3. Get a car that’s right for you. You’ve got your grease, now you’ll need a car. Only a diesel will do for WVO/SVO. If fact the original fuel used by Rudolf Diesel when he first unveiled his newfangled contraption was rapeseed oil. In most cases, older cars seem to work better for WVO conversions, which is why a fair share of the WVO/SVO cars on the road today are older Mercedes or VW’s. However, many newer model diesel cars and trucks make great candidates for conversion — just be careful of warranty and compatibility issues. Most importantly, you should determine what level of creature comforts you’ll demand from your car, especially if it is your daily driver. My rig, being the ancient relic it is, has no A/C, no radio, no interior lights, no airbags, and no anti-lock brakes. Those things are all great, but I quickly found I didn’t need them. You may require more amenities, especially in the safety department, and that’s fine. Get yourself something made in then nineties or, better yet, in this century. My wife won’t event get behind the wheel of my grease car, which can and has caused its fair share of issues. She doesn’t feel safe in my pre-airbag beauty. She’s also not used to the incredible lack of horsepower that running an already dog-like diesel car on grease generates. She just doesn’t like the feeling of having to “Fred Flintstone-it” in my 240D. My next WVO car will certainly be a newer model. And remember, converting a new diesel car will surely result in a voided warranty. Do that at your own risk. Ebay is a good place to start looking for previously converted diesel cars.
4. Single or Double Tank? WVO conversions typically come in two varieties–single or double tank. Single tanks conversions kits are rather simple in their operation. Grease, diesel, or biodiesel can all be added to the tank in any combination, free to happily slosh around and commingle as they see fit. The fuel is pumped through a heated filter, where it achieves a viscosity akin to regular dino-diesel before it hits the fuel injectors. Sounds simple because it is. The drawback to this system is that it is definitely not winter-friendly, which is why you rarely see these single-tankers on the East Coast. However, I chose this to use this system and, with the exception of two or three very cold days (sub-5 degrees), have had little trouble with my fuel freezing.
Double-tank conversions require a secondary tank in the trunk to hold your vegetable oil. The car is started on regular diesel while heating coils get your veg oil warmed up. When the oil reaches the appropriate temperature, you switch over to the grease. When it’s time to stop driving, you switch back to diesel to “flush” your engine clean. Too much work for me, but some folks swear by it.
5. Filtering your grease. There is a ton of controversy regarding how to manage your fuel. This perceived work is what stops many would-be greasers from taking the plunge. Again–keep it simple. Here is my weekly routine. Pour the WVO through a 5 micron sock filter into a 55 gallon plastic drum. Let it sit for a day, and pump it into my car. No heating, no prolonged resting period. I just concentrate on getting the really nasty food bits out. The water, being heavier that the oil, will settle to the bottom all on its own. I use a simple 12 volt fuel transfer pump that I bought online from a farm supply store for around $80. In fact, my total investment in fuel-related gear was about $250.
6. You will ruin some clothes. If you are a suit guy (I am), you will eventually destroy some clothes (I have).
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You are committed. I’ll give you that.
You are committed. I’ll give you that.
You are committed. I’ll give you that.
Thanks, this was very informative. Did you buy that tank you store your grease in, and if so, from where?
Thanks, this was very informative. Did you buy that tank you store your grease in, and if so, from where?
Thanks, this was very informative. Did you buy that tank you store your grease in, and if so, from where?
Thanks Reba. That’s just your basic plastic 55 gallon drum from U-Line.
Thanks Reba. That’s just your basic plastic 55 gallon drum from U-Line.
Thanks Reba. That’s just your basic plastic 55 gallon drum from U-Line.
Bravo! I put 20K miles on a WVO powered 91 Mercedes 300D before engine finally gave up in Dec 08. I got out of WVO game completely and find it easier (LOTS easier) to carpool to work instead of messing around with alt fuels.
Bravo! I put 20K miles on a WVO powered 91 Mercedes 300D before engine finally gave up in Dec 08. I got out of WVO game completely and find it easier (LOTS easier) to carpool to work instead of messing around with alt fuels.
Bravo! I put 20K miles on a WVO powered 91 Mercedes 300D before engine finally gave up in Dec 08. I got out of WVO game completely and find it easier (LOTS easier) to carpool to work instead of messing around with alt fuels.
Sounds like way more work, mess and storage space than I’d ever want to pursue..
Sounds like way more work, mess and storage space than I’d ever want to pursue..
Not really too much time or work at all, Phil. Probably about an hour a week. And now I make my son filter my grease as part of his weekly allowance chores (not his favorite job). As for storage–you saw that photo. Just a little corner space in my garage. However…yes, not for everyone.
Greaseman–regarding your comments on single tank systems…what is that based on? I’m not questioning your knowledge of POLYMERIZATION. Do you know greasers that have had failures with this system? I don’t. I’m in regular contact with about two dozen single-tankers, many who have put in 50K miles +, without failure. Bear in mind, most people don’t event convert these vehicles to grease until there are 150,000 + miles on them. Every vehicle has life span.
