Vegetable Oil or Bio Diesel?
Discussion
Just spotted this new forum, which is a massive coincidence as I've been sat reading into vegetable oil and bio diesel as viable options all day.
Just wondering, how mainstream this actually is?
Do you use it? What car do you power with it? (powerfully built directors with PA's that fill up with Shell VPower Nitro need not apply)
What systems do you have for collecting and processing it?
Trying to convince the better half to let me start saving for a 200/300 TDi LR Defender, and this might just sway the argument slightly
All opinions welcomed!
Just wondering, how mainstream this actually is?
Do you use it? What car do you power with it? (powerfully built directors with PA's that fill up with Shell VPower Nitro need not apply)
What systems do you have for collecting and processing it?
Trying to convince the better half to let me start saving for a 200/300 TDi LR Defender, and this might just sway the argument slightly
All opinions welcomed!
I wouldn't bother my arse with actually making bio diesel as it is quite a messy process
The man risk with either is getting a car that would explode in a pile of cogs and springs the moment it meets bio diesel or veg oil
But i found running a micra n petrol was cheaper and less hassle then running a landrover 90 on bio diesel
The man risk with either is getting a car that would explode in a pile of cogs and springs the moment it meets bio diesel or veg oil
But i found running a micra n petrol was cheaper and less hassle then running a landrover 90 on bio diesel
AFAIK It's only older generation diesel motors that will accept the change, so your choice of car is limited. Nobody wants to be seen in a 405 any more, however there are still a few timeless diesels, the Defender being one.
I see what your saying about a Micra, but for those who want a bigger car ie. for work, I could see it being an advantage.
I do think Bio-Diesel is more hassle than it's worth, because once the cost of all the chemicals, lab equipment & titration is taken into account I could have worked a few hours OT and bought some fuel!
I see what your saying about a Micra, but for those who want a bigger car ie. for work, I could see it being an advantage.
I do think Bio-Diesel is more hassle than it's worth, because once the cost of all the chemicals, lab equipment & titration is taken into account I could have worked a few hours OT and bought some fuel!
I've been running a Merc 190D on vegetable oil for the past 6 months - about 15k miles. No heaters or anything fancy extra. All I've done is bypass the fuel thermostat so that the Mercs existing fuel pre-heater is always working, extend the line to the in line filter so I can get at it easier and that's it. Totally hassle free really - the filters do need changing regularly but it's a two minute job.
I've mostly bought my oil pre filtered off various bods on eBay for 60-70p a litre. If I can't get any off there I get new from the chinese supermarket at 85p/litre. I've filtered a bit of my own through some sock filters into an old drum but it's more trouble than it's worth. Now it's cold I'm chucking a litre of petrol in with every 20 litres of oil and that seems to keep it runny enough.
I've mostly bought my oil pre filtered off various bods on eBay for 60-70p a litre. If I can't get any off there I get new from the chinese supermarket at 85p/litre. I've filtered a bit of my own through some sock filters into an old drum but it's more trouble than it's worth. Now it's cold I'm chucking a litre of petrol in with every 20 litres of oil and that seems to keep it runny enough.
I run my 200TDI Defender on a 50/50 mix of diesel and new Rapeseed oil from time to time, it runs quieter and nicer on that mix than pure diesel.
No issues after the initial clearout, the oil seems to clean all the fuel lines really well so I went through 2 fuel filters in a couple of hundred miles, since then it has been absolutely fine.
I don't believe using oil as a fuel for short journeys is worthwhile but the good thing about using fresh oil is the fact that you can pop it in whenever you want.
I was getting it for 86P a litre but I last bought some nearly a year ago now.
During the winter I never went above a 25% mix.
Dave!
No issues after the initial clearout, the oil seems to clean all the fuel lines really well so I went through 2 fuel filters in a couple of hundred miles, since then it has been absolutely fine.
I don't believe using oil as a fuel for short journeys is worthwhile but the good thing about using fresh oil is the fact that you can pop it in whenever you want.
I was getting it for 86P a litre but I last bought some nearly a year ago now.
During the winter I never went above a 25% mix.
Dave!
We have an ex-mil 1966 109 Land Rover fitted with a 200tdi. This is fitted with twin tanks - with one on 25%WVO and dieso and the other 75%WVO and dieso. Tanks are electrically selectable and both supplies run thro' a coolant heated FPHE just before the lift pump on the block. I decide when the engine is hot enough to switch to either.
My oil supplies come from a local fish and chip shop which is pretty clear as it comes (unlike another friend who gets his from a Chinese take away and that always has high water content and white fat residue). This is processed via a cold upflow system I knocked up in the garage and then filtered down to 1 micron.
I have to admit I don't do that many miles but at least when I am hauling firewood/pallets/junk it is cheap to run
My oil supplies come from a local fish and chip shop which is pretty clear as it comes (unlike another friend who gets his from a Chinese take away and that always has high water content and white fat residue). This is processed via a cold upflow system I knocked up in the garage and then filtered down to 1 micron.
I have to admit I don't do that many miles but at least when I am hauling firewood/pallets/junk it is cheap to run
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