Do I need to buy a Kit to do Biodiesel..or can I scrimp and salvage and improvise..The thought of paying 1000 bucks for a kit is anathema to a DIYer like us Diesel heads...Also i know gas next summer is going to be expensive...

Carrameow - anybody like yourself who will take on a dash wiring job has the capabilities of constructing a bio rig. The big plastic tanks are $75 almost everywhere - pumps at Harbour Freight, pipe, fitting, and valves at Lowes. The filters are available through many sources.

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BENZ THERE DONE THAThttp://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...c/progress.gif
15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)

Has anyone ever seen the TV show "Dirty Jobs"?
They had one where he cleaned the fryer at a mexican restaurant. But when he was done he followed the guy who picked up the used oil and showed the whole biodeisel making process. That guy had one cool setup!

Danny

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1984 300SD Turbo Diesel 150,000 miles

OBK member #23

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(='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste bunny into your
(")_(") signature to help him gain world domination

That guy had a "Foolmeister", famous for being too expensive and unsafe. Plastic tanks do not make good processors, use a water heater and black iron pipe, it's cheap easy and safe.

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'83 240D with 617.952 and 2.88
'01 VW Beetle TDI
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD
'89 Toyota 4x4, needs 2L-T
'78 280Z with L28ET - 12.86@110
Oil Burner Kartel #35

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1...oD/bioclip.jpg

You can get a kit for $300. Old300D turned me on to that idea. All you need is the water heater and some drums. I figure it shouldn't cost more than $500 to get it all together. The time saved from going back and forth to the store a million times probably makes the kit well worth it.

I just can't find a used electric hot water heater to save my life. And hell if I'm going to buy a new one.

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B
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1983 300SD

you know the answer to this already...you're just stirring the pot! Buy a kit, ha! Just because it comes with gloves, booties and a bib so you don't get dur-tee??

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'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

Nah, buy a kit because it saves you time and headache. No looking for the best price on check valves, no running to the store because you forgot one, and that thermometer too, and wait, where's the best place to get a carboy? If shopping on line, shipping from each place; if not, driving to and fro. Then there's assembling the two dozen + pieces.

Time is worth money too.

So, to really answer his question. Need to? No. But consider time and hassle (although, very possible enjoyment for many) when you make your decision.

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B
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1983 300SD

I'm confused....

Carrameow, are you talking biodiesel or straight veggie oil? Biodiesel means collecting the grease, buying methanol and lye, and mixing it at home. You might need to do some small mods to your vehicle if you're running rich mixtures. If you're talking straight veggie oil, you're talking modifying the car, not the grease.

carra, got to www.veggieavenger.com and look at the photo section to get an idea of what you need.

if you want particulars e-mail wodnek. he has built both of ours. we have been using home brew for about 7 months now. getting ready to switch to b20 for the next 4 months.

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currently
[1981 300 td tdidi 165500 dark brown/palamino-Brownie-mine-3k miles of ownership
1983 240d 162+++ Anthricite grey w/ henna red interior and hella lights-wifes car-Red

the above two cars are for sale
and can be seen on the cars for sale thread here. pix also available.


240d-144+ Manilla Yellow w/ palmino interior-greasecar kit-Blondie-the college kids car

23" gt 21 speed still on original tires-still got the nubs
21" khs tandem

for biodiesel, you will need viton hoses that go from the lines to the pump (80% of the line is steel) and from the lines to the tank, and thats it!! dump in your b100 and off ya go. WVO is a different story, invovling 2 tanks, one is heated, the other stores diesel, and switches for the fuel, and extra lines, heated lines and filter (if you don't live in florada) and other misc parts. but everyone needs to get their facts straight, BIODIESEL is NOT COOKING OIL, there is a process to make biodiesel from cooking oil, WVO IS COOKING OIL AND REQUIRES THE CAR TO BE MODIFIED!!!

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1982 300D (w123, "Grey Car")
1982 300D (w123, "Blue Car")
2001 Ford F150 "Clifford" (The Big Red Truck)
1997 Dodge Ram 2500 12V Cummins
1996 Dodge Ram 2500 12V Cummins
Previous Vehicles:
1995 E300D, 1980 300SD, 1992 Buick Century, 2005 Saturn Ion

Kits are expensive and are often more complicated than it needs to be.

Check out http://www.biodieselcommunity.org/appleseedprocessor and find yourself a used electric water heater and get started.

--Hugh

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1985 300TD 190k

1991 F-250 7.3L diesel 150K

I guess I'm missing something. What's the talk about using a water heater? I've been making bio for about a year now and I've tossed around the idea of using a heater to make the stuff in the winter but when it got colder I just let it separate longer. I would say you definately don't need a kit. My setup is a 55 gallon drum with an electric drill and paint stirrer attached with ring clamps (neat trick of my dad's) to two poles that held the trampoleen on an old catamaran (long enough to span the barrel). I just clamp them in place. Pour in my 25 gallons of oil, get it spinning nicely, add the five gallons of chemicals, stir for one hour, and let it sit depending on ambient temps. I really don't see the need for a kit when after you do it a few times, its ridiculously easy.

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Seth

1984 300D 225K
1985 300D Donor body
1985 300D Turbo 165K. Totaled. Donor Engine. It runs!!!
1980 300SD 311K My New Baby.
1979 BMW 633csi 62K+++? Dead odo

You are right about it being easy. I paid $20 for a water heater, and it mixes and processes without methanol fumes or spark hazards. Careful with that open drum.

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'83 240D with 617.952 and 2.88
'01 VW Beetle TDI
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD
'89 Toyota 4x4, needs 2L-T
'78 280Z with L28ET - 12.86@110
Oil Burner Kartel #35

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1...oD/bioclip.jpg

I just want to get an idea of what's expensive. Is $300 expensive for getting everything from one place in one box pre-assembled, with all you needing to do is essentially hook it up to a heater? I'll agree, $1000 bucks is expensive, but $300. How much are the parts alone going to run if you buy everything separately? I'm curious now.

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B
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1983 300SD

I'm curious too, really. I understand the value added of having something designed, debugged and sourced. What exactly do you get with the $300 kit you are referring to? Maybe it's worth it for some folks.

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'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.