The "little shot of diesel" idea is what I've heard mentioned for running a diesel on wood gas. During WWII there were thousands of wood gas "cookers" used in Europe, Asia, and Australia for gasoline engines. It seems they were all immediately junked when gasoline became available at the end of the war.
There are some people doing it now. Search net for "wood gas" or "producer gas". I have the plans from The Mother Earth News from the late 1970's.
Steve

__________________
1980 300 TD

1997 Dodge Pickup/Cummins 5.9 12-valve