Running animal fats would be a pain as very few are liquid unless they are kept fairly warm. I have used them by converting them via transesterification to methyl esters (biodiesel). The biodiesel that results is useable over a much wider temperature range.

For more info check out some of the biodiesel sites:

http://www.dancingrabbit.org/biodiesel/
http://www.veggievan.org/
http://www.biodiesel.org/

A search for biodiesel will show tons of sites.

sohj
Thanks for the info on cottonseed oil. My grandfather burned "coal oil" in his Farmall in West KY back in those days.

Roger

Runs on engine oil too
 

Hey Roger - I ran the darn Benz out of diesel AND vegoil about 1/4 mile from a service area on the NY Thruway. Station attendant said it "was against the law" for him to loan me a can for fuel since I wasn't supposed to be walking along the interstate...(I could see the car from the pumps!). Anyway, I got ticked off and on my way back to the car to call AAA remembered I had a quart of Rotella in the trunk. stuck the fuel line in the bottle, pumped the air out of the system, and drove the sucker to the pumps...ran pretty well since the engine was good and hot.. Of course, it would be more clever not to run BOTH tanks out of fuel...DOH!

F

They run on (used) engine oil too!!
 

At regular intervals, Marlene also gets to burn the used Rotella T from both her's and Lilly's crankcases. Yum!

Thought you might be interested. I recently bought 35 lbs (4.6 gallons) of soybean oil at Costco for about $11. I used it to fry a turkey and plan to burn it in the Mercedes when the weather warms up. It has stayed fairly liquid so far in the garage.

If you are asking whether Biodiesel is ok for MB Diesel cars, the answer based on my brief experience is yes. I'm new to it. Been using B100 since September and no problems until Sunday when temperatures reached sub-zero levels. Had to scrape the frost off my Baby. Didn't run in the morning but it was fine in the afternoon! Will have to get an engine heater and prob'ly some additive for future sub-z Atlanta temps. Hope this helps!

Everything you've ever wanted to burn in
your diesel ..

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/alternative-fuels/57666-what-cant-we-burn-our-diesels.html#post347609

Triffin ..

That's quite a list!

Any idea what would be a good engine heater? Am also looking into additives to prevent the B100 from freezing/coagulating.

Also need new tires, engine oil (synth or not synth, that is a question)... Am very new at this btw! Thanx!

I have an 86 190D. Been using B100 since September (3 months now). Been running fine except for the sub-zero temps Turkey Sunday morn. Baby was fine in the afternoon tho':cool:

I'd like to see that comment about potential damage to my auto/friend if you'd be so awesome as to direct me to it. Thanx!

additive
 

there is a biodiesel-specific anti-gelling compound made.. Power Service I think.
I didn't have any problems starting either of my b100 cars at around 29 degrees F this weekend. I've got block heaters installed in both, but didn't use them. that should be enough for the south. Up north, some folks will install heated fuel lines and a pre-filter heater (veg-therm from www.biofuels.ca).
MJ_ , are you buying or making biodiesel?

Kevin

My kids were unaware that I had put the Soybean oil in.

We were at a stop light and my 14 year old tells me" Dad, it smells like fried food around here?"
:)

I get that all the time! :D
Friends have looked around my car for popcorn -fresh, not burnt- grilling steaks, :rolleyes: anything cooking and of course, the ever popular french fries! ;)

Re: additive
 

No Kev, am not brewing my own BD quite yet. :rolleyes:
One of these days maybe but still finding my way around B100.
Is it easy enuf do you know? I currently buy from SA White Oil.

There is a site i just found that talks about what you mentioned.
Incase you are interested, here's the link:

http://forums.biodieselnow.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1609&whichpage=4

Good thing you didn't have problems starting your cars.
I did Sun. 8 AM right after scraping all the frost off the windows.
But like i said, runs fine now!

Do you find your heaters helpful? I may just get the PS DFS.

Thanx much for your comments.

MJ

Checsk this story out. If only other states would follow suit, we might be on to something here.


http://12.4.228.47/news/story/12120...odiesel1130.asp

If that link doesn't work, look under the diesel forum and the thread is:

"Bio-diesel cheapest fuel in Maui"