Injector pump question relating to WVO conversion.

[maxfax]

Finally found it, here's a decent explanation of "Why Water in WVO is Bad"

http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/159605551/m/971105957

[Jettage1]

Late to the party here, but ditto everything Steve & Max have been saying.  I happen to have a Frybrid kit in my Jetta & can't vouch for other types one way or another.

Heating the oil is so important that Frybrid has the in-tank heat exchanger, another heat exchanger on the filter housing, and a flat plate heat exchanger too.  Frybrid ain't perfect but considering that this is a very low volume cottage industry, I believe it is a well engineered kit, certainly one of the better ones.  You don't have to be a Frybrid buyer (and I have no vested interest) - but go to the forum there and read, read, read.  You'll learn lots, and will find links to other WVO related resources.  It really is a lot to absorb. There happens to be a thread there now discussing WMO too.    

From all of my reading, the general consensus seems to be that unless you live in Florida you will need to do a 2 tank system in order to have long term success. 

One final thought.  A diesel with a WVO conversion done well and run with properly dewatered & filtered oil can have a very long life.  A diesel with a bad conversion (or none) can be made to run on junk oil or whatever, and may even do so for a while.  But it will ultimately die a premature death. 

If you don't mind experimentation and are willing to risk some time & money, go for it (and please tell us what you learn - you may discover something cool and new! )...

[OM617]

From all of my reading, the general consensus seems to be that unless you live in Florida you will need to do a 2 tank system in order to have long term success.

I very much doubt Florida gets to 180*F.

Biodiesel is best in any case. A 2-tank system is bare minimum, no matter the climate, if you must run grease through your precision engine.

[Wayland]

What most people don't seem to adress with WVO systems is the fact that most (all?) WVO is very acidic, and can damage injector pumps over a period of time. I make and use biodiesel, but having converted a Rabbit to run on WVO a few years ago, am not a fan of WVO systems.  Are you really saving anything if you only get 1/2 or 2/3 the mileage out of your diesel engine before it needs an overhaul?

[maxfax]

Ahh yes the acid..   Glad you brought that one up..   WVO is indeed acidic... Some more than others, it seems to vary how hard/long the oil was used, and what was cooked in it..   When I started burning the stuff I would test the pH oil I would get..  Some was as low as 5, most of it hovered between 6 and alsmost 7..    SO since then anything less than 6 goes in the waste oil burner..   After a few years though I didn;t bother checking my usual sources since they always fell about the same..   New sources however I do check...

Wayland, it all depends how you look at it..  IF you don;t count your time it is a heck of a savings...  Then again if we're counting time, are we saving anything by driving an old VW diesel?     

In actuality you can save more by making biodiesel...  That is unless you run out and spend 10 grand on your machinery to make the stuff.. And before OM617 lets out his battle cry, WVO is illegal as a road fuel, though you still are supposed to pay road tax on it..

For me the risk is justifyable, and so far been worth it.. As far as the legalities, other than those who have nothing useful to do making calls to the epa, there's really nothing in place to enforce it's usage..  THis past summer when fuel prices were crazy I was expecting something to change on that with the increase in usage but for now that has dropped off..

Using 250,000 miles, and at the time about $3.00 a gallon as a time frame (I know prices fluxuate but it's in the ball park)   Factoring in that I get about 48mpg on Diesel and 41mpg on WVO, and the cost of filtration including the electricity used for heating and filtration...

Diesel For 250,000mi -- 5,208.3 Gallons @ about 48mpg  $16,304.35  

WVO (And Filters,Diesel,Electricity)  -- 1666.7 Gallons of Diesel $5000.10
                                                     4146.3 Gallons of WVO FREE
                                                      Filters for WVO $1382.00
                                                     Kw/H Electricity $64.46
                                                       Total Cost for 250K on WVO = $6,446

That's a Savings of $9858.35.. Now of course one does need to pay road tax on wvo..    Since WVO is not classified as an alternative fuel in Pennsylvania it get's the full road tax of I think 63.3 cents a gallon..    So we're up to  $9070.61, so still a $7233.74 savings... Now of course you need to subtract the cost of the 2 tank system and a filtration system from that..  I dunno what anyone else has invested in their rigs, but I have MAYBE a tad over a grand in the car and filtration system..  

That leaves me enough to pay someone to replace the engine, but then again in another 250K the car will be rust.. So I'll have $6233.74 to use as a down paymen on a Prius...  

Of course the figures are not 100% exact, but close enough as I do realize a significant savings..  When I rolled 100K on my one Vegwagon I crunched the same numbers..   Came out proportionatly the same with a savings of about $2400 subtracting the cost of the equiptment...

[OM617]

There is also the fact that running WVO in an on-road vehicle is illegal.