Heat your home with waste vegetable oil
Yes, you can heat your home with the same alternative fuels you can put into your vehicle. The processing is about the same and when you come across some oil you would rather not put into your truck or car, you can save it for your oil heater. Post a question and I will be glad to answer,
Monday, January 11, 2010
Your Diesel to a Veggy Burner
Your Diesel Vehicle Propelled by Veggy
I have a number of Chevrolet 6.5 turbo diesels. In choosing the type of processing you want to use, you must consider your vehicle. The one truck I ran the most on veggy is my 1998 Chevrolet K3500 6.5 Diesel. These trucks have an electronic injector pump. This is a Stanadyne electronic injector pump. I used a blending method initially and I got the idea from “Diesel Secret.” This was a mistake, plain and simple. Although the blending method is viable, the factory electronic setup gave me big problems. I became a wiz at replacing injector pumps until I got smart. I knew that the optic sensor was clouding up and fouling and that I had to go mechanical. After much blogging and being told that it could not be done, I retrofitted my 1998 K3500 to a DB2 Stanadyne IP and never looked back. This is 1993 technology fitted to my electronic setup. Many diesel guys told me that the transmission would not shift if I took away the IP control from the computer. This made no sense to me, so I went forward and with great results. Now I burn used veggy, used motor oil, used transmission fluid. My truck is a little dumper, so I have complete access to the tank, which came in handy as I had to clean it out many times. It was the blending process that was at fault. I would not advocate the “Diesel Secret” to anyone. My journey was documented in several locations online:
I have a number of Chevrolet 6.5 turbo diesels. In choosing the type of processing you want to use, you must consider your vehicle. The one truck I ran the most on veggy is my 1998 Chevrolet K3500 6.5 Diesel. These trucks have an electronic injector pump. This is a Stanadyne electronic injector pump. I used a blending method initially and I got the idea from “Diesel Secret.” This was a mistake, plain and simple. Although the blending method is viable, the factory electronic setup gave me big problems. I became a wiz at replacing injector pumps until I got smart. I knew that the optic sensor was clouding up and fouling and that I had to go mechanical. After much blogging and being told that it could not be done, I retrofitted my 1998 K3500 to a DB2 Stanadyne IP and never looked back. This is 1993 technology fitted to my electronic setup. Many diesel guys told me that the transmission would not shift if I took away the IP control from the computer. This made no sense to me, so I went forward and with great results. Now I burn used veggy, used motor oil, used transmission fluid. My truck is a little dumper, so I have complete access to the tank, which came in handy as I had to clean it out many times. It was the blending process that was at fault. I would not advocate the “Diesel Secret” to anyone. My journey was documented in several locations online:
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=285327
My Retrofit Mechanical Injector Pump replacing the Electronic Injector Pump
I have conversed with several guys using the titration method without issue on the newer IP’s and even the common-rail injector systems. I have spoken to guys that burn motor oil and tranny fluid without issue. I would suggest that you proceed carefully if you have a newer system, from 1994 onward. For those with later models, I would suggest the titration or salt & baking soda method. I will go into that later.
Acquiring the Oil
Acquiring the oil is a simple deal, if you are not averse to a little hard work. An ad on Craigslist will go a long way to getting you started and with the words “Free Restaurant Oil Pickup” in the header, you will get phone calls. In many States, you will need a license to go full fledged into your own little business. Some restaurants require a receipt from a licensed recycler. The fuel police will also get you if you flaunt your operation. Road tax is mandatory by law but in a small pickup truck or vehicle, you won’t get stopped to dip your tank. The road police are set up for truckers that run fuel oil (dyed red) with no road tax.
You will need 50 gallon drums and a dolly to move them around. The pump to use for obtaining the oil is a Macerator Self-Priming Pump. This is a pump for cleaning out boat toilet tanks. For under $150 and some swimming pool hose, this setup will suck out any grease-pit. I have not found any other method that works and I have tried a few. Forget the hand pumps and any other pump out there.
This pump can be used to transfer your oil. The pumps usually shut down after 15 minutes of continuous use to save the pump. In that time, you can transfer 200 gallons. You will need a truck and some heavy truck straps to secure your tanks. The last thing you want is veggy oil all over the road and a hazmat crew on site with the cops siting you with a major oil spill.
You will need 50 gallon drums and a dolly to move them around. The pump to use for obtaining the oil is a Macerator Self-Priming Pump. This is a pump for cleaning out boat toilet tanks. For under $150 and some swimming pool hose, this setup will suck out any grease-pit. I have not found any other method that works and I have tried a few. Forget the hand pumps and any other pump out there.
