Things I would be most concerned about:


The engine is designed to run at a variable RPM

Fuel costs, and if your running WVO you service life is going to drop considerably

The governor

Do you already use heating oil? If so, how much an hour?

Gearing it down would be wise. I would use a manual trans to avoid TC loss.

You can also change the gearing every other day to get the engine into a different rpm range for a while

AS for the coolant, Id imagine the engines thermostat would regulate the engine temp just fine. When you start it, minimal coolant will leave the motor until its hot. I would consider a water jacket on the exhaust.

The governor is simple. Get one of those audiovox cruise control things and rig the magnet pickup onto something spinning. You fire up your toaster, 1500 watts puts drag on the gen head, the cruise control dumps more fuel just like your climbing a hill.


Put the whole thing in a sound insulated box next to your house with a good muffler and you should be fine, maybe as far away from your house as possible

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1981 300SD 512k OM603