Comment by joecool1029

>How available is biodiesel in the US?

Wholesale its pretty much everywhere. Retail it depends on the state. Most states have a small % (usually 2-5%) blended into standard diesel to replace the lubricity lost from removing sulfur, but to get B20 or higher you’d have to google.

>The DPF should be self cleaning

Key words, ‘should be’. Do a quick search of dpf problems. They either plug from not completing (though you get dpf light telling you to go race it for a half hour or so to clear) or having some other issue. This causes obstruction and reduces economy more. That or they crack like mine did and plug the egr with soot. Regen takes some time to run, if your commute is 5mi it will not complete.

>Our 2016 Golf Bluemotion gets at least 50mpg in normal driving, usually over 60mpg, and occasionally we crack 70mpg.

(Casual reminder UK mpg different than US mpg, I will convert my experience to UK mpg)

Consistent with my 98 jetta tdi’s mileage. Unfortunately my 2012 golf tdi usually only topped out around 60mpg, I only broke 70mpg in a few extrodinary circumstances. The newer ones have urea injection systems and are a bit lighter.

Also from what I remember UK diesel is usually higher cetane and generally higher quality (also comparing any US/EU spec vehicles, US almost always detuned for emissions and running on poor fuel)