Euro Diesel and ordinary diesel - what is the difference ?

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
20/02/2012 19:00

My car is diesel and to date I have always put 'euro diesel' in it but as times are increasingly hard and given that I have no idea what 'euro diesel' is compared to just 'diesel' I am thinking I might start putting in the cheaper 'plain' diesel. So what is the difference ? Is it worth the extra cost for euro diesel ? Will I be risking damage to my car using the cheaper option or is it just a decreased performance thing. Thanks in advance for anyone who might be able to educate me a bit on this subject.

rowlo



Joined: 12/10/2008
Posts: 4796

Message Posted:
20/02/2012 19:02

no difference, euro diesel is supposed to be greener , but costs more ,

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
20/02/2012 19:08

thanks for info rowlo



just one more question, there is no issue in 'mixing them' is there ? I mean I have euro diesel in the tank now, is it ok to just put plain diesel in on top so to speak ?

rowlo



Joined: 12/10/2008
Posts: 4796

Message Posted:
20/02/2012 19:21

no damage will be done , its basically diesel with some detergent in it .

suehowlittle


Joined: 31/10/2010
Posts: 1202

Message Posted:
20/02/2012 20:41

another con!

cavalryman


Joined: 08/11/2010
Posts: 314

Message Posted:
20/02/2012 20:51

Afraid NOT guys if you have a turbo diesel try putting the cheap stuff in then drive over the mountain to lefcosia you will find the power way down even with you foot right down it will feel underpowered .I always used normal diesel in the uk and still do but the ordinary diesel on the way over once i had left the eu left me thinking something was wrong as the power was noticibly down especially on hills under full power. It was the same here whenn i first arrived and was considering having the engine looked at one day i made a mistake and filled it with eurodiesel and it was immediately back to normal and has remained so for 3 years so try it by all means but for a few kurus is it worth it!!!

rowlo



Joined: 12/10/2008
Posts: 4796

Message Posted:
20/02/2012 21:03

well my vans are tdis and they run perfectly well on the normal diesel .

rejela


Joined: 09/02/2011
Posts: 293

Message Posted:
20/02/2012 21:11

Euro diesel is low sulphur but not sure if normal diesel will damage at catalitic converter in the exhaust. Modern cars have computorised components which may protect at the cheaper stuff. Find out first in case you cause expensive damage.

The old fashioned diesels are good on normal diesel, sun flower oil, chip fat etc.

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
20/02/2012 21:20

Now I am uncertain what to use. My car is a 2007 kia ceed with 1.6liter diesel engine. Apparently it is a DPF diesel engine according to this http://www.kia-forums.com/kia-ceed-forum/66255-does-anyone-use-redex-diesel-injection.html whatever that means ?

So is there any consensus here ? Should I just stick to euro diesel or it it just a waste of money ?

rejela


Joined: 09/02/2011
Posts: 293

Message Posted:
20/02/2012 21:26

I am going to speak to my cousin who will probably know the answer. watch this space.

Turtle


Joined: 28/05/2007
Posts: 2669

Message Posted:
20/02/2012 21:39

I run a diesel and for me this dearer stuff is a waste of money.

Its advertised in the UK as "Greener" and you are supposed to more miles to the gallon,... what a load of tosh.



Done the test twice with onboard computer ,... mileage is within 2 miles of each other so for me its the dear cheaper stuff for me..... not the very dear expensive stuff if that make sense

Sideways



Joined: 21/01/2009
Posts: 529

Message Posted:
20/02/2012 22:06

Euro Diesel or ULSD (Ultra low Sulphur Diesel) gives out less harmful fumes to the enviroment.

Fuel consumption is no different it is just a cleaner fuel.

Personally I would always use it with a modern turbo engine as the normal diesel fuel in the TRNC is not brilliant.

If your vehicle was built before 1995 then use the normal diesel.

Hope this helps.



Pete.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
20/02/2012 22:12

I was told by Land Rover to put Euro Diesel in every few thousand miles just to clean out any residue from the normal diesel that has less detergent in it. It was a BMW 2litre TDi engine.

rejela


Joined: 09/02/2011
Posts: 293

Message Posted:
20/02/2012 22:26

I spoke to my cousin in the UK, He is saying the same as Turtle sideways. The emmissions are more environmentally friendly with euro diesel.

I run a Land Rover 200 TDI on normal diesel but haven't tried using normal diesel in my HDI Peugeot. I must say I would use it if I was sure that nothing would suffer as a result. We tend to take what we are told as gospel. Governments want you to pay more for Euro diesel so they take more revenue.



