Convert diesel to run on Vegtable oil??

Wacky · Apr 6, 2011

I wonder if there is any way to do this on smaller diesels like my GC? I imagine that it would be costly. Anyone have any insight? Thought this might be a good topic to discuss, with diesel running around $4.00 gallon

, and fast food oil being so abundant!:licking:

ptexer · Apr 6, 2011

I belong to an energy group New Vision. We are currently Producing solar panels and systems. We also do biodiesel. We have converted several trucks (greasols) . I see you live in WV. We are located In Philippi (central WV) and meet every Monday at 6:00. We are happy to share what we are doing with others. PM me if you are interested in attending or anyone else is.

Gary Fowler · Apr 6, 2011

From what I have seen on biodiesel, there is no conversion needed for the engine. You have to convert the cooking oil to biodiesel and filter out the impurities that would otherwise clog up your fuel filters. Kits are available to buy the whole setup to do the biodiesel conversion. I wouldnt even try to burn used cooking oil straight into a diesel engine. I dont think you would get far down the road before everything would be stopped up. I think I saw somewhere that it cost about $2 a gallon to convert it and that is assuming that you get the oil for free.

Wacky · Apr 7, 2011

So, really not much savings in the end. Oh,well thanks for the info guys:thumbsup:.

sldva00 · Apr 7, 2011

The last 275 gallons of biodiesel I made cost me 0.89/gallon (0.64 for methanol and 0.25 for sodium hydryoxide). This was last September. It is cost effective if you can get free wasted vegetable oil (WVO). The restaraunt I used to get my oil from closed, so I haven't made any since. I started making biodiesel in 2008 or maybe 07 for my 98 cummins. I used to make 25 gallon batches and then top off at the pump. I went from $25.00 (at the pump) fuel ups to over $100.00 once I stopped making biodiesel. Oh do I miss my biodiesel.

I'm not sure about WVO, but biodiesel will eat through rubber products. Any rubber seals or fuel lines would have to be replaced. WVO is more viscous than bio, so cold weather starting is more difficult. WVO tends to gel more in cold weather. The conversions kits I've seen on the market for WVO are nothing more than some type of heater to heat up the oil. You start driving using regular diesel and once the WVO warms up, you switch over to WVO.

Before I started making bio, I did some research and quite a bit of people run WVO in their trucks. Getting it cleaned up is the most important step. No particles and NO WATER. I used a centrifuge from dieselcraft to get my oil cleaned up and just heat up the oil to boil any water out.

ptexer · Apr 8, 2011

The people around Philippi start thier engines with biodiesel and when the engine hits a certain temp switch to VWO that is in another tank in the bed of their truck. We are just setting up the program and are plumbing six settling tanks for the VWO. We are planning on having VWO delivered and pumped from trucks into tanks.

zooman50 · Jun 21, 2011

I am a new member here and just bought a MF 1250 with a FEL and backhoe.
I am reading the forums and just learning my way around and searching through the threads to get an understanding of the tractor i have purchased.
I have a 1999 F-250 that I converted 5 years ago that I run on wvo. I have over 160,000 miles doing this and converted the truck when it had 233,000 miles on it. It just rolled 406,000 miles the other day.
The diesel tractors can be converted either way. Straight used veggie oil( a kit for the tractor to heat the oil up would have to be made) or you can make biodiesel with either the appleseed method or look at the cost of a Biopro 190 and make it almost automatically( you have to pour the water, oil, methanol and acid in and push a few buttons and 48 hours later you have bio).
Was really interesting to read this thread. Wish there was more interest in it.