I recently bought a car in which the previous owner had been using a mixture of vegetable oil and diesel. I have continued to do this and had no problems. I can buy vegetable oil at wholesale prices which saves a considerable amount on our extremely expensive (and highly taxed) UK diesel. The Car is a Ford Galaxy. Has anyone else had any experience with vegetable oil as fuel?
Vegetable Oil in diesel powered cars
I have seen and heard about vehicles running on vegetable oil. What kind of mileage do you get on vegetable oil versus diesel?
The vehicles I saw ran on "used" vegetable oil. It sounds like you are using new/unused vegetable oil. Have you looked into get vegetable oil from restaurants - possibly at no cost?
The vehicles I saw ran on "used" vegetable oil. It sounds like you are using new/unused vegetable oil. Have you looked into get vegetable oil from restaurants - possibly at no cost?
I use a mixture of 3 parts diesel, 2 part pure (new) vegetable oil. The neccessary steps needed to filter used veg oil to the point where its usable make it impossible for that to be practical for me.
I've not actually checked the MPG.
I've not actually checked the MPG.
Check the miles per gallon. It's kind of frivilous debate without pure numbers. Economics is 60% maths, 40% bullshit, and we're enjoying the fruits of that 40% right now.
you're also using a 60:40 mixture, I see. What quality vegetable oil are you using? Do you buy it wholesale straight from the producer or in the supermarché? you should really be buying it in a vat from the producer, that would, I'd estimate, cut costs by up to 75% (no bottling, no walmart profiteering).
You might be better off in this forum though, Vehicles
Edit: Just noticed you're british, replace walmart with tesco.
you're also using a 60:40 mixture, I see. What quality vegetable oil are you using? Do you buy it wholesale straight from the producer or in the supermarché? you should really be buying it in a vat from the producer, that would, I'd estimate, cut costs by up to 75% (no bottling, no walmart profiteering).
You might be better off in this forum though, Vehicles
Edit: Just noticed you're british, replace walmart with tesco.
I buy from wholesalers which means that I dont pay VAT (similar to sales tax in the CA, which is 17.5% here). Fuel is sold here by the litre. Diesel is approx £1.25 a litre, vegetable oil is £18 for 20 litres. Thats works out to 90p a litre. Thats a saving of 35p per litre.
okey dokey:
http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.php?showtopic=13914&st=60
that may interest you
http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.php?showtopic=13914&st=60
that may interest you
Interesting, but thats is referring to a petrol engine. The 1.9 diesel is considerably more economical, which is why they are much more popular. The Galaxy is primarily a VW design and the diesel engines are German made. 44 mpg is very good for a petrol engined car, but average for a diesel.
how that running for you? do you get any major fumes or a large amout of smoke? I always found oil was a lil difficult to put into a diesel car...... the viscosity kinda screws with the burning in the engine...... I wouldn't mind knowing actually
There is a slight whiff of veggy oil. The car runs fine. Some vehicles are unsuitable, due to the fuel pump not being powerful enough to draw the thicker oil through, but a quick google search will find several forums with owners experiences.
It is possible to run some vehicles almost exclusively on vegetable oil, but this is relatively expensive and requires the fitting of an extra fuel tank and heating elements.
It is possible to run some vehicles almost exclusively on vegetable oil, but this is relatively expensive and requires the fitting of an extra fuel tank and heating elements.
How is this marketing or economics based?
Any figure for a diesel powered engine?
EDIT: gah, backseat moderation again, I have to stop myself
Any figure for a diesel powered engine?
EDIT: gah, backseat moderation again, I have to stop myself
Well.......... I could pretend to be environmental warrior and say that I'm saving the planet.... but the reality is that I'm trying to save myself cash! I think that money is still the basis on economics, unless the world outside the UK has returned to bartering. Mind you, with the current value of the US dollar (which most of the world bases its trading on), that might not be a bad thing.....
I already do most of my shopping through bartering, they give me goods, I give them my thanks ^.^
Oh I forgot, I can't check my MPG because I can't afford to fill my tank up!
