Running on oil

Martyn · Post by **Martyn** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:08 am

I'm a little confused on the subject of using veg oil(used or virgin). I have what apeards to be a rotodiesel pump, can I put veg oil through it? Is there a simple way to turn waste oil into biodiesel? I have read up on the subject but there seems to be many conflicting methods. Martyn

Post by **docchevron** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:24 am

In short. No. Unless you get some shiny new seals for the pump, veg oil will murder it in minutes..
Sorry mate.

tim leech · Post by **tim leech** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:31 am

I know its saves money but it seems a heck of alot of mess and hassle, as much as I love fish and chips I wouldnt want my car to smell of it

tim leech · Post by **tim leech** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:31 am

Stupid double post!

cavmad · Post by **cavmad** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:39 am

It's fine with the right pump. Either strain the used oil and put it in or buy new. Must be pointed out that using new vege oil attracts the same rate of duty as diesel and must be declared and paid for.
It does stink, to high heaven as it goes, but the car will actually run better on it providing you have the right pump. Now you can use it free of charge with the latest govornment initiative.

ed4ferrets · Post by **ed4ferrets** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 3:19 pm

How does a Lucas pump stand up to it ... anyone?

I've got 80l of uvo ready to be processed to biodiesel ....

ed4ferrets · Post by **ed4ferrets** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 3:22 pm

tim leech wrote:I know its saves money but it seems a heck of alot of mess and hassle, as much as I love fish and chips I wouldnt want my car to smell of it

Luckily it's not the interior that honks Tim, just the exhaust fumes

And ditto to your second post

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 3:51 pm

The problem is that the seals in the Lucas pump are soluble in vegetable oil. Replacements that are proof are available.

If you search you will find that the failure of the seals can take years. I have no direct experience.

Loads of info all over the place - many hours of fun searching!

Ian_Fearn · Post by **Ian_Fearn** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:13 pm

From what I understand the Rotodiesel pump uses the diesel for lubrication.

Thick vegetable oil is too viscous and can damage the head.

stuart_hedges · Post by **stuart_hedges** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 7:21 pm

cavmad wrote:It does stink, to high heaven as it goes,

I wouldn't phrase it quite like that... you know all about it when a chippy-fuelled car goes past but it's not an unpleasant smell.

It happened to me today - my nostrils flared and I looked around for the chip shop, only to find that my nose was following a fairly new Merc rolling along in slow traffic! A slightly confusing blend of imagery from nose and eyes.

DavidRutherford · Post by **DavidRutherford** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 8:51 pm

Ian_Fearn wrote:From what I understand the Rotodiesel pump uses the diesel for lubrication. Thick vegetable oil is too viscous and can damage the head.

About the only Diesel injection pumps to NOT use their fuel for lubrication are mercedes-benz ones. Bosch pumps also use fuel for lubrication.

The issue with viscosity can be fixed by raising the temperature of the oil to "hot coolant" temperature, but you're then looking at the complexity of the twin-tank system, with heated fuel lines, separate returns, multi-port valves etc.etc.

M · Post by M » Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:00 pm

Running with a 50/50 mix of Morrison's cheap o stuff (both!)

Smells a bit like someone is frying goats.

Post by **docchevron** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 2:53 am

DavidRutherford wrote:About the only Diesel injection pumps to NOT use their fuel for lubrication are mercedes-benz ones.

and of course GARDNER commersial diesels, but then the pump weighs nearly as much as a hole BX engine so......

Ian_Fearn · Post by **Ian_Fearn** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 11:21 am

DavidRutherford wrote:
Ian_Fearn wrote:From what I understand the Rotodiesel pump uses the diesel for lubrication. Thick vegetable oil is too viscous and can damage the head.
About the only Diesel injection pumps to NOT use their fuel for lubrication are mercedes-benz ones. Bosch pumps also use fuel for lubrication.

The issue with viscosity can be fixed by raising the temperature of the oil to "hot coolant" temperature, but you're then looking at the complexity of the twin-tank system, with heated fuel lines, separate returns, multi-port valves etc.etc.

Interesting, but it just goes to show how much conflicting information there is on the net on the subject.

I consider my diesel to be dirt cheap to run anyway.....

mike st gilles · Post by **mike st gilles** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 1:03 am

Both my (Bosch pumped) Cits (Xsara and BX) run on an average mix of 50% sometimes more and sometimes less.........I'm never that anal about whether its time for diesel or Svo....never had a problem and now with the 2500L limit; that should cover all of the mileage even for the 'work' car. But lets face it, 53p a litre.......cheeeeeeeap!
Mike.