Ready for bio-diesel

[timbo]

Finally changed my filter to a genuine LR filter. Keen to try out some bio-diesel.

I'd be interested in helping to source ingredients for anyone who makes it. I hear the bottleneck is methanol though, because its sale is monitored and regulated. Any way around this? Maybe distilling your own? :wasntme:

[dromader driver]

You can buy Methanol in 20 litres drums from BP chemicals.

[Blknight.aus]

your engine will run just fine on dewatered filtered WVO if you keep it warm enough that its pumpable.

IF your near empty you can come out and grab a sample of my brew (a blend of WVO diesel and anything else thats near enough to diesel spec) and see how it goes for you.

[timbo]

You can buy Methanol in 20 litres drums from BP chemicals.

Do you have to put your name down like pseudo prescriptions or something? I'd be fine with that, I've got nothing to hide.

[timbo]

your engine will run just fine on dewatered filtered WVO if you keep it warm enough that its pumpable.

IF your near empty you can come out and grab a sample of my brew (a blend of WVO diesel and anything else thats near enough to diesel spec) and see how it goes for you.

Yeah, I'll come out sometime. How many tanks until you get a cleaning effect from it? I doubt my engine is that bad, but I'm interested to know.

[SouthOz]

Mythbusters did a test on WVO. Some of their stuff is a bit hard to believe but this seems legit.

Mythbusters - Cooking Oil as Economical Diesel Fuel - YouTube

Dave

[Blknight.aus]

Yeah, I'll come out sometime. How many tanks until you get a cleaning effect from it? I doubt my engine is that bad, but I'm interested to know.

none, diesel hygine is of paramount importance.......

and to be properly honest...

if I buy the pricey injectors for the disco its $200 per, thats 1.4 tanks of diesel.

every 2 tanks I dont pay I can replace the fuel filter, the sedimentor seals and one injector and still be out in front.

fozzy's, when he was running, injectors I was getting at $50ea per batch, an injector pump would cost me $500 and given a fuel load of 300l and Ive only ever done filters and hoses I'm so far ahead on running cost with the savings in theory Ive been making on fuel I could just keep on buying $3k diesel clunkers, registering them and then driving them to death.

So far Ive been up for a grand total of under $1k in service items and thats over about a 4 year period which loosely sums up to $250 per annum to run on essentially free fuel.

and once again, at tax time the ATO has been unable to tell me how to provide a method of paying tax on the WVO because I blend with diesel and am not making money off of it.

If I dont get a rock solid heres how to calculate your tax payment on your free fuel next year Im going to give up trying , 5 strikes is enough.

[Pinelli]

your engine will run just fine on dewatered filtered WVO if you keep it warm enough that its pumpable.

IF your near empty you can come out and grab a sample of my brew (a blend of WVO diesel and anything else thats near enough to diesel spec) and see how it goes for you.

Hi Dave, I've just been reading about the biodiesel process. Can you explain what you mean by dewatered filtered WVO? Is this where you're using the methanol to remove the water from the oil?

Are you saying you are effectively using straight vegetable oil mixed with diesel? What sort of ratio?

Cheers
Steve

[Blknight.aus]

I pull the oil out of the vat while it hot, run it through some filters (I use second hand engine oil and fuel filters I get for free) stick it in a 60L keg thats painted black, put that in the sun with my vac pump on it for the day, pour that into a 44 mix it with some diesel put the transfer/stir pump on it and let it go.


currently... I have no idea what mix Im running its summer, probably somewhere between 80 and 85% vege oil.

I also offset with the dregs from fuel samples from servos and areodromes.

I try to avoid sourcing the WVO from places that blend copha with the oil but once its running and warm its all good. The budget this year should let me get a webasto and some fuel preheaters on the cars so I wont have to worry about the fuel again.

[superquag]

Just be clear on what you're actually making... either a mixture of unknown vegetable (?) oils and conventional diesel fuel....which is tax-free, or 'Fatty Acid Methyl Ester' a.k.a. 'biodiesel' which incurs 34+cents per litre...


Biodiesel, that is transesterified veggie or animal oil, can be made to run in all but the fussiest engines.- depends on the original feed-stock.

I've used straight canola oil (out of date) simply added to the fuel tank and it worked fine - as I knew it would in metropolitan Perth.
Up in the alpine country would be a differant thing...

Whichever way you go, just filter it, filter it and make sure it is DRY.

My stock answer to the question as to which way to go...is..
'Do you want to fiddle ON the car (WVO with heaters and dual tanks etc) or OFF the car' - process the biodiesel in your shed - then simply add to fuel tank. ? - And how much shed space can you devote to filtering/making/storing your fuel supply ????

Diluting the waste fish & chips oil with kero or diesel is a compromise... will work better with older engines, less on newer...

[superquag]

You've got a local expert up in Brisbane... can't think of his name, but if you spend enough time on this forum... Look up " Tilly "

Forums (http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x?a=cfrm&s=447609751)

[Blknight.aus]

I used to go the full bio route 20l at a time in 5l batches replicating the "dr pepper" method on a larger scale with 4 batches running side by side before storing at the time it was staying ahead of my fuel requirements and wasnt taking up too much space...

then...



Alex got old enough to be inquisitive - no more toxic stuff hanging around please
MR taxman got sorted on taxing processed biodiesel- Pay taxes to consume a waste product? Not happening
I Got rid of big red so no longer had a vehicle with exotic fuel requirements. - Why waste my time processing when I can just pump, dump it in the sun then pump it again?


so no more full bio for this black duck, filtered and dewatered WVO blended with anything else that might go whump at about the right temperature and pressures and be thin enough to pump it is.

[superquag]

Ah, the Dr Pepper method... we're on the Same Page, and refer to the same Gentleman. (met him years ago when he came to Perth)

I stopped before HM Excise & Customs became interested... Was still able to buy 200 litres Methanol with no more complication than having an approved 'safe' method of transporting it out of the BP depot. Dunno if you need to sign your life away these days...
I also had to BUY my WVO/ feedstock if I wanted anything half-decent. At 50 cents per litre I reckoned it was time to forget it.

[Blknight.aus]

I sort of buy mine but my purchasing method is more "heyyy if I buy a feed for the family can I drain the waste oil tanks for you" than "heres $50 I'd like to arrange draining your oil tanks please"

Except for the very nice lady at the pool canteen who makes the very best deep fried chips and gravy with chicken salt that has ever been graced onto this planet...