If you ever fill up at Morrisons fuel stations you may have noticed that some of them are now offering additional alternative fuels – including biodiesel B30 (30% biodiesel) and Bioethanol E85.
Van users with green consciences may be tempted to fill up their hire vans with B30 biodiesel – that’s a fuel made with 30% biodiesel and 70% mineral diesel – but you probably shouldn’t.
Not all manufacturers approve the use of B30 – and although the vehicle will probably run on the fuel without problems, use of it may invalidate the manufacturers’ warranties.
Ford, Fiat, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Renault, Toyota and Volkswagen are just some of the van manufacturers who have NOT approved the use of B30 in their vehicles. If you are renting a van, stick with regular diesel, save fuel and ease your green conscience by driving in a more fuel-efficient manner instead.
Don’t use anything other than normal diesel unless your van hire company gives you permission to do so.
To learn more about biodiesel usage in the UK – all diesel now includes 2.5% biodiesel – click here.
Thanks for your note. For members interest I can advise the following about Morrisons B30 Fuel:
1) It meets all EN590 specifications except the chemical make-up (FAME)
2) The Bio element if from UK sourced Rapeseed and Used vegetable Oil converted to the European EN14214 specification (the industry standard)
3) It has oxidation stability in excess of 28hrs on the Rancimat test (equivalent to 6 months shelf life)
4) Unless you do the chemical test you cannot tell the difference from normal diesel.
5) It won’t stress fuel injection components as it is the same viscosity as normal diesel.
6) It is fully sustainable (independently verified) and gives a carbon saving of 15-18% compred to normal diesel at 1.5%
7) Vauxhall Vivaro and Movano Renault engined vans are approved for use with this fuel (Renault themselves gave the approval) – Trafic and master are their equivalents. No news yet from Nissan.
8) All PSA HDi engined vans from 1998 onwards are compatible with this fuel following testing by PSA.
9) Here is an opportunity for the UK van fleet to pressure manufacturers for approvals so they can do their bit fro the environment.
Thanks for this extra information, Colin, it’s very useful. It’s good to see that Morrisons appear to be making an effort to be genuinely greener (UK-sourced fuels, etc.) and are not just paying lip service to the idea.
Interesting that you state that Renault has approved use of B30 – that must be specific to the Trafic/Master and not all of its diesels.
hi
we have an 07 master van and would like to run part bio fuel in it, our local dealer says no though it appears to be as clean as our regular garage fuel ?
regards
Brad
The problem may be that the dealer can’t endorse anything that isn’t officially supported by the manufacturer.
Whether it can be made to work or not is another question, but you’re on your own if it doesn’t. I wouldn’t suggest it on a van that’s still under warranty, as using an unsupported fuel will probably invalidate your warranty (even if nothing goes wrong).