LarryBible, actually this idea is not new to me and I'm aware that diesel is just another hydrocarbon like oil, but with a shorter chain and thus less viscous than oil. I don't have doubts that a diesel engine can run on oil. But I don't think anyone will convince me that it's as safe as using diesel, even if you filter it. You still have the higher-than-recommended viscosity to deal with. Not to mention that diesel fuel is cheaper than motor oil and I don't have vast quantities of used oil lying around, but that's not the main issue.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL