Vegetable Oil

Hi Everyone.

I hope you all had a great Christmas and good New Year.

I plan on doing the following and I would welcome some opinions.

I have a P38 2.5DSE on a 1998, running fine no mechanical probs that I am aware of (famous last words) lol.

I am going to change the fuel filter and run on a 75-25 mix in favour of new veg oil in winter, and if all's well 100% veg oil when the weather warms up a little.

I might be able to get some used veg oil, and filter it to 1 micron, would that be fine enough? Or would I need to go finer, if I can that is.

Thanks Lads & Lasses


firstthebanker

I think you need to read a bit more about the subject before you do that. If you had a 300 tdi maybee, but your BMW engine is a bit more sensitive. It's a whole new world of glycerine, refining and ratios. If you take your planned route you will end up with a hopelesly underpowered ( no comments please, v8 boys) and a shagged pump.

firstthebanker said:

Hi Everyone.

I hope you all had a great Christmas and good New Year.

I plan on doing the following and I would welcome some opinions.

I have a P38 2.5DSE on a 1998, running fine no mechanical probs that I am aware of (famous last words) lol.

I am going to change the fuel filter and run on a 75-25 mix in favour of new veg oil in winter, and if all's well 100% veg oil when the weather warms up a little.

I might be able to get some used veg oil, and filter it to 1 micron, would that be fine enough? Or would I need to go finer, if I can that is.

Thanks Lads & Lasses


firstthebanker

Click to expand...

I would not go greater than 50/50 at any time in summer, and 25% vegie in winter. Viscosity is the problem, vegie oil is much thicker than diesel and tends to form a film deposit buildup over time, the diesel has to be there to wash the internals, 100% vegie oil will clog your fuel system totally in time. Look at the side of a chip pan if you don't believe me.

Unless you refine it, veggie oil new or old is full of glycerides which will gum up the system if used neat. There are several DIY refining processes if you have time to play. I have been unable to find a supply of used veggie oil here in France so no chance to play.

Thanks for the feedback guys, look like I read some duff info.

I think I will just have to carry on getting crap mileage for loads of money.

LOL


Cheers


firstthebanker

try a v8, it will make you feel much better about your MPG :doh:

I know a fair bit about this when I bought the full bio diesel making kit from the guy at www.yorkshiregreenfuels The guy there is very helpful and he can sell you the complete kit for around 400 quid and all the advice you will need for making your first batch. Sounds alot but if you have a plentiful supply of waste cooking oil you will get that back in a few months. It looks like a moonshine still but who cares? The prosses is easy using Methanol and caustic soda. You mix 100 lts of cooking oil with the required amount of soda and methanol was making it for around 11p per ltr. Having said that I got the waste cooking oil for free.(The by product is bits of chips water and glycerine.) But if its made correctly and you fit another (easy to get at) inline filter before the main filter to your car. Some Pugs have a pre heater within the filter housing that warms the bio deisel before it gets to the main filter. After a bit of trial and error you wil end up with lovely golden Bio diesel and you laugh your ass off as you drive past the fuel station.. Just keep a few spare filters in the boot for just in case sake.Hope this helps....

I like the sound of making my own biodiesel.

What is the thoughts of members with regards to running a P38 on homemade Biodiesel.

firstthebanker

Look at the USA sites, lots of folks over there doing it. Guess the waste oil is easier to come by with all the McDo's they have.