Citroen Xantia - Vegetable oil diesel conversion

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Tue 7 Sep 2010 10:42
Citroen Xantia - Vegetable oil diesel conversion - cyberfruits

I am using a glow plug style vegetable oil pre heater unit on a Citroen xantia with a bosch pump. My fuel mix is 80% new vegetable oil and 20% diesel. It was fine at first but now it stalls in the morning even as the engine gets hot. I then need to prime the engine/pump with the hand primer to get it started again. Once engine is at normal operating temps then no probs whatsoever. Surely if there is a blockage in the fuel strainer or injectors or anywhere then the problem would be there at all times? Even when the engine is warm?

Any ideas?

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Tue 7 Sep 2010 11:43
Citroen Xantia - Vegetable oil diesel conversion - Peter.N.

Have you changed the fuel filter? Thay don't last very long on vegie, also the strainer in the tank can clog, take a look at that. Once you reach normal operating temperature the fuel is a lot thinner so will flow more easily

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Tue 7 Sep 2010 12:25
Citroen Xantia - Vegetable oil diesel conversion - cyberfruits

ok will have look tonight

hope i can find the strainer as the haynes manual is not good as it can with this diesel model.fuel flter done

thanks

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Wed 8 Sep 2010 13:17
Citroen Xantia - Vegetable oil diesel conversion - cyberfruits

When trying to remove the fuel pump and fuel strainer, loads of fuel was pouring out so I stopped as I was not sure if this was normal and I had no equipment to deal with it. I also discovered some leeks around the fuel filter in the engine compartment and around the bosh pump which I still need to investigate as to where they are coming from. One thing I find strange – can oil and diesel fuel mix cause leaks to be sprung? Or is this just a coincidence? And vegetable oil is safe to use. Could there be a chemical reaction happening which is pressurising the system – me not being a chemist maybe over thinking this.

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Wed 8 Sep 2010 13:17
Citroen Xantia - Vegetable oil diesel conversion - cyberfruits

When trying to remove the fuel pump and fuel strainer, loads of fuel was pouring out so I stopped as I was not sure if this was normal and I had no equipment to deal with it. I also discovered some leeks around the fuel filter in the engine compartment and around the bosh pump which I still need to investigate as to where they are coming from. One thing I find strange – can oil and diesel fuel mix cause leaks to be sprung? Or is this just a coincidence? And vegetable oil is safe to use. Could there be a chemical reaction happening which is pressurising the system – me not being a chemist maybe over thinking this.

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Wed 8 Sep 2010 14:36
Citroen Xantia - Vegetable oil diesel conversion - madf

Biodiesle attacks some rubber seals. Lots of info on internet...

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Wed 8 Sep 2010 19:43
Citroen Xantia - Vegetable oil diesel conversion - Peter.N.

Vegi oil will cause the pump seals to fail, which will likely cost you more than you saved on fuel - not worth the risk.

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Thu 9 Sep 2010 17:10
Citroen Xantia - Vegetable oil diesel conversion - CL Grease

Apart from all of the other concerns, we could have a -5c Morning in 8 weeks time.

Edited by CL Grease on 09/09/2010 at 17:15

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