does anyone else do it? use cooking oil.

[kevtherev]

Now just hold on there before you slam the door, there are two types of allternative diesel....Biodiesel and SVO (straight Veg Oil).
Sources of SVO are not just palm oil, they are... oil seed rape (yello fields ) soyabean, sunflower, some types of algae, and recycled chip oil et al,
A recent survey in t'states found there was 4.5 Billion gallons of used veg oil available for recycling
and we scoff more chips than them

The other way to fuel a diesel engine with vegetable oil is to reduce the oil's viscosity before it gets into the tank and in this way, neither the engine or vehicle needs modification. Biodiesel is the name of a variety of ester-based oxygenated fuels made from vegetable oils or animal fats. A Methyl ester of vegetable oil or what we now call Biodiesel is very similar to normal petrochemical based diesel fuel.

Its viscosity is only twice that of diesel fuel and its molecular weight is roughly 1/3 of vegetable oil, hence it can be used as a straight petro-diesel replacement. This reduced viscosity vegetable oil is now called Biodiesel with a number of standards like the European EN 14214 standard and American ASTM standard defining exactly what the properties of that oil should be.

In the short term and until the diesel engine industry fits all engines with fuel heaters, Biodiesel might be the quickest way to drive the fuel's adoption and start displacing some of the petro diesel we use today.

[stevenm]

We've been using vegtable oil in our 2.1DJ Petrol Autosleeper for 4 years now with no problems

Not in the fuel tank

To fry bacon & eggs

Regards

Stevenm

[NOT ANOTHER LEAK]

kev i agree with all that you say,and i wasnt slaming the door shut, i also agree the most enviromentaly way forward is to use old chip oil ect ect.and thats the way most people on this forum would probably go.the point i was making however,is that in there quest for alternative fuel the goverments of this world dont give a damm about the enviroment,sorry if ive taken this thread of on a tangent

[kevtherev]

If governments could make lots of money out of enviromental fuels without the stench of hypocracy then they would.
If I had a diesel I would be very interested in stuff like this


http://www.veggies.org.uk/biodies.htm#diy

I guess all you need is a few friendly chippies to buy your fuel off and a shed. where fuel tax comes in I don't know maybe some one else does.

appologies to for tangental threading (copyrighted)

[Rooster]

Most of the bio fuel used in the UK is from reap oil, there has been some talk of using lupin seeds for oil but I have not seen any large development yet. The M1 is tragic but will mean that vehicles keep mooving so polution will be reduced. In any case car pollution has been so reduced that it is now only a small contributor in comparison, we should be banning diesel busses and trains as well as addressing the problem of shipping and aircraft that are now the main transport poluters. I live near Sheffield we have a tram system, most of the traffic caos is caused by the tram being to big and blocking of roads the electricity has to be produced by someone this causes pollution. , then there are busses that have to que up to let passengers of, 5 busses in a row is a log of congenstion and they all belch out foul gasses.
What is the answere - I don't know. I would ban all public transport, and use the subsidies and infrastructure cost saved to make lpg and bio fuel taxis free. or make everyone but me walk!
Thats my rant!

[poopy-fish]

going back to the first thread and not wanting to get into the politics of it all...
my friend has been using cooking oil straight from makro for the last 2-3 years in his mk4 TDI golf at a mix of 20% diesel 80% oil mix with no problems... he tells me the only thing you need to check is that your fuel pump lubricates itself from its own source not from your tank..... if your fuel pump uses the oil to lubricate, it will eventually screw up....being to thick me thinks
there you go no politics involved

[Dan T1111]

Kev, in terms of tax you have to register with HM Customs that you are using waste or new oil as a fuel for your vehicle. They tell me the process goes like this. They send you a form (I got one and it is an odd one, how many rooms does the building have for example...) you fill it out and they consider it, then you get a visit from an inspector, then they register you. Following that you have to fill out monthly statements of usage and pay the appropriate tax on that. New and waste are taxed differently. 27p for waste and 50p (Ish forgotten now) for new.

[haggis]

well thanks all for your views....as I stated I have been doing this for 4 years 50% mix approx veg oil / cheapest from supermarket... All is well . sorry as for govenment ... stuff em... they have had enough taxes from me.... I have paid my dues, been screwed by C.S.A for 10 years. My van runs great. AND cheaply. Dont be afraid... thats what everyone thinks..... I was worried 4 years ago , spent hours on sites all over the world. checking it out. No real answers anywhere , but loads of Americans been doing it for ages with no problems. You pay you r money and takes your choice.. Thats what its all about. .. Good luck to any one who tries. Just turn a blind eye to the smell...Haggis..... See you at shell Island or van fest .

[Louey]

I shall be paying my taxes

At the mo I pay 75p litre so saving 20p litre Cometh May 06 and hopefully I can save even more.

[airhead]

I tried running my van on a 50/50 mix, but didnt keep it up cause the local supermarket was always sold out. Also, I heard too many mixed reviews, such as problems with the injector pump having to work a lot harder and a buildup forming on the pistons and cylinder walls. Im in 2 minds about it.

[last red star]

the diesel engine was built to run on penut oil? ive run all my diesels on a 50/50 mix and tow as well had no problems atall but i have herd that if you dont change your filters on the olderer type vans it can muck the seals up but ive not had this problem .and it smells nice to

[quiksilver_jake]

ive just read this whole article and really if you take out all the tax rubbish and stats there is no one who says itbad or harmful ? so i think there is the answer stop paying tax and use it and experiment! the cheapest place ive found is lidl or aldi veg oil some one further up said about using sunflower oil ?NO NO ! its veg oil thats how you will nacker your ride!!

[haggis]

Thanks , I tend to stick to veg oil. still running well. Mot next month. Anyone know if 50/50 mix effects mot ?
Cheers haggis.

[smnbyt]

Thanks , I tend to stick to veg oil. still running well. Mot next month. Anyone know if 50/50 mix effects mot ?
Cheers haggis.

If you've been running it for 4 years shouldnt you know that???

[Louey]

Using veg oil reduces emmissions - dangerous ones that is. Yes you will smell like a mobile chipvan

I think the best way it to use veg oil with a pre heater, the main prob caused by using veg oil are that it is not as thin as diesel and when in a cold state it can clog up fuel lines. Veg oil can also be acidic and destroy fuel lines (don't worry its not an overnight thing) and can also destroy seals in the pump.

A pre heater will warm the oil to a usuable temp and not cause problems. Pre heating will also help with starting.

If you are using a 50/50 mix then I would worry less as it mixes with the diesel ok.