I got back to my van yesterday to find a flyer under the door handle offering biodiesel delivered to my door for about £1.10 per litre.
Claims on the flyer were that it's methanol free, cold weather treated over the winter months and less polluting to use.
Anyone got any experiences to share?
If your van is a 1.9 TD (not TDI) that has the AAZ engine in it, then it will run on almost anything runny enough to pour in there 🙂 Used veg oil included. Your van probably is that engine or the later TDI engine which to be fair will also work well on bio.
Beware though - poorly made bio can mess things up - it can have soap in it or water. You should call them and ask for a sample. Then you can put a few drops in a hot frying pan (not too hot!) to see if it spits - this is known as the hot pan test, spitting indicates water which is bad.
The other thing to do is leave it for a bit - if anything settles out of it then it's also bad.
Thanks, mine's the 2.4 non-turbo, apparantly well known for being the least economical of VW's van engines. Hence the interest.
[b]Good[/b] bio diesel should be ok in any diesel engine. The problem is the variability of many producers.
I have a 2.4D aswell (1996) and have been thinking about it! After a lot of research I am tempted to go down the veg oil route, mixing 50/50 or 70/30 with diesel. Your van (like mine) will happily run on good biodiesel but you might have to replace the fuel pipes after a while as they can be affected by it. You will definately have to replace the fuel filter after the first tank or so as the biodiesel give the system a really good clean out!
I find my 2.4D quite economical on a run, getting about 30 to the gallon which I think is quite good for a fully converted camper with pop top etc.
I don't think you have to worry about pre-heating the biodiesel as you would if you were running on pure veg oil which is a bonus! If you do it let me know how you get on...... 
Good bio diesel should be ok in any diesel engine
Except for three situations I can think of:
1) very very old with rubber seals on fuel system components (pre 90s at least)
2) cars with DPFs depending on how their regen cycle works.
3) depending on feedstock, viscosity in cold weather could cause trouble for some injector pumps or injectors.
None of which applies to the OP - I'm sure it'll be fine, if it were mine I'd do it like a shot.
I've run 40% bio in my NO BIODIESEL sticker equipped 2006 Passat, tempted to get some more but I have to drive to the other side of Bristol to get it which is a right pain.
OP where do you live for this delivery service?
I was parked in New Milton (south Hampshire) when I picked up the flyer.
as above - whatever you get, test it before you put it in, and get familiar with your fuel filter. you'll change it at least once, and then you'd be wise to carry a spare too.
+1 on the fuel filter. The engine will be fine, diesels were originally built to run on peanut oil (so my dad says). The only problem is the fuel lines and seals which can degrad.
My dad has run biodisel on his Discover and had no issues, just replaced the fuel filter.
1) very very old with rubber seals on fuel system components (pre 90s at least)
2) cars with DPFs depending on how their regen cycle works.
3) depending on feedstock, viscosity in cold weather could cause trouble for some injector pumps or injectors.
As I understood it good biodiesel should not have viscosity not too much higher than normal diesel, I guess it depends how cold.
One thing I do know avoid cars with delphi fuel systems. Rubbish, not just running on biodiesl but more prone to problems in general.
I am tempted to go down the veg oil route, mixing 50/50 or 70/30 with diesel.
Don't go the mixing route, all I've read about this is that it's not a good idea unless you have a really old solid diesel engine.
Viscosity is similar to diesel but it depends on the original fat it was made from. It will be less viscous than the original oil but it'll still affect it I think. Or rather, the freezing point will be affected.
You can make bio from tallow or lard for instance, and it'll be liquid at room temp unlike the original, but it won't get too cold before gelling up - AFAIK.
Why not mixing, TheBrick? A lot of people blend, although if you have lots of veg oil you want to be blending with a dash of petrol, and some 2-EHN cetane improver to restore the power that the petrol will rob.
Plain oil will work in an AAZ engine down to single figures - I can testify this 🙂 I used sunflower oil though which has the lowest gel point. Your success and reliability will depend on what make of injector pump you have. The Bosch VP ones are the best ones IIRC.
2.4 non turbo will burn pretty much anything apparently.
I'm running a 1.9TD on 70/30 Veg/Diesel with no problems - have been for 2 years now. Just adjust the mixture for more Diesel when it gets cold.
You will want a new fuel filter after 500 miles or so if you rub veg. After that it's just as per normal servicing.