Thanks for your point of view, this is definitely a controversial issue, but so far – I will stick with my knowledge of the facts – that all stats on the production of any commodity “food” items (corn, soy) being produced on this planet are using up to 10 calories of oil produced energy to create 1 calorie of “food” (or biofuel in this case)
Until we humans can use the land we have more wisely – by not poisoning it with pesticides & GMO seeds & other unsustainable poisons, and also begin to reduce our transportation & energy “needs”…I suggest that we use our limited amounts of petroleum in a moderate manner – and that does not include corn-based biofuels.

I do have plenty of stories about biodiesel in all 3 cars/trucks, and it does take a bit of understanding to properly maintain the car….if you go to the Yokayo site – they are up on many of the potential problems…they have a “white paper” on biodiesel maintainance – and I would call them if you feel you want to delve deeper…Kumar is a member of the National Biodiesel board.

In my 2003 Jetta, I am using B100 most of the year, but arbitrarily putting in 1/2 tank or so in the winter (Mendocino Cty – can get down to 20 degrees) which helps the potential cold weather thickening fuel hassle.

I think the new Jettas are better set up for biodiesel – they have synthetic lines and rings – check that out.
I also suggest that you not violate your warranty in your brand new car in case you have to go to the dealer unexpectedly and they find a tank of biodiesel along with some fuel line upset. ..here’s what happened to me- I had no problems with my Jetta until the dealer did a screwup during a routine tune up and (according to the European mechanic who cleaned up the mess) pinched a fuel return hose, breaking it and causing a spray of fuel inside my engine cover. This unattended mess (dummie – why did I not immediately get this taken care of!!!?) caused a melt down of the hoses in my engine compartment over the course of a few weeks – which then all needed replacing. I had not yet found the right biodiesel mechanic, and spent unnecessary money paying my local guy to cut hoses and refit them. Turns out my new very cool German mechanic understands this situation and can replace all the hoses for just over $100.

The point of this story is that – yes, you need to know what you are doing to use B80 or B100 fuel…you must interact with your vehicle in more than a usual modern “just drive it” manner. B5 or B20 has only 5% or 20% biodiesel in it and will not cause fuel line problems.

For all biodiesel changeovers I suggest:
1- Immediately Replacing all fuel line hoses with synthetic if they are not already made from that. Check what materials your engine “rings” are made from…synthetic? Great! Biodiesel is a slight solvent for rubber.

2- Fuel filter – Diesel is sometimes very “dirty” and biodiesel acts to clean out the engine of old deposits…a good thing, but this gunk has to go somewhere…so – give your filter more frequent attention if you have been using or continue to use diesel as well as biodiesel. Some folks just clean out the old filter and replace it once or twice instead of putting in a new one before usual 5000 mile change.

3- B100 or not? B100 means 100% biodiesel. B20 means 20% biodiesel. Use a B80 or B50 diesel mix or “winterized biodiesel” ( I think this is a kerosene type additive) in cold weather…for easier starts and better fuel line movement. The veggie oil character of biodiesel can thicken up.
I had a lot of starter problems created by this in my big Ford F250 truck. The smaller Jetta engine does not seem to mind. For more details about my truck problems, send me a comment. I will reply.

4- Mechanic choice – Find someone who knows what they are doing. Experience and a positive attitude towards biodiesel is absolutely essential for your mechanic and to a happy Jetta in your life.

Enjoy using biodiesel, I would never go back to petroleum fuel!
-Annie
PS Check out my coming post on the Air Car…my next car, I hope!

Since this whole bio diesel thing has become popular it has created a lot of horrible side effects.

Farmers are paying 10X what they were for corn feed. Other farmers are replacing other crops to grow more corn for bio diesel which is more profitable, decreasing overall food supplies. riots in southern mexico have become common place because corn has become so expensive (it’s their main source of food).

Now they are even cutting down rain forests to plant palm oil trees, which is turned into bio diesel, accelerating the already ever increasing extinction of animals in places like Borneo.

Cars running off of recycled veggie oil from the local restaurants? Very Cool.

Starving poor people in other countries and killing off wildlife in rain forests so someone can run their biodiesel “green” hummer? Not so cool.

As RJ and Phil can tell you, my dad and I are pretty good at raining on a parade… Hopefully I’m not doing that this time. Just a lot of miss-information around this area, the internet, and TV about biodiesel. Everyone likes to look on the sunny positive side of things but we need to make sure we’re aware of the other side too.