Espace + veg oil = ?

[wuvvum]

OK, so somebody posted yesterday about Tescos having a BOGOF on big bottles of veg oil, so today I went out and purchased a quantity of the same, intending to run the Dodge on the stuff, thus increasing its effective average MPG from 28 to around 70. Alas, on lifting the bonnet of the beast I found the dreaded word "Lucas" staring at me from the top of the pump. So that's that idea bollocksed, then.So, does anyone know whether the Espace will run on veg? It's a 2.2 DTi, so it's not common rail, and it's got a Bosch pump, but it's more "modern" (read: it has more rubbish electronics) than any diesel I've attempted to run on veg in the past, so I don't know how it will be affected - will the ECU somehow detect that it's not dino diesel in the pipes and go into limp mode, or will it clog the injectors? I've tried Google but not found anything conclusive on the Renner engine, although there's plenty on XUDs and Enduras...

[Espacetic]

Plenty use it on the Espace forum without issue but nobody seems brave enough to try 100%. 70% veg oil would still make a massive saving though.

[Barry Cade]

I did the same today, but in Asda. Sunflower oil works out at 42p per litre. 100% in the old Merc...luvley jubbly! :DI have read somewhere the 2.2DTi is fine on Veg,will try and dig out the info. I ran my old 98 Espace 2.2DT on 100% and it never faultered.

[Milford Cubicle]

DTi means it's direct injection, but I believe these engines are pretty simple aside from the electrics. I'd be a bit cautious and not run 100% oil, keeping an eye on the oil level rising for fuel contamination of the sump oil and *don't" leave it running at idle for long periods of time because this seems to advance engine oil contamination.

[Daniel R25]

Hi Wuvvum,as far as I know there were no Espace with Lucas Pumps. Could you post a picture of the set up?Secondly, there was never an Espace 2.2 dti. Either you got the 115 HP, 2.2 dt swirl chamber t-diesel or a Common Rail direct injection (called 2.2 dci, engine code g9t) version of that engine with up to 150 HP.The Safrane with the 2.2 dt runs fine on SVO. The 2.2 dci engine has a horrible reputation - the dt version is much more reliable.Daniel

[Milford Cubicle]

Daniel's right, there's no DTi listed on biomotors

 

http://www.biomotors.co.uk/CarsVansN.html#Renault

 

Winner

[wuvvum]

Secondly, there was never an Espace 2.2 dti. Either you got the 115 HP, 2.2 dt swirl chamber t-diesel or a Common Rail direct injection (called 2.2 dci, engine code g9t) version of that engine with up to 150 HP.

Is there much of a difference between the dt and the dti then?

[Daniel R25]

You really should go out and check what engine you have got :DI would be quite surprised if it was a 2.2 dti (however, they did actually sell a 1.9 dti, direct injection with a Bosch Pump). The 2.2 dt, 12-valve engine is OK. They do have problems with leaking oil coolers and, rarely, cracked heads (as all older diesels do). Nice cars - I'd like one...Daniel