Biodiesel Vehicles

Where to find a Biodiesel-compatible vehicle?

Biodiesel-compatible vehicles can come in many forms, and can be new or used. There is NO requirement that your car be a new one - there are a lot of inexpensive used vehicles on the market, in varying levels of repair, that can be used as cheap, biodiesel-based transportation. So you need not wait until you can afford a new car - you can start cheap with a used diesel now, possible with some minor mechanical work or hose conversions, then trade up later when/if you want a new car. Note that your old car will likely be just as valuable to another biodiesel user at that time, too

Some tips before you begin your search:

1. Do your homework - Just like with any major purchase (and in this case, especially in the case of a used car), ask about the vehicle history, usage, any major repairs, frequency of service, etc. While diesel cars can be very durable for long periods of time, they require maintenance just like any other car or vehicle and if the previous owner didn't do it, you may end up paying more than you bargained for. Remember the 'ounce of prevention' rule!

2. Ask around - you can post a question to the NW Biodiesel listserv, in person at Dr. Dan's or another biodiesel seller, or come to a meeting - many members have at least one diesel vehicle and are usually happy to talk about their experiences to help you make the most informed decision.

3. If you buy an older car, plan for contingencies - While in many cases you may be able to start using Biodiesel in your vehicle with little to no changes save a fuel filter, in other situations you may need to replace existing hoses with newer Viton hoses, etc. - plan for at least a little of this. Many of these older 80's-era VW and Mercedes diesels have a lot of miles and while they can often go for many thousands more, they may need a little attention to do so. Again, an ounce of prevention is often worth FAR more than a pound of cure in this case (new engine or other major repair). Have a reputable mechanic check out the vehicle and give you their opinion.

4. Finally, HAVE FUN - using biodiesel is a VERY positive way to contribute to a better planet for us all.

Historical list of Diesels offered in North America:

The GoBiodiesel group in Portland, OR has done an excellent and comprehensive job of charting all road-going diesel vehicles offered in the USA between 1960-2002. Take a look:

http://www.gobiodiesel.org/diesel-vehicles.html

Current New Diesel Car Manufacturers (selling cars in North America):

A current list of new consumer diesel cars & SUVs offered in North America can be seen here:

http://www.biodieselamerica.org/biosite/index.php?id=6,0,0,1,0,0

Here is a short list of easily available cars and SUVs in the US:

* Volkswagens with a TDI Engine (in 2005: Jetta, Jetta Wagon, Golf, New Beetle, Passat). The TDIs article has more information on the cars and engines built with the designation.

* '04+ Mercedes E320 CDI

* '05+ Jeep Liberty CRD

Cargo vans and campers:

* '04+ Dodge Sprinter CDI Van

* '06 Chevy Express/GMC Savana Van, 6600 Duramax engine

* '01+ Ford E-350 Van, Powerstroke V8

* '06 Airstream Interstate RV (Sprinter)

* '06 Airstream Sprinter Westfalia RV

* '06 Itasca Navion RV (Sprinter)

* '06 Winnebago View RV (Sprinter)

Pickup Trucks:

* Dodge Ram (Cummins Power)

* Chev/GMC Duramax (Isuzu/Bosch)

* Ford Powerstroke

Volkswagen TDIs have been on the market since 1996 and are by far the most common modern clean diesels in the US.

Local Seattle-area car dealerships that support biodiesel include:

* Carter Volkswagen (Seattle, Ballard area near Dr. Dan's)

* University Volkswagen (Seattle, University District near UW)

Looking for a used car? Try the following:

The Green Car Company - Kirkland, WA -

Current Inventory

Sells diesel vehicles for biodiesel usage; full service repair of diesel vehicles

Craigslist

Craigslist.org has free classifieds for many regions. Here are helpful searches for Seattle and Portland area diesel cars (can include trucks and misc. others):

* Seattle diesel listings

* Portland diesel listings

* Spokane diesel listings

* Boise diesel listings

Seattle Times/PI diesel car listings

(may include pickups and similar vehicles):

NWSource classifieds

Little Nickel Ads

WA or OR

http://www.littlenickel.com/

The Seattle Weekly

Alternative Auto listings

The Oregonian

(classifieds can be accessed from here but you have to enter a zipcode beforehand):

www.oregonlive.com/

Willamette Week - Portland, OR

Alternative Energy Vehicles

GreaseWorks.org - Corvallis, OR

a diesel mechanic, co-op and classifieds listing:

www.greaseworks.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=PN_zClassifieds&file=recent

The AutoTrader

This links to their search form - make sure you change the 'fuel type' to diesel before searching!

Autotrader diesels within 100 miles of Seattle

The CollectorCarTrader

(same company as AutoTrader, but usually have broader selection of older cars). Put in your zip, 'diesel' as a keyword, and the distance range you want to search for in their advanced search form -

Advanced Search

Green Eye LLC - Eugene, OR Large selection of used mercedes and trucks all diesel

http://greeneyeautos.com

GoBiodiesel.org - Portland, OR

http://gobiodiesel.org/tiki-index.php?page=DieselVehicleSales

Bio Vehicles International and Levy Auto Brokers - Portland, Oregon and Northern California