(Home) Vegetable oil

Hi,
its many months since I lasted posted on the subject so I thought a brief update maybe of interest.

After raising a few questions last spring about using Veg oil as fuel I bit the bullet and began making my own "bio-diesel" which turned out to be a rather labour intensive job (not to mention the dangers!)

From there I went onto using a diesel/veg oil mix in the region of 30/70, although this has been probably 60/40 through the colder months to aid cold weather starting.

I have just gone back to 50/50 mix and will be increasing the oil mix as the weather warms.
I have not noticed any adverse signs to the veg oil usage apart from the fuel filter becomes clogged quicker and now find it safer to carry a spare in the vehicle in case of any problems.

I was collecting used oil from my local chinese takeaway up until January, but have stopped this now because the oil was taking longer to clear in the cold weather and I didn't have storage facilities.

Weather permitting we may pay a visit to the May gathering, but since g/f is 4.5 months pregnant then anything could happen!
Good Luck to anyone who tries it
Phil

- (#9010) Phil, 4 Mar 04 12:21

I'm currently running on modified waste veg oil with about 25% diesel for the cold starting. No had any problems with filter clogging, but carry a spare anyway. Tell girlfriend not to worry I have a pair of marigolds and some tyre levers, and we can have a chat while it's all going on. Hope to se you there or a later one.

- (#9010) Clive (Bristol), 4 Mar 04 15:43

Cheers Clive
She says thats put her mind at rest!

- (#9010) Phil, 7 Mar 04 03:25

Clive what is modified waste vegetable oil

- (#9010) Farook, 7 Mar 04 12:20

Separated and filtered chip shop fat. With an added igniter such as organic white spirit.
Check out www.northwales.org.uk/bio-power/index.htm
Tells you how to make it, and all the rules and regulations.

- (#9010) Clive (Bristol), 7 Mar 04 12:37

hi there
what is the may gathering , and where is it
what sought of car are there, i have a toyota master ace surf, or is it for different cars
thanks

- (#9010) dave cannon, 10 Mar 04 11:51

A word from the weary and worse.
I decided to try a quantity of vegetable (Rapeseed) oil with some diesel. Mixture of 4 litres only to about 25 litres normal standard diesel. The "old bus" ran like a dream, certainly seemed ok and guel guage seemed to drop much more slowly. Did a 150 mile round trip no problems at all.
Then ...... I went to get an MOT !
Emission test readout on Crypton tester 9.5 !!!!
First failure.
Used up all the fuel to "low fuel light on," by going on a 250 mile round trip.
Put in 15 litres of Clean diesel plus an additive called "FORTE, " to try clean-up engine.Went on 100 mile trip. Filled up with new diesel and put in for re-test, Reading now at 4.0 which is still a failure so still not good enough.
Engine needed to be run on a neat additive machine to wash/clean up complete, re-establish injector patterns etc. It then passed test at 1.0 !! Cost:
£35.00 initial test,£14.00 for new fuel filter, £11.00 for FORTE additive and then a further
£76.00 plus Vat for "Special flush through," on the "machine." Add the cost of 4 tyres I bought a couple of weeks ago and we may not eat for a month ! aaahhhhh !
Conclusion ; Do not submit for MOT with "veggie plus diesel" mix !!!

- (#9010) Roy Barker, 10 Mar 04 12:26

In answer to the last two posts.
The May Ace Jam is at Brean (just south of Weston Super Mare) just for toyota import MPVs so a Master Ace surf is included.
I passed the MoT end of Jan running with 85 to 95% modified waste vegetable oil and had a reading of 1.something. If you ran with Rapeseed oil straight from the supermarket, you will have also burnt the raw ingrediant of soap. The oil needs to be refined to use in all but a few road engines, The 2C runs very well on modified and separated food oils.
Could it be that you needed to have the injectors cleaned/filter changed anyway?

- (#9010) Clive (Bristol), 10 Mar 04 15:39

I'm baffled by your experience Roy.
My research showed that vegetable oil actually lowers emissions. I certainly had no problems at my MOT.
The tester said it was a very low reading for a diesel.
My only concerns (long-term) were fuel filter (always carry a spare) and fuel pump (non Bosch pumps are more prone to failure, particularly Lucas as I understand it) and the Townie is (I believe) a Jap copy of Bosch.
Cheers

Phil

- (#9010) Phil, 10 Mar 04 16:04

Hi Clive & Phil, Thanks for your comments. The outcome was a mystery to me also. The engine ran very well on the mix I used. It was straight rapeseed oil amd was really only an experiment, which is why I kept the ratio so high. True the injectors may have needed a clean up any way, but the way the engine ran did not indicate that to be so, and the removed fuel filter was not clogged up and showed little blockage or contaminant. The other possibilty for the negative outcome was Mr Garage wanting to get work etc. a thought which definitely crossed my suspicious mind !Incidentally I had great difficulty in getting a new fuel filter as cross reference was not available local for me. Would be interested as to what Fuel filter Number/make you have managed to obtain.Many thanks for your interest.

- (#9010) Roy, 11 Mar 04 13:20

Roy
the fuel filter ref no I have used todate as been ADT32313.

What I did in the past was trawl this site for part numbers, then copy & paste them to a blank microsoft word document.
I now a 2 page document with all the part numbers on for easy reference when ever I need them.

- (#9010) Phil, 12 Mar 04 15:13

Antually,
just looked at an old invoice. My local auto shop sold me a FRAM fuel filter, ref no FRA-P4922. £8.39+vat

- (#9010) Phil, 12 Mar 04 15:15

Should not be a problem engine fitted to a few models.
As an aside after running with bio for a month or so I checked mine, it was clear. Now kept as a spare just incase the oil does emulsify. I took the replacement off and put it back again as it looked clean. I washed some Diesel around in it and tipped it into a bowl, I expected to see bits of fuel tank lining or at least some debris, but there was just a very few specks of dust. I could not feel them at all, again expecting a grainy feel but there was nothing.
Viva Las Chippy, not got the same ring to it has it, but I'm sure Elvis would have sung it?

- (#9010) Clive (Bristol), 12 Mar 04 16:37

phil would you mind if i had a copy of your parts list, as i'm coming upto a major service soon and want to start getting all the bits together. it sounds like the list would make it much easier....thanks

- (#9010) neil rolfe, 13 Mar 04 08:07

hi all,
i am reading the threads concerning using recycled veg oil for fuel and am wondering what sort of mods need to be made to the engine and at what cost..i have a 92 townace CR21 2ltr turbo diesel..any info would be of great interest....also any advice on how to change the ignition barrel....this is a really cool site...a great find...

- (#9010) george hedges, 13 Mar 04 14:11

If you use strained and filtered used veg oil with a dash of white spirit as I do, no mods whatsoever. Just tip it in and off you go.
Ignition barrel - if you can turn it to ACC before removal of the unit the barrel should come out. I forget how. All mine needed was some light grease on the switching contacts, a nil cost fix that the type I like.

- (#9010) Clive (Bristol), 14 Mar 04 02:35