When will the WVO craze end? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

fahrgewehr2 · #1 05-30-2006, 12:32 AM

Seems like every other post in this forum is about WVO or 'grease' or whatever.

As I have been at the MB diesel game for 10 years, it is a bit irritating as the whole thing drives the prices up on these cars.

Is this just a fad?

Are the buyers of these cars MB enthusiasts or simply cheapskates looking to drive on the cheap?

On the flip side, the prices on gas-powered MBs are way down (which is great - they are a better value and last just as long, if not longer).

Opinions?

#2 05-30-2006, 12:36 AM

When will the WVO craze end?

When restaurants figure out "Hey, there is a demand for this stuff. I'm going to start charging for it."

sailor15015 · #3 05-30-2006, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

When will the WVO craze end?

When restaurants figure out "Hey, there is a demand for this stuff. I'm going to start charging for it."

Exactly. Once Big Brother realizes all the money we're not shelling out in road taxes.

greasybenz · #4 05-30-2006, 01:15 AM

yeah right, to low amount of diesel vehicles in the US for that to happen.

coldwar · #5 05-30-2006, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

When will the WVO craze end?

When restaurants figure out "Hey, there is a demand for this stuff. I'm going to start charging for it."

Already happening- there is tremendous competition for a very limited supply of used oil. That's why I've switched to new SVO- it's actually a little cheaper at Costco than Diesel right now, and requires no work- just pour and go.

I don't think it's a fad- it's here to stay. If you get it right (good clean WVO), it's win win win- lower cost, smoother quieter operation, a little more power and better engine response, and non-toxic greenhouse friendly emmisions.

But will it save the world? Unfortunately, if every motorist in the world all of a sudden switched to VegOil fuels, the entire continent of Africa would have to be nothing but one big canola field.

1983/300CD · #6 05-30-2006, 09:02 AM

Africa is safe. If we were serious about making biodiesel in large quantities, we would be harvesting algae. 10X the production acre for acre.

#7 05-30-2006, 09:28 AM

I wouldn't exactly call it a craze, most people have only a vague concept of what it is, if they have even heard of it at all. Significantly less than 1% of the public would even consider putting anything in their tank that doesn't come out of a pump at the corner station. You just happen to be someplace where it's discussed often.

I would guess that the use of WVO has probably peaked already, the future is going to be in commercially available bio-diesel. At some point the cost of oil (combined with political/environmental considerations) will drive the availability of bio-diesel to the point where it becomes mainstream. When you can find bio-diesel at competitive prices at your corner station, the use may become significant, most likely only up to about B20. Until then, it will remain a curiosity.

There may always be a fringe that uses WVO, if they can get it, but I doubt it will ever affect the mainstream fuel market. I understand it's annoying to read about every 10 seconds, but it is mostly harmless, and it will run it's course in a few years.

coldwar · #8 05-30-2006, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1983/300CD

Africa is safe. If we were serious about making biodiesel in large quantities, we would be harvesting algae. 10X the production acre for acre.

Interesting... I've never heard of using algae. Is it specially cultivated for this purpose?

Jim B. · #9 05-30-2006, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

When will the WVO craze end?

It will end when gas and diesel prices plummet, or when cars can run on water.

Actually there IS a new car out that DOES run on water. But that car was invented in Florida. So it has to stop and pee every 15 minutes.

Well it said so on late night TV

1983/300CD · #10 05-30-2006, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coldwar

Interesting... I've never heard of using algae. Is it specially cultivated for this purpose?

From the Wiki:

Recent studies using a species of algae that has oil contents of as high as 50% have concluded that as little as 28,000 km² or 0.3 % of the land area of the US could be utilized to produce enough biodiesel to replace all transportation fuel the country currently utilizes. Further encouragement comes from the fact that the land that could be most effective in growing the algae is desert land with high solar irradiation, but lower economic value for other uses and that the algae could utilize farm waste and excess CO2 from factories to help speed the growth of the algae.

If we can put a man on the moon, build the rail lines and highway system, then why can't we, for the sake of NATIONAL SECURITY, (for which we are spending $2,050 per SECOND in Iraq alone) do this? Why not? Look to the oil men we have in office.

