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Old 11-12-2014, 03:30 PM
GregMN GregMN is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: MN
Posts: 1,253
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cloudsurfer View Post
Pardon my ignorance on the subject, but if you're going to be cleaning and filtering WVO to use as fuel, how much more work is it to add the lye and methanol and do a little bit more processing to have "real" biodiesel, which then avoids all the hassle of modifying the fuel system on the car?

Perhaps I just haven't researched this enough yet, but it seems to me that I'd rather spend the $$$ on a little bit more stuff to have in the shop to make biodiesel and not mess with the car at all, than installing a two-tank system in the car, with all the associated fuel heaters, valves, etc.

Thoughts?
Below is my opinion on the subject. My opinion is based on my experience with VO. I have no experience with making or using biodiesel, but I have read a bit on the subject. I don't know everything, but here is what I think:

100% Bio diesel will eat every bit of rubber in your fuel system. So, there is a lot you have to "modify" to run B100 for any length of time.

B100 is toxic. The chemicals used to make B100 are toxic. The chemicals cost money. I read that it costs up to $1/gallon to make B100.

B100 congeals in the 40's F ( I have read ). I can run my 2 tank VO system at -20 F.

Vegetable oil fuel is eatable. With a flash point of over 600 F, it is safe to store and transport. (I don't know the flash point of B100, but diesel is 125 F).

A cold up-flow system for processing vegetable oil can be assembled for less then $100. I do not know how cheap a Bio diesel processing system can be made.

A home made 2 tank system can be installed in a weekend for less then $500.
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Greg
2012 S350 BlueTEC 4Matic
2007 ML 320 CDI
2007 Leisure Travel Serenity
2006 Sprinter 432k
2005 E320 CDI
1998 SLK230 (teal)
1998 SLK230 (silver)
1996 E300D 99k, 30k on WVO
Previous:
1983 240D, on WVO
1982 300D, on WVO
1983 300CD, on WVO
1986 300SDL 237k, 25k on WVO (Deerslayer)
1991 350SDL 249k, 56k on WVO - Retired to a car spa in Phoenix
1983 380 SEC w/603 diesel, 8k on WVO
1996 E300D 351k, 177k on WVO

Last edited by GregMN; 11-13-2014 at 10:00 AM.
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