Originally Posted by coelcanth

were these vegetable oil systems set up to avoid the two biggest dangers of running wvo ??

coking and cavitation

coking of the injectors and combustion chambers is caused by injecting straight vegetable oil at temperatures that are too low...
it is believed that the vegetable oil should be as hot as 160-180F before it hits the injectors in order to burn properly and cleanly...

cavitation in the injection pump is cause by using vegetable oil that has water suspended in it... (a rough description follows since i am not an expert on cavitation)
when the vegetable oil (and water) enter the high pressure environment inside the ip, the water is transformed to steam and creates a cavity into which the fuel rushes. the forces involved are similar to a small explosion and over time it causes erosion of the highly polished surfaces inside the injection pump. eventually the pump can be destroyed this way...
a water seperator type filter is not enough to remove water from vegetable oil, since it is suspended differently in this fuel than in diesel...
to avoid cavitation you must dewater your vegetable oil by letting it settle and then heating it at a low temperature (around 100F i believe) for several hours...

search (coking, cavitation, dewater) on the vegetable oil forums for more info regarding these problems...

and please follow up and let us know the final diagnosis so we can learn from your ordeal