Vegetable oil into 300TDI

Hi all,

Iv'e recently being buying vegetable oil from Costco and seeing on how my Defender runs on it. Must look like I'm running a chip shop. It appears fine if you don't go above 75% oil/25% Derv, although it doesn't fire up from cold quite so readily. On 100% veg oil there is also a hesitation before it picks up. Not too bad though at 72p/ltr.
Will it coke up the top end with prolonged use or is it just a case of carrying a spare fuel filter? I understand that it wouldn't be a good idea come the colder weather. Anyone else run their older Landys on veg oil?

60% oil 40% diesel in summer

50/50 in winter.

change filter every couple of months until you have done 3. job done. use the glow plugs

steve bain said:

60% oil 40% diesel in summer

+That sounds like a good guide.

50/50 in winter.

+Will that be enough diesel to stop it waxing at -15/20 ? ( It's Scotland here)

change filter every couple of months until you have done 3. job done.

+I've done one filter already and have two more spare

use the glow plugs

Click to expand...

+ I do. Cheers

i have been using it for about 3 months, and i must say it runs better , thats in my defender 200tdi

Been runnin my 300tdi on 'chip nectar' from local wholesalers for about 3 years now. 70/30 mix. Never had any problems.

Never tried it in a Defender, but I used to run my old 406 on 60-40 mix. Only issues I ever found were it plasticising ( softened ) the seals on my fuel filter. Once changed, no probs.! It can happen to any rubber that comes into contact with the new oil/fuel mix, and you may need to check that your fuel pump can handle the extra fuel viscosity.

I've been using 60-70% diesel 30-40% Veg oil mix, and the Landy definitely seems to run better/smoother (300 Tdi), after reading this I might just up the percentages though. Only problem I've had was it failing to start one day when it was REALLY cold last winter (-12 was mentioned). Do get some funny looks pouring Veg oil into the motor in Asda car park though, .

Anyone got any tips on pouring it into the rank without spilling it?

I always end up with some dribbling down the rear wing, I wipe it off but if any remains it attracts dirt and is beginning to stain my paintwork.

Ive tried various funnels but not found one thats perfect.

LeadFarmer said:

Anyone got any tips on pouring it into the rank without spilling it?

I always end up with some dribbling down the rear wing, I wipe it off but if any remains it attracts dirt and is beginning to stain my paintwork.

Ive tried various funnels but not found one thats perfect.

Click to expand...

syfen it with a pipe like ido no probs

LeadFarmer said:

Anyone got any tips on pouring it into the rank without spilling it?

I always end up with some dribbling down the rear wing, I wipe it off but if any remains it attracts dirt and is beginning to stain my paintwork.

Ive tried various funnels but not found one thats perfect.

Click to expand...

I use a watering can to put it in and pour slowly, if i do dribble a bit just clean it off with soapy water and a soft abrasive sponge.

i find the three litre bottles from your local supermarket fit the disco filler quite nicely and with a little care you get no spills. When i get the 15 litre bottles from the cash and carry i pour them into a jerry can first and use that to fill the tank.

I use old deep fat fryer oil that a mate filters though 2 different filters in his shed. Don't know where he sources it from but he has trouble keeping up with demand sometimes. The exhaust smell is like following a mobile chippy sometimes I run it with a rough 50/50 mix and keep a spare diesel filter in me cubby box.

Good ideas regarding the coke bottles and watering can

I usually buy a 20 litre can which means it often dribbles down the side of the landy as it glugs down the filler pipe.

My worst spillage was even more embarrassing. I once went to pick up my little niece from infant school, I had to lift a full 20 litre can out from the rear seat footwell so she could climb inside. I forgot to put it back in the landy and as I drove off the rear wheel went over the oil can and splashed all the oil over the front of the beautiful cottage opposite

I knocked on the door and apologised to the old man in the cottage, and returned later with the wife to scrub his cottage clean of oil. A year later there was still an oil stain on the pavement

Costco Oil filler







This works a treat, no spills and its quick

thats genious...ive been wanting to make one of these as ****ed off with spilling half of it on the pavement outside the nextdoors house.....im not daft enough to do it out the front of mine

Its fab and so quick, it takes bloody for ever with a funnell

psulli16 said:

Costco Oil filler

This works a treat, no spills and its quick

Click to expand...

Cool, may have to give that a go at some point

ill nip down the wickes this weekend and get a few bits.

i have two jerry cans to fill mine with..

tried a few different funnels, no good at all..

got one of the filler spouts for the jerry cans, it leaks and falls off and when it works it keeps air locking so takes bout 20 mins to empty.

would syphon but i've no where to stand the can thats higher than the fuel tank without gettin a workbench out of shed in back garden and luggin it to the drive..

i'm gonna have to come up with something soon...

keep the ideas comin, i like to read other peoples innovative ideas for problems like this..