People are now running their vehicles on Bio heating fuel in the UK to save money.

yorgozlu



Joined: 16/06/2009
Posts: 4437

Message Posted:
20/02/2012 22:30

just make sure to use euro about couple weeks before emission test.

rejela


Joined: 09/02/2011
Posts: 293

Message Posted:
20/02/2012 22:45

The last time I took the Peugeot HDI for an emissions test it failed because they couldnt find any trace of hydrocarbon pollutants, The mechanic inserted the probe into the engine dip stick hole in order for the test equipment to get some sort of a reading from within the engine!

flaneur


Joined: 07/02/2012
Posts: 68

Message Posted:
20/02/2012 22:53

to my knowledge, cars that have an atmospheric diesel engine (non turbo) are safe to run on plain diesel.. however cars that have a turbo diesel engine should be run on euro diesel.. both for performance and protecting the essential parts within the engine.. its best to consult your mechanic. the quality of the plain diesel is also a big factor to consider.. if you have a new car (above 2007) you dont want to risk your engine to save a few kurus per litre..

PhilUK


Joined: 31/03/2010
Posts: 236

Message Posted:
20/02/2012 23:34

I would guess that with Eurodiesel, some of the money goes to bail the Greeks out.

PhilUK


Joined: 31/03/2010
Posts: 236

Message Posted:
20/02/2012 23:36

Although I have had another think-maybe Euro Diesel is where dyslexic people take their kids to meet Mickey Mouse.

compass


Joined: 27/02/2009
Posts: 208

Message Posted:
21/02/2012 00:31

I would say DEFINITELY don't run a modern diesel engine on the local basic fuel. In particular any engine with "common rail" fuel system or ANY VW of recent manufacture. These engines run very high fuel injection pressures and the basic fuel will eventually destroy your fuel pump.



It may take a few months but it will damage it, and they are hideously expensive to repair or replace.



The sulphur in diesel fuel acts a a lubricant inside the fuel pump and is very important to it's longevity. Euro Diesel has replacement lubricants to allow it to remove the bulk of the sulphur and not damage the pump.



In the old days the odd gallon of petrol in a diesel fuel tank was normal practice in winter to combat very low temperatures which used to causing waxing of diesel making it thick and sluggish. Read most manufacturers handbooks these days and they will tell you if you happen to put diesel in by mistake DO NOT START THE CAR, but have it recovered as it will damage the fuel pump...

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
21/02/2012 00:37

Having been out of the petroleum industry for awhile I'm not quite upto date however, I think this is a retail price profit con to screw the consumer for no benefit as much as the great 'Shell Petrol Additive Campaign' was, forgetting to put whatever it was in the petrol but still charged more by re-branding the pump name! However, when Shell were forced to produce this illusive additive it was found after testing, it made no difference at all to car performance's! Buyer beware!



Richard

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
21/02/2012 08:09

Thanks everyone for thier input. I understand my engine is a "common rail" one, whatever that means. I will probably stick to euro diesel for now I think , being risk averse in regards to cars and engines which I know nothing about.

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
21/02/2012 09:26

Old (1993) 2.5 TD Pajero running on normal, have been told not to run it on Euro as once I do I will never be able to run it on normal again. As this engine was designed to run on peanut oil back in the old days I think that it is an old wives tale but as it runs ok on the normal stuff I have stuck with it. Need to check the injectors more often than normal and had to change them once as well. Can normally tell when they are about done if the black smoke begins to show under power up hills!



I understand that the Euro stuff (which was not around when this engine was built) has additives to keep it cleaner and better for air quality but I often stick in some additive anyway to help keep the engine clean.



Guess its a Pays your money and has your choice kind of situation. Modern engines designed to run on Euro should stick with it but old crocks can run on chip oil - provided you can stand the smell - lol.

rigsby


Joined: 21/09/2007
Posts: 912

Message Posted:
21/02/2012 11:31

There has been a feature on the euro/ordinary diesel in the last months edition of Motorhome monthly.I used euro diesel by mistake last year in a Nissan Terrano 2.7.It made difference of 2.4 mpg extra.Regarding power? i cant find any difference. I would say if you are a high miles driver,use the euro.

cavalryman


Joined: 08/11/2010
Posts: 314

Message Posted:
21/02/2012 11:33

I agree with all those eu based guys in th eu though from croatia down i would exempt normal diesel is ok but certainly in trnc the normal is not of the same quality.If you want to save a few kurus by all means go ahead i can assure you you will notice the difference.

gallop


Joined: 12/12/2010
Posts: 75

Message Posted:
21/02/2012 11:44

Following a professional engine rebuild on a 96 Isuzu big Horn i switched from Euro diesel to the cheaper variety. It ran for a couple of weeks then packed up altogether until i had the tank drained and filled with Euro diesel. Interestingly my maintenance engineer who regularly services my oil central heating boiler also recommends i should run the boiler on Euro diesel but i thought that was going over the top a bit.

compass


Joined: 27/02/2009
Posts: 208

Message Posted:
21/02/2012 12:48

Erolz

"Common rail" is a system whereby fuel is pressurized and held in a small reservoir (common rail) at up to 30 thousand pounds per square inch!!!!



The injectors open electronically and feed very accurate amounts of this very high pressure fuel into the engine in complicated sequences, which old style engines could never dream of achieving. Hence the current levels of performance and economy.



As Waddo says his older engine can run OK on basic diesel as euro diesel wasn't around when it was made......



Compass

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
21/02/2012 13:01

Thanks again compass and everyone else who has contributed. I will be sticking with euro diesel.