SsangYong advises against biodiesel use

In the wake of releasing a new diesel four-wheel drive, Korean car manufacturer SsangYong has advised that using biodiesel in its vehicles may void parts of its warranty.

According to the car maker, users may be liable for damages caused by substandard fuel such as poor quality biodiesel, sales of which “remain unchecked” at petrol stations. Poor quality fuel has the potential to damage fuel systems including injectors, fuel pumps and rails. SsangYong now warns car owners against the use of biodiesel with a sticker on the fuel flap.

“If it’s proven with our test of the fuel that it’s faulty then whatever repair needs to be done is not warrantable,” says SsangYong Australia managing director Keith Timmins.  ”However, the rest of the vehicle’s warranty remains intact.”

“There hasn’t been a lot of them full stop but there’s been enough to worry about and the problem is broader than just ourselves. I know of a $23,000 repair job on a Range Rover because of dirty bio-diesel.”

The issue highlights an increasing need for stricter enforcement of biofuel standards in Australia, particularly biodiesel which has been largely neglected by petrol companies and legislators until recently. Most biodiesel blends sold in Australia contain a maximum of 20% biodiesel to a majority of mineral diesel fuel, however even at these low concentrations, poorly filtered biodiesel can cause problems. New biodiesel users should also check their filters regularly, since biodiesel can act to loosen solid matter that has been deposited by mineral diesel fuel in the fuel tank, causing it to clog the fuel lines and restrict flow.

(Source: Carsguide.com.au)