Buying a dielsel car that runs on waste vegetable oil (WVO)?

I'm interested in buying an older diesel engine car and having it converted (professionally by a local california company) to run on bio diesel, used and new vegetable oil and regular diesel. I am a little concerned that I may be walking the plank to some problems down the road. Can anyone offer their advice on what the downsides are to having the conversion?Buying a dielsel car that runs on waste vegetable oil (WVO)?
Diesels were originally meant to operate on peanut oil. Bio diesel is a blend of diesel and processed veggie oil or processed fats. Newer diesels (Jeep Liberty %26amp; Mercedes %26amp; VW) all are designed to operate on biodiesel blends, in the case of the Liberty 85% diesel and 15% other.





If you process the used cooking oil, you have to follow the processing instructions closely or risk contaminating the power plant with ';cracklings'; (the stuff left in veggie oil when deep frying) and/or glycerin from which soap is derived. Either will cause shortened engine life and/or other issues with the injection system.





If you blend the processed veggie oil no more than 50/50 with regular petro based diesel you should not have to have the vehicle modified per se to have a heated fuel tank- a great savings. Veggie oil is of a denser viscosity than diesel and will not readily flow as will diesel. Both will congel at lower temps, veggie at higher temps (i. e. room tempature) than diesel (diesel at about 18-22 degrees F really jells). That is why it is important to not blend more than 50/50 veggie oil to diesel. In winter you may need to go to a 25V/75D blend but still for the cost of processing equipment (under $1,000.00) payback will depend upon the amount of driving you do. Cost to process is estimated at $.73 per gallon. That, when blended with regular petrol based diesel adds up tp substantial savings overall.





I am seriously looking at this myself. On Ebay you can find people selling the processing equipment %26amp; supplies but you can also build it with reasonable, skills mainly from used or scrap parts.





You can do a Yahoo! search or Google search and also locate processing equipment and/or supplies. But you should also buy a manual that clearly gives you step by step how to process the veggie oil. I subscribe to a guy who gives periodical updates and tips, just can't get to his email address to supply it at this time.





Mercedes/Chrysler, VW, a few others are looking at this seriously. Dr. Rudolph Diesel would be pleased to see his invention survived %26amp; the interest it has today. I feel diesels are a viable alternative even for hydrid use. I'd own everything diesel if I could get it. BMW may start shipping their superb diesel if emmissions can be met. Low suphur diesel is mandated by law effective Oct 2006. That will also clean things up as far as emmissions go.





Hope this helps some.Buying a dielsel car that runs on waste vegetable oil (WVO)?
Not a good decision. Future maintenance costs will be higher than expected fuel savings.
Your exhaust will smell a little funny. You also have to fill up using 5 gallon containers and a funnel if you're using biofuels. Also - as these get more popular then the price of bio fuel will likely rise.





On the other hand old diesels are very reliable - even when running non-standard fuels.
I sure the company doing the conversions has informed you that heating the vegitable oil is required. Especially when it gets cold. I own a diesel and am awaiting the new fuel due out this summer. Proably will cost a little more, but I am hoping it will balance out with better mileage.
the conversion for the diesel will not do any damage down the road. they only replace a few hoses and stuff, nothing major. in fact, you can do it yourself if you wanted to.





the only problem you may have is getting the waste oil refined as there are many inpurities in it such as glycerin which will over time clog fluel lines and such, and all the food which is left in it.





there are kits out there which will allow you to refine all the oil you want.





check into the conversion to see exactly what has to be changed. the fuel pump, and injectors do not have to changed for the conversion so if they say they have to be, i wouldnt advise you on going with them.





as with diesel, you will have get the anti gel treatments during the winter because it will thicken up in cold weather.