TheDon · #11 05-30-2006, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1983/300CD

Africa is safe. If we were serious about making biodiesel in large quantities, we would be harvesting algae. 10X the production acre for acre.

somewhere along 1000 gallons per hectre. i did a project on the whole biodiesel thing.. which im presenting at national competition for my engineering club.. i recently sold my processor.. im going SVO

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

It will end when gas and diesel prices plummet, or when cars can run on water.

Actually there IS a new car out that DOES run on water. But that car was invented in Florida. So it has to stop and pee every 15 minutes.

Well it said so on late night TV

aquagen. i bet this guy will disappear pretty soon just like the guy in the 70's that invented the carb that ran on water

79-240d-project · #12 05-30-2006, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1983/300CD

From the Wiki:

Recent studies using a species of algae that has oil contents of as high as 50% have concluded that as little as 28,000 km² or 0.3 % of the land area of the US could be utilized to produce enough biodiesel to replace all transportation fuel the country currently utilizes. Further encouragement comes from the fact that the land that could be most effective in growing the algae is desert land with high solar irradiation, but lower economic value for other uses and that the algae could utilize farm waste and excess CO2 from factories to help speed the growth of the algae.

If we can put a man on the moon, build the rail lines and highway system, then why can't we, for the sake of NATIONAL SECURITY, (for which we are spending $2,050 per SECOND in Iraq alone) do this? Why not? Look to the oil men we have in office.

I smell a great business venture! I remember reading a paper from a link posted here on this process. I seem to remember the article stated that the algae to be used grew the best in salt water. I wonder what it would take to get this rolling? Too bad I live in the Pacific Northwest, lots of salt water but not enough sunshine.

Biodiesel300TD · #13 05-30-2006, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fahrgewehr2

Seems like every other post in this forum is about WVO or 'grease' or whatever.
As I have been at the MB diesel game for 10 years, it is a bit irritating as the whole thing drives the prices up on these cars.
Is this just a fad?
Are the buyers of these cars MB enthusiasts or simply cheapskates looking to drive on the cheap?
On the flip side, the prices on gas-powered MBs are way down (which is great - they are a better value and last just as long, if not longer).

Opinions?

In my case I have turned into an enthusiast after buying my 300TD to run biodiesel. I love all the old MB models, yes all the gassers too.

hockeynut · #14 05-30-2006, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

I wouldn't exactly call it a craze, most people have only a vague concept of what it is, if they have even heard of it at all. Significantly less than 1% of the public would even consider putting anything in their tank that doesn't come out of a pump at the corner station. You just happen to be someplace where it's discussed often.

I would guess that the use of WVO has probably peaked already, the future is going to be in commercially available bio-diesel. At some point the cost of oil (combined with political/environmental considerations) will drive the availability of bio-diesel to the point where it becomes mainstream. When you can find bio-diesel at competitive prices at your corner station, the use may become significant, most likely only up to about B20. Until then, it will remain a curiosity.

There may always be a fringe that uses WVO, if they can get it, but I doubt it will ever affect the mainstream fuel market. I understand it's annoying to read about every 10 seconds, but it is mostly harmless, and it will run it's course in a few years.

Agreed. I very much wanted to put in a kit for the past 2 years. I kept doing the math....$1600 for the type of kit I would put in equals a lot of fuel. Also, I live in a small community where the main restaraunt for "good" WVO is already taken by someone else. So, I would have to drive quite a distance to collect, then heat, filter, store, etc.

I just learned a semi local (10 miles) station is now carrying B50 at about 15 cents less than all the local dino diesel suppliers (due to incentives) so guess what - no gathering, no filtering, storing, no $1600 kit. Just drive 10 miles and save 15 cents a gallon on fuel and have a smoother running engine with increased lubricity, help the environment, lessen dependence on foreign oil, blah, blah, blah

I think commercially available biodiesel will be the future. my 2 cents

Old300D · #15 05-30-2006, 04:00 PM

The craze will end when a large number of these old diesels seize up from starting and running on cold oil, and that could be soon with all the "experimenting" going on.

For me it will never end. Being able to brew my own diesel is empowering. My car runs better and cheaper that it ever did on petroleum.

Just doing my part to boycott the Iraq war.