Running a diesel on vegetable oil

[Chris71]

Can someone give me an idiots guide to this?

Is there a rule of thumb for which cars are suitable. Is it basically that any car with the old mechanical 'unit injectors' can do it and the more recent electromechanical ones can't?

What's the process - do you just need to premix the vegetable oil with a given quantity of something to thin it down, then into the tank?

Finally, can someone give me an idea of the benefits - a rough comparison to petrol costs for a given MPG, for example? The car I'm quite tempted to try it with is a 306 D-Turbo.

[Make me a coffee]

Instead of fking about like that. Get some Kerosene and add 15% veg oil.

It takes a lot of time and cocking around.

[BB-Q]

I've run an old Nissan Sunny on veg oil. Neat, new veg oil that is- not used stuff. In winter mix it 50/50 with normal diesel to get respectable cold start. In summer run it neat. Ensure you don't have either a common rail engine or one equipped with a Lucas pump. Most diesel engines after 1998 are common rail.

The price of veg oil is now much the same as the price of diesel. Run it 50/50 and it should run smoother and cleaner. Always carry a spare fuel filter as they clog up twice as quick with veg oil use.

What car do you intend running it on?

[annodomini2]

BB-Q said:

I've run an old Nissan Sunny on veg oil. Neat, new veg oil that is- not used stuff. In winter mix it 50/50 with normal diesel to get respectable cold start. In summer run it neat. Ensure you don't have either a common rail engine or one equipped with a Lucas pump. Most diesel engines after 1998 are common rail.

The price of veg oil is now much the same as the price of diesel. Run it 50/50 and it should run smoother and cleaner. Always carry a spare fuel filter as they clog up twice as quick with veg oil use.

What car do you intend running it on?

Likewise with unit injector (i.e. VW)

[Chris71]

BB-Q said:

The price of veg oil is now much the same as the price of diesel. Run it 50/50 and it should run smoother and cleaner. Always carry a spare fuel filter as they clog up twice as quick with veg oil use.

What car do you intend running it on?

Just something I was mulling over. The most likely candidate would be an early (pre-Lucas) 306 D-Turbo though.

Are you talking pre-tax or something with the above? Surely if the 'forecourt' price of the two was the same you'd be better of with diesel?

[Spathodus77]

Hi,

I've been considering running my 1990 1.6 vw golf on biodiesel. Problem is when I phoned my local biodiesel suppliers they were all sold out. Does this mean I can just buy veg oil from the supermarket and stick it in the tank?

I have been told that biodiesel can affect any natural rubber components in the fuelling system, my mechanic just advised me not to worry about this and stick some in to see what happens - but I guess he would because he'll get paid to sort out the mess!.

Ralph.

[v8 jago]

My mate runs his 306 td on either 40ltrs of cooking oil and puts 1 gallon of petrol in and says its the perfect mix, And he has now started using old engine oil in it. He says the car loves it.

[Chris71]

The question is.... does it actually save you that much? I've heard people saying that veg oil is now almost up to pump diesel prices? Surely this would defeat the option?

[ssray]

Make me a coffee said:

Instead of fking about like that. Get some Kerosene and add 15% veg oil.

It takes a lot of time and cocking around.

But thats not legal if you get dipped,as you cant pay tax on kerosene to use in a road vehicle.

you can use 2500ltrs of veg(new or used) with no tax problems or problems if dipped.

The basics are bosch pump ok lucas not, I had a simple setup on a 1999 420 rover `L` spec rover.

it went start up tank in boot-2x 3 way solinoids-to allow flow to the engine then back to the tank being used at the time-big clear diesel filter(for veg only)-fphe(flat plate heat exchanger) plummed into the cooling system(heater circit-no thermostat on that one)just before the injection pump and a simple switch(with a light) to switch between startup and main tank(with veg in).

I would start on diesel,run about 5 miles,when temp gauge at least halfway i would switch over to svo(straight veg oil) and about 1-2 mins before stopping i would switch back to diesel to purge the system and allow proper starting in the morning.

check out http://www.vegetableoildiesel.co.uk/forum/index.ph...