This pump can be used to transfer your oil. The pumps usually shut down after 15 minutes of continuous use to save the pump. In that time, you can transfer 200 gallons. You will need a truck and some heavy truck straps to secure your tanks. The last thing you want is veggy oil all over the road and a hazmat crew on site with the cops siting you with a major oil spill.
Processing Vegetable Oil for Diesel Fuel
Let us jump to processing as this is the biggest mystery for the beginner. There are several methods used in the processing of used vegetable oil to make it a usable fuel. There is the old titration method where the oil is heated first to release any water that will separate from the oil. The heating of the oil is highly recommended as this step will release water from the used vegetable oil. This is the first step. Some people use an old water heater for this operation. The oil is then pumped to a tank, preferable a cone shaped unit. The oil is allowed to settle and while still warm, the heavier oil can be funneled down to a point where the lighter water can be separated by stopping the flow into another tank before the water line. The refuse water can then be discarded. Now you have vegetable oil that can be processed in several ways.
The three methods used are:
1. Titration method.
2. Blending method.
3. Salt & Baking Soda method.
I will discuss all three methods in later posts. As far as alterations to your vehicle, you must first decide which method is best for your vehicle based on the type of fuel injection system you have in your vehicle. I speak from experience with the Chevrolet 6.5 turbo diesel.
The three methods used are:
1. Titration method.
2. Blending method.
3. Salt & Baking Soda method.
I will discuss all three methods in later posts. As far as alterations to your vehicle, you must first decide which method is best for your vehicle based on the type of fuel injection system you have in your vehicle. I speak from experience with the Chevrolet 6.5 turbo diesel.
Peanut Oil was the Original Diesel Fuel
If you own a diesel fueled vehicle it has to intrigue you to think that you can fuel your vehicle with refuse vegetable oil from a restaurant fryer. It may also surprise you that used motor oil and especially transmission fluid can be used as fuel for your vehicle. I will expound on this in a later post on this site.
Vegetable oil is the most puzzling item on the list and information is spotty online for this application. As one who knows and has been through the troubles of trying to turn out a reliable fuel from this stuff, I can enlighten you in your quest for information. First, we have to discuss the several methods and the reasons for them. Second, we must discuss the alterations that have to be made to your vehicle in order to run your finished product.
In order for used vegetable oil to be made into fuel, you must first acquire the product. There are also pumps that you should use that will help you in you acquiring of the product. I will discuss this a little later in a subsequent posting. Used vegetable oil is readily available and obtaining it is simple but it is messy, so be prepared. You can go a long way to keeping your operation clean with a few simple methods that I will discuss in a later post.
Vegetable oil is the most puzzling item on the list and information is spotty online for this application. As one who knows and has been through the troubles of trying to turn out a reliable fuel from this stuff, I can enlighten you in your quest for information. First, we have to discuss the several methods and the reasons for them. Second, we must discuss the alterations that have to be made to your vehicle in order to run your finished product.
In order for used vegetable oil to be made into fuel, you must first acquire the product. There are also pumps that you should use that will help you in you acquiring of the product. I will discuss this a little later in a subsequent posting. Used vegetable oil is readily available and obtaining it is simple but it is messy, so be prepared. You can go a long way to keeping your operation clean with a few simple methods that I will discuss in a later post.
Vegetable as Alternative Fuel
First of all and before you read any further, please know that I am not selling anything here on this site. The following information is free and anything you do with it will be done at your own risk. I only wish that someone would have given me this valuable information before I embarked on my own vision of cheap fuel made from used vegetable oil.
Did you know that Mr. Diesel invented his engine to run on peanut oil? Did you know that modern diesel fuel is a byproduct of modern petroleum refining? Diesel was cheaper than gasoline for a long time prior to the environmentalist driven removal of sulfur from the product. When the new low-sulfur product emerged, it was more expensive and it was stripped of its natural lubricating properties. The diesel engine injector system is full of moving parts that are designed to be lubricated by the fuel. This is no longer possible using modern low-sulfur diesel. This is also the reason that alternative carbon based liquid that lubricates the engine is far better for the moving parts of the injector system.
There are limitations to the use of the vegetable oil fuel product in newer engines and the type of processing you use will depend upon your vehicle.
Did you know that Mr. Diesel invented his engine to run on peanut oil? Did you know that modern diesel fuel is a byproduct of modern petroleum refining? Diesel was cheaper than gasoline for a long time prior to the environmentalist driven removal of sulfur from the product. When the new low-sulfur product emerged, it was more expensive and it was stripped of its natural lubricating properties. The diesel engine injector system is full of moving parts that are designed to be lubricated by the fuel. This is no longer possible using modern low-sulfur diesel. This is also the reason that alternative carbon based liquid that lubricates the engine is far better for the moving parts of the injector system.
There are limitations to the use of the vegetable oil fuel product in newer engines and the type of processing you use will depend upon your vehicle.
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