Author Topic: Cooking oil for Fuel? (Read 13534 times)

LoneWolf · « **on:** May 04, 2008, 08:53:35 am »

ive seen a few people on here mention that they run on cooking oil instead of diesel, now i know a little about bio-diesel, but what im wondering, is can you just use a mix of 80% diesel and 20% oil straight away, or would you have to modify anything? If so, what?

jtanguay · « **Reply #1 on:** May 04, 2008, 09:18:43 am »

you can run a mix like that no prob. just be sure to filter the oil good and get as much water out as possible.

some guys run 50/50 mixes without issues in warm climates (or summer time as winter time the fuel will most likely congeal)

the caveman · « **Reply #2 on:** May 04, 2008, 12:04:24 pm »

Check this for most info on running on waste vegetable oils:
http://ecoAuto.ca/

LoneWolf · « **Reply #3 on:** May 04, 2008, 02:23:44 pm »

Cheers guys

do any of you happen to know if there are any problems with using new oil rather than "reclaimed" oil?

dogday · « **Reply #4 on:** May 04, 2008, 02:27:21 pm »

Well starting last week I am running 50/50 Diesel & veg oil.

So far - 500 miles in - no problems - apart from developing an obsession with the price of veg oil at every store within a 20 mile radius.

Oh and the back of my car smells like a chippy.

I am just keeping track of how many litres of diesel goes in & matching it with veg oil from tescos / bookers / etc

The price difference at the moment makes it worth while - 83p a litre for veg oil vs £1.18 for diesel. - I save about £20 a tank.

Which is nice.

we'll see how it goes :wink:

DD

LoneWolf · « **Reply #5 on:** May 04, 2008, 02:40:42 pm »

DD, are you going to AllTypes?

dogday · « **Reply #6 on:** May 04, 2008, 03:47:58 pm »

Quote from: "LoneWolf"

DD, are you going to AllTypes?

Nah!

[Edited to stay on thread]

.

DD

the caveman · « **Reply #7 on:** May 04, 2008, 03:52:03 pm »

If you use new oil then i hope you can get it way cheaper than diesel. Last year diesel and new VO was the same price here when bought in 20 liter jugs. Now of course diesel is more $ so... One advantage of using new oil is no issues with pre filtering or water. If you can get good waste oil,preferably canola, then you'll be happy that you won't have to be drawn into the food for fuel debate.

VW Scully · « **Reply #8 on:** May 04, 2008, 07:46:58 pm »

Go here for more info.:

http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/cfrm/f/898605551

hth

dogday · « **Reply #9 on:** May 05, 2008, 12:47:54 am »

Quote from: "the caveman"

If you use new oil then i hope you can get it way cheaper than diesel. Last year diesel and new VO was the same price here when bought in 20 liter jugs. Now of course diesel is more $ so... One advantage of using new oil is no issues with pre filtering or water. If you can get good waste oil,preferably canola, then you'll be happy that you won't have to be drawn into the food for fuel debate.

yeah... at the moment new veg oil is about %70 the cost of diesel - so just worth it. The situation here in the UK is that you do not have to pay tax on the 1st 2500 litres of Veg oil used for fuel - after that you need to pay around 1 USD per litre :shock: ontop of the fuel cost.

Well on a 50 / 50 mix that equates to about 45,000 miles so I should be ok.

I am looking at building a cheap filter system, but currently lack a workshop / garage of my own. Would be nice though' could get the WVO waaaay cheaper & could sell on about 75 - 100 litres a month to offset costs, while still having enough for 'personal use' so to speak & avoiding the whole fuel/food thingy as a bonus.

Ideas?

DD

OM617 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 05, 2008, 01:28:40 am »

Mixing is never good. If you do not want to use Diesel or Biodiesel then you need to use a two-tank system to properly heat the oil before it reaches the engine.

dogday · « **Reply #11 on:** May 05, 2008, 03:03:42 pm »

Quote from: "OM617"

Mixing is never good.

Why? Many others seem to do this without problem.

Quote from: "OM617"

If you do not want to use Diesel or Biodiesel then you need to use a two-tank system to properly heat the oil before it reaches the engine.

It was my understanding pre-heating the oil is more of an issue in colder climates and for running 100% oil. Its nice and mild here, pretty much all the time - when winter rolls round I'll either go back to a higher diesel mix or make myself a fuel heater setup.

DD

jtanguay · « **Reply #12 on:** May 05, 2008, 03:13:28 pm »

mixing is fine in the summer... just don't do it in the winter. i'd add some anti gel additive just in case though, but then again sometimes it gets pretty nippy here at night...

considering how hot the pre chambers get, i wouldn't be worried... i would consider a 10% veg mix on a TDI, but i dunno...

OM617 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 05, 2008, 03:25:45 pm »

Quote from: "dogday"

Why? Many others seem to do this without problem.

Lots of people do cocaine without problems too, that doesn't mean its the smart choice.

Quote

It was my understanding pre-heating the oil is more of an issue in colder climates and for running 100% oil.

Preheating the oil is important in EVERY climate year round. The oil must be at least 160*F before it reaches the injection pump, I doubt many people live in a climate with those kinds of temperatures.

Quote from: "jtanguay"

considering how hot the pre chambers get, i wouldn't be worried... i would consider a 10% veg mix on a TDI, but i dunno...

It is not the prechambers that need the heating, it is the injection system.

dogday · « **Reply #14 on:** May 05, 2008, 05:03:52 pm »

Quote from: "OM617"

Quote from: "dogday"
Why? Many others seem to do this without problem.

Lots of people do cocaine without problems too, that doesn't mean its the smart choice.

Glib answer - do you have one that has supporting information?

Quote from: "OM617"

Quote from: "dogday"
It was my understanding pre-heating the oil is more of an issue in colder climates and for running 100% oil.

Preheating the oil is important in EVERY climate year round. The oil must be at least 160*F before it reaches the injection pump, I doubt many people live in a climate with those kinds of temperatures.

You state that the oil must be at 160*F... obviously with my setup it isn't. Why is this an issue?

I know that mixing is not as ideal in some ways as a multi-tank system with fuel heating etc, but then its a less than perfect world I live in.

Lets get one thing straight - I'm not looking for an argument, just information supported by verifiable facts & figures and experience rather than just opinion.

if you have that then great, I'm happy to be proven wrong. :wink:

DD