Would you like fries with that???

 

What wasn't stated in the ad is the percentage of biodiesel that is approved for use, and what kinds of disclaimers exist (I'm pretty sure they do). If it's 100% bio, good for Ford.

5% biodiesel use has been acceptable for years (going back to the early 2000s), but I haven't tracked bio-related news in recent years. Realistically, 5% is nothing in my mind. Modern diesels have been much more finicky than older ones, which run great on biodiesel (not WVO, which is straight waste vegetable oil), and vehicles that previously ran regular diesel fuel would have big issues with the biodiesel flushing build-up/contaminants out of the system, clogging filters and injectors, and creating very costly repairs. Older, mechanically-injected diesel engines seemed to love the stuff, though, as did VW TDIs.

I produced my own ASTM-grade biodiesel for a couple years back in the early 2000s when diesel prices hit $4+ per gallon. I was able to produce it for around $0.85/gallon, but that was with a high-dollar processor that represented a large up-front investment. I was running it in a 1980 Mercedes wagon. In the summer, I'd run 100% bio. In winter (here in Michigan), I would run up to 50% bio, which was considered a high percentage by many. However, I knew the oil that I used as a base was high quality, and not prone to solidifying. I gauged the mix based on the extremity of the weather.

Craig

 

My old 2003 Sprinter was factory OK'd for B5, but was fine up to B20. I tried a tank of B20 once, and the reduction in mpg made it very expensive compared to regular diesel at the time.
100% biofuel is a great idea if it works, and it doesn't work everywhere (ambient temps). Using old cooking oil instead of disposing of it is a great reuse/repurpose/recycle strategy. Why throw it away if it can power something?

There are several devices that will make a burnable fuel for diesel engines from compost, but only a couple gallons a day. Liquid petrochemical fuel substitutes are problematic, and often more economically and ecologically more expensive than plain old petrofuels. They have their niches where they are favorable, but not many. That petrofuel path is about worn out, it's cheaper and easier to make your own electric fuel and have a PHEV.

 

I ran my 2002 Econoline Turbo Diesel with a converted fuel system on SVO (straight veg oil) for almost 8 years. Running on grease was one of the most liberating things I have ever accomplished. When I learned that Rudoplh Diesel designed the diesel engine to run off of peanut oil so that farmers could self-sufficiently fuel their machines it blee my mind. And I 100% beleve the “conspiracy” that Big Oil killed him. I travelled all over the country in that van for years, putting roughly 150k miles on it. Sure, lots of fuel pump replacements and lots of tinkering, but for a dude with very minimal mechanical or engine knowledge it was a doable adventure. If I were more savvy with auto mechanics I would 100% be still running on grease. The main problem was that the conversion was done on a shoe string budget. If I did it again Id buy a prostine early 2000’s diesel truck or van (if I could find one) and do the conversion with better quality fuel lines, two tanks with durable heating elements, and I would have a pre filtration system. What messed me up was having to use dirty grease sometimes. Ten years ago, getting waste oil was free and easy. Now, most of the cleaner grease traps have locks on them by rendering companys, or where I live, Newport Biodiesel has them all. The Man has found a way to orevent me from turning trash into fuel. We call it Freedom Fuel. F Big Oil, F the US govt, F people who dont support reusing waste oil in its most raw form. Biodiesel is a good option, but grease is better, if you can maintain your fuel system with some care.

There was a company in Missouri called Golden Fuel Systems that was doing nice conversions, I dont know if they are still around. Theres also a cool book called From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank.

If anyone has their own expeirnces please post here.

Theres also a dude named Mike Parziale in Oregon who is the godfather of grease and is a wealth of knowledge concerning the subject. And a great dude to boot.

Anyone wanna help me swap out my 2023 gas engine for a 2000-ish diesel Cummins??? ; )

Peace to you all, may we ride on oil from China Garden one day again

 

How many gallons of waste cooking oil is available per day, month year? Anyone have numbers?

 

technically very little, most if not all waste cooking oil has already been spoken for. there is a large market of buying waste cooking oil so it is hard to get for free/cheap. so you can get it but its not like there are piles lying around for the taking. also using waste cooking oil for environmental reasons is a moot point, since it is already being reused for something if it was not going into a car.

 

There is a rendering plant where they recycle all of that deep fryer fat about seven miles from the house, It smell bad when the wind is just right. They have all of these tanker trucks that go around pump that stuff up, There must be some money in it because it is a big outfit.

 

Amazing! What kind of heater is he fueling with waste motor oil?

In response to pbeth:

Using WVO for environmental reasons is not a moot point. Biodiesel requires further refining of used cooking oil. Running on straight waste vegetable oil eliminates the refining process, as well as the transportation and infrastructure required to make biodiesel. Although, making your own homemade biodiesel would have much less of environmental footprint then getting something like B10 at a gas station.

 

Amazing! What kind of heater is he fueling with waste motor oil?

I don't know the brand, but he's had it for about 20 years now. It burns very clean, with EGRs and other emissions equipment built into it. He put in a 2000gal tank in a cinderblock building outside the shop, and in Summer when he's not heating it fills up, so he has to pay for removal again. That's why he's looking at a mobile refinery or some other way to use it. I suggested a waste oil powered generator, which you can buy off the shelf, and use with a grid-tie system to supplement electricity use/cost.