Totally naive wvo question

[delicat]

The WVO needs to be de-watered and filtered down to 10 microns. Of course it's not as clean as new oil but falls within the acceptable margin so it's safe as long as you keep it to 25% mix if you don't have a full WVO kit installed. Some people mix it up to 50-50% but it's up to them, their wheels...

David

[GWr]

Morning, thinned WVO/SVO and diesel will run like straight diesel in mild weather. If you have any hard starting issues increase the diesel mix. Several times already we've added 5 gallons of WVO to a friends diesels (non-WVO converted) when they've been empty; runs great though they shouldn't shut down over night on such a rich veggie mix. Did this recently on a Powell River Delica gathering run; all of us wanting to make the ferry not having to stop from the roro yard. Best to go straight diesel in cold months, a veggie/diesel mix in the Delicas diesel filter at minus temps might be a little restricting.

Now that the weathers warm I can run 80/20 in my diesel tank, find it's just a tiny bit smoother. Will help cut the costs of these $26 dollar diesel fills once every 2-3 months.

On the UK Delica forum this practice seems common. Be watchful and you may see some one pour oil in their tank in the Costco parking; sat and listened to a great speech as per the benefits of doing so from an elderly gent one day. Walked over well he was pouring two jugs into his Dodge p/u and never even had a chance to tell we run WVO; he was convinced that he maintained 2-3 mpgs better with new canola added to his diesel. Results may vary.

When a person uses SVO (like new canola) in a 80/20 mix with regular diesel, do you still have to change all the tubing and seals like you would if you were using 100% WVO or 100% biodiesel? What about if only using 20% WVO infrequently?

Really interested in doing the WVO or biodiesel thing, but it's not practical for us. 1) no sources available 2) NO automobile mechanical ability whatsoever re: WVO installation/ maintenance etc.

Thinking that it might be fairly easy to collect WVO over the course of a year or whatever, and just use it occasionally. it would take forever to accumulate a reasonable amount, but...

[Schwa]

When a person uses SVO (like new canola) in a 80/20 mix with regular diesel, do you still have to change all the tubing and seals like you would if you were using 100% WVO or 100% biodiesel? What about if only using 20% WVO infrequently?

You don't need to change the tubes and seals for WVO (either mixed or 100% with a kit) but you do for biodiesel (especially if going higher than 20%).

[delicat]

I wouldn't use a 80-20 mix, maybe 50-50 at the max in the summer and to be on the safe side I'd keep it at 25-75... (25 oil, 75 diesel) if you don't have a kit.

[GWr]

You don't need to change the tubes and seals for WVO (either mixed or 100% with a kit) but you do for biodiesel (especially if going higher than 20%).

Really?! okay now you have our full attention.

I wouldn't use a 80-20 mix, maybe 50-50 at the max in the summer and to be on the safe side I'd keep it at 25-75... (25 oil, 75 diesel) if you don't have a kit.

Could you explain why you find this mixture better? why would the 80% diesel with 20% wvo or svo mix be less desirable than a 50/50 mix or a 25/75 mix? Still learning, was thinking that since the vegetable oil will cloud at a higher temperature than the diesel, then the less amount of vegetable oil used would be better if the engine hasn't been converted?

Haven't ordered the book (sliding home etc.) recommended yet, but have been reading up on the topic everywhere. Really want to try this even if it's not a full time thing. Love the idea of doing something/anything to help reduce one's carbon footprint; but wow it is intimidating (the thought of completely destroying one's engine by accident

[jessef]

Could you explain why you find this mixture better? why would the 80% diesel with 20% wvo or svo mix be less desirable than a 50/50 mix or a 25/75 mix?

It will depend on the quality of WVO you are putting in, how good your injection pump -> lines -> injectors are (setup right/clean).

[delicat]

You got it, 80% diesel, 20% veggie... We're talking the same, just confused which one was diesel vs veggie. As I said earlier, I keep mine at 25% veggie without a kit. Some people go higher but it's up to them if they want to risk it up...

[mararmeisto]

The whole point of bio-diesel or heating WVO has to do with how 'thick' vegetable oil is when compared to diesel oil fuel. Two comments regarding bio-diesel and blending.

Bio-diesel is vegetable oil which has been chemically altered to have a lower viscosity. This is done so the bio-diesel can be poured straight into the tank, there will be no issue with gelling at colder temperatures and the glycerine is removed also (which is what is making the oil thicker in the first place and clogs the injectors). The fuel lines have to be changed because of a higher solution of a particular chemical (can't remember which one) which will eat away at RUBBER fuel lines - fuel lines have been synthetic for a very long time now, so this isn't much of a concern nowadays.

The point of blending is to avoid having to make biodiesel. There is a waste product from biodiesel which has to be disposed of, and it's not just chip ends and fish batter. By blending, one can put cleaned WVO directly into the tank and the mixing with the diesel will make it thin enough it won't be an issue when it hits the fuel system. If your engine is already running and warm, straight WVO can be poured directly into the fuel tank and you could drive until you had to fill the tank again (with diesel). I did this recently when I got down near empty, poured in a jerry can of WVO, drove a bit further until I got to the fuel station and then filled the tank with diesel.

N.B. All of these issues are further compounded and complicated when doing research/reading because to most Americans, bio-diesel and WVO as synonymous. To 'fix' that problem (which they created), they've further taken to calling WVO: straight vegetable oil or SVO (if you've seen that acronym). Sheesh!

[GWr]

N.B. All of these issues are further compounded and complicated when doing research/reading because to most Americans, bio-diesel and WVO as synonymous. To 'fix' that problem (which they created), they've further taken to calling WVO: straight vegetable oil or SVO (if you've seen that acronym). Sheesh!

Thanks for the responses everyone. It's so true that it can be very confusing depending on what sites you get info from. It can also be quite shocking to see what some people are doing... Talk about using Straight vegetable oil (SVO), I saw this on a UK site. This was one person's personal purchase for use in a vehicle. They put it in a large drum, and attached a dispensing pump to the drum.

cooking oil for car.jpg (45.2 KiB) Viewed 4172 times

WoW Seems like it may be common to do this in the UK?

Anyway, thanks again for making the info more clear. Very helpful, and appreciated greatly. Cheers!

[marsgal42]

I remember a comment on Top Gear a while back that people in England had discovered that cooking oil was cheaper, per litre, than diesel at gas stations. At £1.24 a litre (just checked, Greater London), this may not be difficult to achieve.

The Authorities were having a terrible time figuring out what to do about it...

...laura