Greasecar? Diesel converted to run on vegetable oil.

[LeeH]

Anybody seen this? This company is converting diesels to run on used veggie oil. I wonder how the tailpipe emission compare to dead dinos.

http://www.greasecar.com/

[Bill Verburg]

The water taxis in Newport RI have been running on that stuff for years.

[turbo6bar]

Vehicles running a mix of diesel and biodiesel get better emissions.

Check out http://www.greasel.com

They actually make kits for various diesel powered cars and trucks. They make a 50 gallon tank. Let's see: 30 gallon diesel tank + 50 gallon waste veggie oil tank = 80 gallons. On the highway, 18-20 mpg in Dodge Cummins truck = 1440-1600 mile range.

From the above site: "What kind of emissions will I get while running on SVO?
MUCH, much cleaner! Tests vary, but results show that running on SVO produces 40% less soot than diesel, and 50 - 75% cleaner overall. Not only is SVO a renewable resource that's better for your engine, but it's eco-friendly as well. All that and a bag of chips! "

[LeeH]

I'd expect it to be better than diesel. I wonder how it compares to a car burning gasoline.

[Glasgow 911SC]

They did a test on Top Gear a while back. The had an old 7series Volvo diesel. They filtered used veggie oil to get rid of the remnents of fish & fries. They then added a tiny amout (something like 100ml) of parafin (I think it was anyway). The tank of the Volvo was completely drained of diesel then filled with the oil.

They ran it with no problems around their track till the tank emptied. I think the conversion makes the car more adaptable i.e. better running in cold weather etc, but an almost pure veggie oil fuel can work in an unmodified diesel. Would be cool to give this a go.

[oldE]

Emissions are improved, partly because of the absense of sulphur in the veggie oils. Cold weather might be a problem. Most vegetable oils gel at a higher temperature than diesel. Can't burn it if you can't pump it from the tank. Maybe a blend for cold temps? There is (and I'm not making this up) currently an experiment going on in Nova Scotia to use refined fish oil as a diesel substitute. Sounds easier than producing hydrogen for a fuel cell.
Les

(from clown head) May I take your order?

(you) Uh, I'll have 2 happy meals, a Big Mac, an order of fries, a diet coke and 15 gallons of your best oil please. And don't forget the Ketchup this time.

[Glasgow 911SC]

Originally posted by Mark Wilson
(from clown head) May I take your order?

(you) Uh, I'll have 2 happy meals, a Big Mac, an order of fries, a diet coke and 15 gallons of your best oil please. And don't forget the Ketchup this time.

hehe. That's probably not as stupid as it sounds. i assume these places have to pay to dispose of the used oil. Jeremy Clarkston stated (probably tongue in cheek) that used oil is preferable.

I think I'm gonna have to try this. I was pestering a mate of mine to try it on his dad's oil burner but he wouldn't cave