I live quite a ways out of town so the operating cost of a truck is a big deal to me.
I've grown quite interested in the system where guys get either waste veggie oil or waste motor oil and run it in a diesel truck. There's been a few threads in SMF about this but not in any detail. I'm not sure if anyone on SMF is actually doing it.
This is NOT the same as running on bio-diesel, which is made from used veggie oil and involves some chemical reactions and fiddling around with other chemicals.
As far as I have been able to discover, the one basic thing that is the BIG DEAL about using waste oil is cleanliness: no dirt and no water in the waste oil.
This means filtering it down fine enough that bacteria have to go thru the filters single file and then centrifuging it to pull even more dirt and the remaining water out. The cleanliness is so important because of all the tight clearances in the diesel injection systems.
I understand if done right, waste oil can be used at 100% (no dilution with diesel) on a properly equipped engine. The recommendation is to start and stop on diesel and switch to straight oil once warmed up. For those who experience winter weather, the conversion needs to have heaters to warm the oil so it is nice and thin by the time it gets to the injection pump.
I bought a 2002 Ford diesel 1 ton 4x4 to use as a test bench to try it out. I need a centrifuge and they are about $1500 to buy so it will be a few months before I get into that. I'm pretty certain it will work out--I've stuck my neck out to the tune of a couple of grand for the truck!! I've taken most of my information from this
source (Disclaimer: I've no connection with this guy...he has done what he writes about and his books are down to earth on the subject.)
I can't help but thinking that you guys that are scrapping cars probably give away quite a bit of oil that could cut your operating costs. And other guys who have regular routes might find free oil at the places they already stop at if they put out the word.
It might be a win-win for lots of guys.
The only downside I see is Mr. Government man wants his road tax money. I've heard that some places just ask you to submit tax for whatever mileage you drove in a year.
I sure would appreciate hearing comments and experiences people have had trying this.
Jon.
Bookmarks