Diesel cars running on fat

[snoopynuts]

Just seen on news that there is to be no duty on veg oil for your car up to 2500litres. Great news i think at last.

So can i run my td4 freelander on it straight away or does it require modification at all? Anyone?

If it does require a mod anybody know who and where it can be done please? I am in kent.

Neil

[twistedsanity]

there is a big difference between bio diesel and veggie oil or chip fat, try greenfuels.co.uk for advice

[Scamper]

Has anyone on here tried this or is using diy biodiesel? As the Govnt are not looking to claim the vat on this now it is tempting to run an old diesel hack and make my own biodiesel.....

For some reason being able to commute to work using my own fuel saving me £xxxx's in fuel whilst running a weekend toy is becoming hard to resist...

[twistedsanity]

Before you get too excited remember you need old chip fat first, which is going up in price by the day

[huckster6]

Fifth Gear ran an item on an old Mercedes, I think. TopGear something similar. I won't risk it in my car.
I wanted to GIVE AWAY my old domestic chip fat...couldn't find anywhere to whom to donate the stuff. Local council suggested a commercial recycler who would only deal with large quantities, and only if I'd pay. MaDonalds are going the recycling route and there are the odd farmer and schoolboy entreprenneur crops up in the press from time to time.
My BMW 330D specificaly excludes use of even bio-diesel, let alone chip fat. Apparently you must have correct lubricants to maintain the seals on the pumps etc.
There is a Yahoo group you may find useful vegoil-diesel:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vegoil-diesel/...
Good luck.
H

[intrigued]

are you sure about your BMW excluding biodiesel? I believe that all engines have to allow use of up to a 5% biofuel blend?

[huckster6]

I'm pretty sure it says not to use bio diesel...I'll consult the owner'shandbook as a double check, but I did read it as a definite exclusion. If I'm wrong I'll let you know.
By the way, know anyone who wants some free chip fat?

[intrigued]

erm not on a domestic scale. plenty of places that take catering quantities.

[Qube]

My mate has run his diesels on veg oil & chip fat oil for a number of years now trouble free. The only thing they have all been non turbo and old diesels; Ford Orion, Astra Diesel and a Toyota Carina.

He used to collect the oil from chip shops and local takeaways as the businesses had to pay to dispose of the old oil. After recieving the oil he used to filter the oil into a storage tank thru an old pair of ladies nylon tights. Once settled for a few weeks the old oil would return clear.

The cars never suffered no probs either, the only comment I can remember him saying was 'to keep away from the cholestorel free oil as it didn't seem to give the same performance as normal oil'.

[wedgefettler]

I think that there is a slight difference in injector and pump technology, between an Orion Diesel, and a state of the art high pressure common rail unit.
Most cars will cope with some bio fuel, it's just whether or not they can cope all the time.

[intrigued]

just discovered current fuel quality directives allow up to 5% biofuel blends and manufacturers have to guarantee their cars will run on it.

fuel doen't even have to be labelled differently at the pump if its only got 5% biofuel in it either

[huckster6]

intrigued said:

are you sure about your BMW excluding biodiesel? I believe that all engines have to allow use of up to a 5% biofuel blend?

I said I'd check the book and it took me a while. I've copied below the reasons why I'm not even pouring new vegetable oil into my tank.

"Owner's Handbook for the Vehicle" (c)1999 BMW AG,
gives this warning:

"Diesel engine, with or without catalytic converter
> Diesel oil to DIN EN 590 standard.
! Do not use rapeseed oil methyl ester (RME) or Biodiesel, or you risk damaging the engine." Page 25;

and on page 122 worse is to come:
"Winter operation
Diesel fuel....
The use of flow improvers is not permitted, as these can lead to problems in the fuel system."

I'm struggling to come to terms with this bombshell.

[intrigued]

huckster6 said:

intrigued said:

are you sure about your BMW excluding biodiesel? I believe that all engines have to allow use of up to a 5% biofuel blend?

I said I'd check the book and it took me a while. I've copied below the reasons why I'm not even pouring new vegetable oil into my tank.

"Owner's Handbook for the Vehicle" (c)1999 BMW AG,
gives this warning:

"Diesel engine, with or without catalytic converter
> Diesel oil to DIN EN 590 standard.
! Do not use rapeseed oil methyl ester (RME) or Biodiesel, or you risk damaging the engine." Page 25;

and on page 122 worse is to come:
"Winter operation
Diesel fuel....
The use of flow improvers is not permitted, as these can lead to problems in the fuel system."

I'm struggling to come to terms with this bombshell.

Ah I see now, they mean pure biodiesel.

Diesel at EN590 standard can include up to 5% biodiesel under fuel quality directives.

Obviously anybody pouring pure veg oil into their tank can expect problems although I believe some old Mercs have managed ot run on it.....

Edited by intrigued on Saturday 28th July 20:54

[huckster6]

So, the EN 590 means I could pour in a bit of bio..? Will look it up later. Thanks for the pointers. H

[intrigued]

I think EN590 can have up to 5% biodiesel. Bear in mind it might already be in the fuel you get from the pump!

[John Sturgess]

Useful link - http://www.ecobiofuels.co.uk/ - small production kit from approx £1000 - diy biodiesel but who can make use of the glycerol?

[John Sturgess]

Useful link - http://www.ecobiofuels.co.uk/ - small production kit from approx £1000 - diy biodiesel but who can make use of the glycerol?
Check out the economics / risk / hassle HMRC