Re: diesels and veggy oil... just outa curiosity
Terry said:
Also consider the cost of equipping your vehicle and calculate how many miles you'd have to drive it before your realize your first cost savings. This is the "solar power" trend of the 70s - a neat concept that just isn't practical.
You've got your alternative energies confused. Biodiesel and solar/electric power are two VERY different subjects. The cost to "equip" your vehicle can range from nothing to a few hundred bucks depending on the vehicle you have and what kind of fuel you want to burn. It won't take very many miles to recoup the cost, because diesel is nearly $3.50/gallon. If it costs you $500 to convert, you only need to burn 142 gallons before you come out ahead. I can do that in a weekend.
Solar power is completely different - it didn't make financial sense in the 70s and still doesn't today. Biodiesel/WVO does make a whole lot of financial sense.
kjdkjd said:
Take new veggie oil and heat it to 1500F in a diesel's cylinder, and yes it will light. But it will wreck the engine with it's soot and ash content.
No, it won't. There are LOTS of people who run straight vegetable oil in their engines. The only modifications are to the fuel delivery system. The engine still burns it just as well as anything else. Flash point has nothing to do with how completely a fuel burns.
kjdkjd said:
I watched veg my ride.... wow what a hassle....as tomato pointed out, the viscosity is the issue. Contamination of the used cooking oil is also a big problem... water and solids...lotsa treatment required before use.
Again, that depends on what you are burning. With clean veggie oil as the original poster was asking about, none of this is the case. Yes, it's alot of filtering if you get used oil from a restaurant, but you're also saving $3.50 for every gallon you filter. That adds up REAL quick.
kjdkjd said:
You have to start on diesel, then switch to veggie once everything hot, then.... here's the kicker... if you ever shut it off with the veggie in your fuel pump and lines... you could have a big expensive mess on your hands...
you have to switch to diesel and run for 15 minutes before shutting off.
Again, this depends on what kind of fuel system you have setup and what kind of fuel you're burning. Biodiesel does not require this at all. Straight vegetable oil does, but not if it's mixed with diesel fuel. No, you do not have to run your engine for 15 minutes after you switch back to diesel. (rolleyes) You have to run it long enough to clear the oil out of your fuel lines, which doesn't take very long at all. If you forget to do this before your engine gets cold, (not just before you shut off) all you have to do is drain your fuel lines. That's not a "big expensive mess".
kjdkjd said:
I would estimate they were putting around $10,000 into these old VW's and Mercedes to get em veggie friendly.
I think you need to purchase a calculator. No, it doesn't cost anywhere CLOSE to $10,000. You'd have a hard time spending more than a thousand dollars. You could do it almost free depending on the vehicle you start with and the fuel you want to burn. It never costs $10,000 to convert. Ever. I could convert my GAS powered jeep to SVO for around $2500, including the diesel engine!
To the original poster:
If you still want to do this, I strongly suggest you find a biodiesel forum and start asking questions. There are lots of them. Asking this question on a boat forum is like asking how to fix your boat on a biodiesel forum - you won't get very good advice there about boats. Here is a great page that dispels most of the myths being posted here:
http://www.answers.com/topic/straight-vegetable-oil
