Totally naive wvo question

[The Pinkfingers]

OK - I understand the basics of SVO, WVO, and biodiesel (I think ). But I have a probably very naive question.

What is to stop a person from filling their tank 80% full with diesel, and then pouring in some veggie oil for the last 20%? Would that be bad for the engine? It would certainly be cheaper. Would that not be making a biodiesel of sorts (not ethanol, I know)?

[jessef]

Nothing. You can do that. I did.

I ran 50/50 in the summer. 50 diesel / 50 oil from costco.

[The Pinkfingers]

Nothing. You can do that. I did.

I ran 50/50 in the summer. 50 diesel / 50 oil from costco.

Really?! Did your engine run well? Any bad residue or anything?

Do you do something like 80-20 in the winter?

If it can be done, I wonder why everyone doesn't do it - both for the environment and the cost.

[BCDelica]

Morning, thinned WVO/SVO and diesel will run like straight diesel in mild weather. If you have any hard starting issues increase the diesel mix. Several times already we've added 5 gallons of WVO to a friends diesels (non-WVO converted) when they've been empty; runs great though they shouldn't shut down over night on such a rich veggie mix. Did this recently on a Powell River Delica gathering run; all of us wanting to make the ferry not having to stop from the roro yard. Best to go straight diesel in cold months, a veggie/diesel mix in the Delicas diesel filter at minus temps might be a little restricting.

Now that the weathers warm I can run 80/20 in my diesel tank, find it's just a tiny bit smoother. Will help cut the costs of these $26 dollar diesel fills once every 2-3 months.

On the UK Delica forum this practice seems common. Be watchful and you may see some one pour oil in their tank in the Costco parking; sat and listened to a great speech as per the benefits of doing so from an elderly gent one day. Walked over well he was pouring two jugs into his Dodge p/u and never even had a chance to tell we run WVO; he was convinced that he maintained 2-3 mpgs better with new canola added to his diesel. Results may vary.

[The Pinkfingers]

Now that the weathers warm I can run 80/20 in my diesel tank

Is that 80% diesel or 80% veggie? What is the max veggie oil you put into your diesel tank in summer months? We don't have any conversion whatsoever (yet).

[jessef]

I did 50/50 . july/aug last year.

80/20 (diesel/veg) winter.

[BCDelica]

That was 80% diesel and 20% WVO. Converted or not converted, for running on 100% WVO, our vehicles still start cold and require a low viscosity fuel like diesel or biodiesel. Not including WVO kits that provide almost instant 12v heat to the fuelpre-injector or single tank veggie conversions. Twice we've forgotten to purge the lines in ours with diesel, shut down over night July/August on WVO, and our Delica started fine on 100% WVO. In those cases though it was smoky and rougher running till warmed up.

Yes we easily could run both our Delicas on a 50/50 mix for half the year but; we want to ensure the injectors are as clean as possible, may want to spend a night in the mountains on short notice (you never know), and of the two vans needing a fill since April, hers took a whooping $26 for diesel.

Of course also, virgin canola is a bit better of a fuel then processed WVO.

[The Pinkfingers]

I was in the parking lot of Canadian Tire, telling someone I was new to diesel engines, and he said make sure to buy an additive to put in the tank after filling up (to replace the lubricants that removing the sulfur from diesel takes out). I mentioned veggie oil, and he said that works too.

So there you go - thanks to this site and the responses to this post I learned something new! Next stop after the gas station: Costco! Virgin Canola oil, in bulk.

[delicat]

Could you let me know how much it is now at Costco. I'll have extra filtered oil soon and it might be a much better deal than Costco...

[Adam]

Could you let me know how much it is now at Costco. I'll have extra filtered oil soon and it might be a much better deal than Costco...

Last time I checked it was $25.99 for a 16L cube or $1.625/L. Even more expensive than diesel

[asorensen]

Not to get overly eco here but are people aware of the arguments against of turning virgin oil into a fuel? Arguments which include: depletion of world food source (especially since farmers are now replacing crops just to fill the oil need), and the continued deforestation of areas just to cater to, now legislated, use of organics in/as fuels, seem valid to me.
Now I am all about saving a buck (I believe I have mentioned in other posts) but it seems, in this case, it may be at the expense of some serious long term effects. Just my thoughts!

P.S. If I had a Costco in my town I would probably be quite tempted but since I don't I can be all self righteous and say I have never burnt Virgin oil!

Andy

[Schwa]

Andy, while I agree with you that it is ridiculous to plan to use food or resources for growing food for the production of motor fuels instead of food, since the concept of a real necessity for alternatives is relatively new to the market it will take a while before the allocation of resources gets sorted out, but in general in order to encourage the advancement of a technology, at first resources need to be allocated in an un-ideal way, then as the market catches up with the new demand, more ideal resource allocation and resources become available to consumers... Not everyone will have access to quality used cooking oils, so some will have to burn various virgin food-grade oils until there's things like algae oil on the market to fill the need without using food resources.

Real Canadian Superstore sells cubies of canola too, same price as costco but if you buy more than one the price jumps up like $4 or $5

[mriguy]

The last time I checked, using a LOCAL biofuel resource like, say, canola, supported my farming family back on the prairies, and didn't divert any FOOD from any 3rd world country! Let alone cause any de-forestation! In fact, they have always grown rapeseed. The only difference is that now, due to increased demand (due to the population actually giving a damn about the environment) is that they're actually enjoying a better return for all the tough years they struggled through! I will gladly support a LOCAL, RENEWABLE product ANY day over an IMPORTED, NON-RENEWABLE source.

[delicat]

That's where WVO comes into play... Much better to use it in a fully adapted truck but if you don't have a kit installed then it's a great idea to use 25% of used veggie. I don't think I'd use much more than 25% to keep everything clean.

How much savings? (I won't even touch the environmental benefit as it goes without saying)
Filling your 75L tanks on full Diesel at $1.50/L = $112.50

Using a blend of 1/4 WVO 3/4 Diesel would cost you $93.75 (or $1.25/L for a saving of just over $18/fill up).
(Using Adam's coop price of $0.50/L)

Something to keep in mind...

David

[Todd64]

So with WVO...I guess it has to be strained off to some degree?