Diesel to vegetable oil conversion kits

[SS MAYFLOAT]

I have been searching for kits available, but the ones I have found so far are in the UK.<br /><br />It looks pretty simple to do. Since I work at McDonalds, I have access to about 50 gallons of used oil daily. Plenty to use.<br /><br />Think I am going to give it a try.

 

[bomar76]

Re: Diesel to vegetable oil conversion kits

I think most people want to go the other way...not diesel to veggie oil <br />Anyway, seen a bunch of sites on exactly how to set up veggie to diesel systems. Basically a bunch of plastic barrels and such. I probably can google one of them up again.<br />Them problem I see with theses deals is they don't even to come close to the production I would need to make it worthwile. I burn 100 -150 gallons a week.

 

[neumanns]

Re: Diesel to vegetable oil conversion kits

I seen a clip on it on pbs not to long ago. The conversion cost around $3000 installed. As for the oil all they do to it is run it through a cheesecloth to strain out the chunks and dump it in the tank. The engine must be warmed up on diesel and then switched oveer, takes about 2-3 minutes in summer and 10-15 in winter.<br /><br />Sorry no help on locating a conversion for ya but let me know what you find as this has long been a fascination for me. I hope my next truck is a diesel so who knows???

 

[neumanns]

Re: Diesel to vegetable oil conversion kits

A quick google search yeilded me this site. www.greasel.com be around $600 for the kit through them. As I stated this has long been a fascination and now you got me wanting to trade my truck Grrr..

 

[bluewater19]

Re: Diesel to vegetable oil conversion kits

The generator mechanic at the navy base I work at did it to his old ford truck. He has gone thru 2 injector pumps and now he refines it with lye and something else that I can't remember. He heats it up lets the crap on top solidify and whats left is pure bio diesel. Now that he has perfected it on that old truck he now uses it in his wifes mercedes turbo diesel. <br />Oh by the way do you know what bio diesel smells like when the truck first starts. <br />Good luck maybe yours will smell like french fries

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Diesel to vegetable oil conversion kits

The set up is a pretty simple idea. They use the coolant of the engine to heat the oil. The oil gets thin like diesel when it is hot. With it being hot it then can be pumped more easier. The lye and other additive is to help keep the oil thin without having to heat the oil. (Only Bio-diesel has these additives)<br /><br />I have 9 stores that I am the service tech for. Each store will generate about 30 to 50 gallons of oil a day. So that is 350 to 450 gallons of this oil every week.<br /><br />I must say when all the oil is in its disposal container, that stuff almost smells as bad as a sewer. Each store has a filter machine that filters out all the debris. So if I could get the top oil in the fryers then run it a couple of times through the stores filter it should be good to go. Of course I would have to have a heated filter mounted on the truck for further filtering. My main concern would be to get the oil before it goes to the disposal container.<br /><br />I could have a differnt smell almost for each day of the week. Fish, Chicken, Fries, Nuggets, and Hash browns.<br /><br />If anything if I don't put the conversion on my truck, I should think of a way to refine the oil for others that use the conversion. Would only need some storage tanks, pumps, filters, and heaters. <br /><br />We pay to have the stuff hauled away now, so any oil refined would be profit.<br /><br />Still in the early stages of thinking this out so any ideas and thoughts would be appreaciated.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Diesel to vegetable oil conversion kits

First I would have to factor in the startup and maintenance cost. To that I would add the amount of my time it would take to gather up the oil, handle it and get it to the point of being usefull. I would also have to factor in the amount of space it would take to set up the operation. The stuff smells so it would have to be somewhere that you would not have the neighbors or the wife complaining. Then there is the byproduct thats left over after its refined, that would have to be disposed of. <br /><br />Not to discourage you SS, just some things to think about.

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Diesel to vegetable oil conversion kits

Dont forget the environemntal aspects of refining it. Some areas wont allow this operation.<br /><br />Plus, do you have to charge road tax on bio diesel?<br /><br />With all this recent talk of bio diesel, I am really suprised that the grease collecting companies haveant tried selling their refined oils.<br /><br />Also, another easy idea would to blend it with regular diesel. Maybe 25% diesel / 75% bio diesel would give you more desirerable cold temp properties.

 

[ED21]

Re: Diesel to vegetable oil conversion kits

I hope I don't get stuck behind your truck in a traffic jam. Would I be nausiated or hungry after 35 minutes of fumes?

 

[DJ]

Re: Diesel to vegetable oil conversion kits

I certrainly cannot tell anyone how to make the "bio" portion of biodiesel.<br /><br />However, I can attest to its viability. B-20, that is: (80% conventional diesel, 20% bio) <br /><br />I have several customers (fleets) running it in everything from pick ups to earthmoving equipment. No issues with injection systems whatsoever. Some swear that it has resolved some lubricity issues with Cummins systems since the mandate on low sulphur fuel.<br /><br />There were some start up issues with microbe "bloom" in storage tanks. It seems the little critters love french fry oil. <br />Once that was resolved, it has been good.

 

[WoodRust]

Re: Diesel to vegetable oil conversion kits

Hey SS MAYFLOAT <br /><br />If I were you I wouldn't talk too much about your free source of McDonalds' veggie oil or you may soon discover it on the menu @ their 'drive-thrus'.<br /><br />->Fries - .79<br />->Veggie Oil - 1.29 a gallon<br /><br />

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Diesel to vegetable oil conversion kits

So DJ your saying it would be safe to run 80/20 and it would be okay? So in a 20 gallon tank, I could use 4 gallons of oil to 16 gallons of diesel?<br /><br />I have two tanks so that would be saving about 13 to 15$ a fill up. I'll give it a try and see how it does. Thanks

 

[DJ]

Re: Diesel to vegetable oil conversion kits

SS,<br /><br />I can't say that I would pour the stuff right out of the fryer into your tank. I do not know what is done to the veggie oil before they mix it with diesel-if anything other than a filtration process.

 

[bluewater19]

Re: Diesel to vegetable oil conversion kits

I will talk to the diesel mechanic at work in the morning and reprot back on his refining methods. He has been doing this for a few years now and has all th bugs worked out.

 

[jee70611]

Re: Diesel to vegetable oil conversion kits

Mayfloat, <br /><br />You got me really interested in this because I spend way too much money on gas with my job. I'm really thinking about getting a diesel car to use for work. Anyway, I wanted to share a few sites on running straight oil and that show you how to make actual biodiesel. From what I've found, it looks like it's not all that hard really. You just have to be carefull with the chemicals you use. I called a chemical supply store here in Knoxville, and I can buy everything needed without any licenses or permits. I liked the "foolproof" method on the journey to forever web site. It seems like that one would be the easiest and require the least amount of special tools. Here are the addresses:<br /><br /> http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_svo.html <br /><br /> http://www.dancingrabbit.org/biodiesel/makeit.html <br /><br /> http://www.diesel-therm.com/veggie-kit.htm <br /><br /> http://www.veggievan.org/biodiesel/articles/make_biodiesel.php <br /><br />Good Luck, <br /><br />James<br /><br />PS: Thanks for posting this question. Heck, if it goes well I just may start mass producing this stuff and make LOTS of money.