Not really too much time or work at all, Phil. Probably about an hour a week. And now I make my son filter my grease as part of his weekly allowance chores (not his favorite job). As for storage–you saw that photo. Just a little corner space in my garage. However…yes, not for everyone.
Greaseman–regarding your comments on single tank systems…what is that based on? I’m not questioning your knowledge of POLYMERIZATION. Do you know greasers that have had failures with this system? I don’t. I’m in regular contact with about two dozen single-tankers, many who have put in 50K miles +, without failure. Bear in mind, most people don’t event convert these vehicles to grease until there are 150,000 + miles on them. Every vehicle has life span.
Not really too much time or work at all, Phil. Probably about an hour a week. And now I make my son filter my grease as part of his weekly allowance chores (not his favorite job). As for storage–you saw that photo. Just a little corner space in my garage. However…yes, not for everyone.
Greaseman–regarding your comments on single tank systems…what is that based on? I’m not questioning your knowledge of POLYMERIZATION. Do you know greasers that have had failures with this system? I don’t. I’m in regular contact with about two dozen single-tankers, many who have put in 50K miles +, without failure. Bear in mind, most people don’t event convert these vehicles to grease until there are 150,000 + miles on them. Every vehicle has life span.
I encourage hobbyist experimentation, but spreading such poor practices on a website that claims to be “Empowering Sustainable Choices” and “Written by experienced professionals and topic experts” is just irresponsible.
I encourage hobbyist experimentation, but spreading such poor practices on a website that claims to be “Empowering Sustainable Choices” and “Written by experienced professionals and topic experts” is just irresponsible.
I encourage hobbyist experimentation, but spreading such poor practices on a website that claims to be “Empowering Sustainable Choices” and “Written by experienced professionals and topic experts” is just irresponsible.
Colin–how many trouble-free (and just plain “free”) miles do I need to drive on WVO before, in your opinion, I can be deemed a “topic expert”? I like to think I speak for the millions of less technically minded WVO drivers who actually took the plunge, rather than just reading about it in books or talking about it at work. Perhaps what we need is a little more “hobbyist experimentation”.
Colin–how many trouble-free (and just plain “free”) miles do I need to drive on WVO before, in your opinion, I can be deemed a “topic expert”? I like to think I speak for the millions of less technically minded WVO drivers who actually took the plunge, rather than just reading about it in books or talking about it at work. Perhaps what we need is a little more “hobbyist experimentation”.
Colin–how many trouble-free (and just plain “free”) miles do I need to drive on WVO before, in your opinion, I can be deemed a “topic expert”? I like to think I speak for the millions of less technically minded WVO drivers who actually took the plunge, rather than just reading about it in books or talking about it at work. Perhaps what we need is a little more “hobbyist experimentation”.
A non-starting car is hardly ‘trouble-free’, and you’re kidding yourself if you think you’re actually driving for ‘free’. Filters, barrels, and pumps cost money, and as you stated, you have to decide what your time is worth to you.
I’m not just an internet naysayer, I drove a 240d on Vegetable oil 80mi/day for about as many miles on a one and then two tank system in sunny California. It’s doable, it’s fun, it’s rewarding, but it’s not as easy or sustainable as you make it sound.
A non-starting car is hardly ‘trouble-free’, and you’re kidding yourself if you think you’re actually driving for ‘free’. Filters, barrels, and pumps cost money, and as you stated, you have to decide what your time is worth to you.
I’m not just an internet naysayer, I drove a 240d on Vegetable oil 80mi/day for about as many miles on a one and then two tank system in sunny California. It’s doable, it’s fun, it’s rewarding, but it’s not as easy or sustainable as you make it sound.
A non-starting car is hardly ‘trouble-free’, and you’re kidding yourself if you think you’re actually driving for ‘free’. Filters, barrels, and pumps cost money, and as you stated, you have to decide what your time is worth to you.
I’m not just an internet naysayer, I drove a 240d on Vegetable oil 80mi/day for about as many miles on a one and then two tank system in sunny California. It’s doable, it’s fun, it’s rewarding, but it’s not as easy or sustainable as you make it sound.
I really enjoyed reading your post. There were a number of things I had no idea about when it came to the cars that ran on grease. Not sure if it’s for me quite yet but I do get a sense of there being a bit of adventure in doing it.
I really enjoyed reading your post. There were a number of things I had no idea about when it came to the cars that ran on grease. Not sure if it’s for me quite yet but I do get a sense of there being a bit of adventure in doing it.
I really enjoyed reading your post. There were a number of things I had no idea about when it came to the cars that ran on grease. Not sure if it’s for me quite yet but I do get a sense of there being a bit of adventure in doing it.