My tank holds 70 litres (at £1.30 a litre). £91 worth.
Approx US$173 according to my exchange calcs.
My tank holds 70 litres (at £1.30 a litre). £91 worth.
Approx US$173 according to my exchange calcs.
| bogger wrote: |
| How is this marketing or economics based?
Any figure for a diesel powered engine? EDIT: gah, backseat moderation again, I have to stop myself |
we have a neat reporting feature
moved this thread
Well....the thread was moved and it died! Was it better to leave it alone?
If anyone is interested (and they are probably not) I did a 700 mile run yesterday, mixed weather (sun, rain, fog), mixed roads (Flat A roads of Norfolk, motorways, Hilly A roads of North Wales) running a 60/40 Diesel/Veg mix in my 1.9 Ford Galaxy tdi, averaging 44 mpg.
^You might look into trying to get used oil from disposal services. When restaurants throw it out, it is eventually collected by companies that specialize in it. They take it, process it, and eventually resell it for who knows what. That resold oil might be an excellent source of fuel for you, and you could probably buy it in huge quantities.
You could experiment with using more of it as well, some cars can run on pure veggie oil without modifications (a certain older Mercedes Benz model is known for this), and nearly any diesel can be made to run on pure veggie with a few simple modifications. (Though I wouldn't recommend it for cold climates, because the veggie oil is more affected by cold temperatures than diesel.)
You could experiment with using more of it as well, some cars can run on pure veggie oil without modifications (a certain older Mercedes Benz model is known for this), and nearly any diesel can be made to run on pure veggie with a few simple modifications. (Though I wouldn't recommend it for cold climates, because the veggie oil is more affected by cold temperatures than diesel.)
never heard this one before
going to read this on wiki
this might be a new topic of discussion for the lads!
going to read this on wiki
this might be a new topic of discussion for the lads!
Hey Rockstar, I have been working with diesel/veggie oil conversions for about 3 years now. I currently own a VW rabbit pickup with a dual tank conversion for veggie oil. I have recorded actually better mileage with oil, which actually makes since because it has more energy per molecule. The hydrocarbon chains are longer which means they yield more energy per molecule.
Regardless I would be very worried about running veggie oil through a stock engine. The fuel pump, and injectors are not made to handle the thicker oil. Even when blended with diesel it is still thicker than straight diesel, which is bad for your engine. Also you probably have a lot of coking occurring within the engine because the oil is not heated before being injected, and the glycerin is burning and building up on the cylinders and heads.
If you want to run oil, and not hurt your engine, then you need to heat the fuel before it is injected period. Or convert it to bio diesel.
Regardless I would be very worried about running veggie oil through a stock engine. The fuel pump, and injectors are not made to handle the thicker oil. Even when blended with diesel it is still thicker than straight diesel, which is bad for your engine. Also you probably have a lot of coking occurring within the engine because the oil is not heated before being injected, and the glycerin is burning and building up on the cylinders and heads.
If you want to run oil, and not hurt your engine, then you need to heat the fuel before it is injected period. Or convert it to bio diesel.
| coolclay wrote: |
|
Regardless I would be very worried about running veggie oil through a stock engine. The fuel pump, and injectors are not made to handle the thicker oil. Even when blended with diesel it is still thicker than straight diesel, which is bad for your engine. Also you probably have a lot of coking occurring within the engine because the oil is not heated before being injected, and the glycerin is burning and building up on the cylinders and heads. |
Some of those old diesel engines are tough, and could probably handle the abuse just fine.
My dad once accidentally made an old straight-6 diesel run in reverse. It was pulling air in through the exhaust and exhaust was coming out of the air intake. It ran just fine that way. And, after correcting the mistake, the engine didn't have any problems. (It was already around 20 years old.)
yeah its bio diesel...made from old fryer oils around here i know a couple people who do it...you need to change your injecters and add some filters to your lines its a big changeover and im not sure its worth it yet havnt been convinced
| andysart380 wrote: |
| its a big changeover |
Well, that's all relative... Big compared to changing the rims, or adding new tail lights...
But small compared to an engine swap or a suspension rebuild.
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