficiency of their diesel engines, these trucks get much better mileage than their gasoline counterparts.
Other diesel survivors from the eighties like Volvos, Audis, Isuzus, Mazdas, Cadillacs and Oldsmobiles make good biofuel candidates too. In the next year or so, Honda, Toyota, BMW and Audi will all be (re)introducing diesels to the US. Boats
The same storage, temperature and engine issues apply for boats as they do for cars. As biodiesel is non-toxic and biodegrades very quickly in the environment, marinelife willl thank you for using it. The NBB's Marine Biodiesel page has lots of good info. Biodieselnow has a good Marine Biodiesel forum. Fleets
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