Give me a bio-diesel 101 lesson
I like the idea of running a diesel on Used Veg Oil. In my mornings research all I have found is sales pitches for conversion A,B or C.
If my understanding is correct, I can collect used veg oil, filter to 10 micron, and then pick between a 2 tank system, or a 1 tank.
The 2 tanks system use diesel to warm up the engine, then you switch to the veg oil, then 20-30 second before you turn the car off when you're done driving, you switch back to diesel to purge the lines.
The 1 tank systems just warm the oil from the get go?
Is my understanding correct. It seems to simple to just buy a conversion and you're done.
It is a lot more complex than that.
First of all what you are describing is NOT biodiesel. You are describing running a vehicle on straight veggy oil.
Biodiesel is made from vegetable oil or animal fat reacted with methanol or ethanol and a catalyst ( usually lye), yielding biodiesel and glycerin as a by-product.
I've watched the biodiesel developments for the last 10 years or so and at one time considered making biodiesel. After looking into it, it was more trouble than it was worth. Also the engine reliability on straight biodiesel or straight veggy oils is not that great for a daily dependable driver. The chance for engine damage is high and not covered under most vehicle warranties. (Some mfg do cover B10 usage if it bought from an ATSM certified producer) The engine problems are due from several factors, one is the water content of both products.
The other problem that many run into is oil availability. Almost all restaurants that have grease dumpsters have a contracter that empties them. The restaurants are paid for the waste oil, it is then owned by the contractor and taking any of it is considered theft.
If you want to see how biodiesel is made or make a small batch yourself, google biodiesel dr pepper bottle or go to
here.
There is a shit-ton of info available out there.
Originally Posted By KCGunnr:
It is a lot more complex than that.
First of all what you are describing is NOT biodiesel. You are describing running a vehicle on straight veggy oil.
Biodiesel is made from vegetable oil or animal fat reacted with methanol or ethanol and a catalyst ( usually lye), yielding biodiesel and glycerin as a by-product.
I've watched the biodiesel developments for the last 10 years or so and at one time considered making biodiesel. After looking into it, it was more trouble than it was worth. Also the engine reliability on straight biodiesel or straight veggy oils is not that great for a daily dependable driver. The chance for engine damage is high and not covered under most vehicle warranties. (Some mfg do cover B10 usage if it bought from an ATSM certified producer) The engine problems are due from several factors, one is the water content of both products.
The other problem that many run into is oil availability. Almost all restaurants that have grease dumpsters have a contracter that empties them. The restaurants are paid for the waste oil, it is then owned by the contractor and taking any of it is considered theft.
If you want to see how biodiesel is made or make a small batch yourself, google biodiesel dr pepper bottle or go to
here.
There is a shit-ton of info available out there.
Besides that, is you aren't paying state and federal taxs you stand to get in HUGE trouble if it even gets noticed. Only a few people have been busted, but that's like saying you know a lot of guys with illegal machineguns that never get busted.
But then again, generally, "Biodiesel" is just bought at a gas station and what you describe sounds like you are talking about WVO (Waste Vegetable Oil)
to add, it depends on what you are trying to run it in as well.
cdi and other high pressure diesel systems do not respond well to the higher viscsity veggy oil vs bio diesel and regular d2.
it can cause damage to pumps or injection systems. so you have to becareful on newer diesel systems.
Originally Posted By Andrewh:
to add, it depends on what you are trying to run it in as well.
cdi and other high pressure diesel systems do not respond well to the higher viscsity veggy oil vs bio diesel and regular d2.
it can cause damage to pumps or injection systems. so you have to becareful on newer diesel systems.
Yup. You can frag a high dollar engine with a quickness playing with that shit.
You can also frag an older lower compression diesel motor. Over the last few yrs, any Mercedes Diesel made before 1985 have beeen selling at higher then normal prices because everyone wants to run WVO. The older MB 240D's ,300D's, 300D (Turbo's) just don't like it w/o mixing it,w/ other fuels due to injector pump issues as mention above.
My buddy runs his 7.3 Excursion on veggie. He runs the two tank system. He's been running it that way since 40,000 miles. He's got about 260,000 on it now.
