Industry service, maintenance and repairs data specialist, Motorconsult warns that using the wrong fuel in your vehicle could invalidate the manufacturer’s warranty. The warning comes as Morrisons, the supermarket chain, launched a new fuel containing 30 per cent biofuel which is mixed in with conventional fossil diesel. Currently diesel bought at forecourts typically contains a much lower percentage of biofuel. The current target as established by the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation is for 2.5 per cent biofuel in UK road fuel by April 2009, with existing conventional diesel engines able to run on a mix of up to 5 per cent. The new fuel, known as B30, is available on an increasing number of Morrisons forecourts across the UK.
“While you may think that fuelling your vehicle with this apparently ‘greener’ fuel may appear to be good for the environment,” says Alan Croft of Motorconsult, “it can be anything but for your warranty. A majority of manufacturers have said to us that using this fuel is not sanctioned for their vehicles and would cause the warranty to be invalidated. While it may be very tempting to use this seemingly greener fuel, especially as it’s priced at around the same as conventional diesel, we must say to all of our customers, please check with us or the manufacturer before allowing any of your drivers to use it.”
Manufacturers which have said that B30 is definitely not approved include, Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Renault, Seat, Skoda, Toyota, Volvo and Volkswagen. Vauxhall has approved it for some Vivaro and Movano LCVs but with conditions including replacement of the fuel filter at 24,000 miles and signing a ‘conditions of use’ document as well as providing VIN numbers of the vehicles intending to use the fuel. Peugeot will sanction use of the fuel but says that a special dispensation is required to ensure that fuel quality standards are respected. Citroën too, will sanction the fuel but also applies special restrictions. The main diesel fuel injection equipment suppliers say that they would not sanction the use of more than five per cent bio-diesel until such time as a BSI or ISO standard was agreed.
A statement from Morrisons says that there are warning notices on the B30 pumps on their forecourts which advise customers to check with the vehicle manufacturer that the engine is compatible with the fuel before filling up. The pump handles are orange but are situated next to the black conventional diesel pump. It could be easy to miss or ignore the notice and fill up with B30 believing that, since it is ‘green’, it would not cause any problems. While the engine may run on B30, should a subsequent failure occur and the manufacturer is one that has not specifically approved the use of the fuel, then the warranty almost certainly would be invalidated. The potential bill to the customer for say, a replacement engine, could run to several thousand pounds.
Motorconsult’s Alan Croft repeats the warning. “Using this fuel in a wide range of manufacturers’ vehicles could lead to problems, and expensive ones at that. Our advice is, that unless you specifically know that the manufacturer has approved the fuel and that you have met all of his conditions, then don’t use it. Otherwise, it could be a very expensive lesson.”
