http://www.greasecar.com/

So, ah, I've been looking at the ads for diesel vehicles lately.

They state on the web site that only a couple hundred of their kits have been sold. Sounds pretty neat to me. Even if I had to buy vegetable oil I think it is cheaper than diesel but apparently you can use what most restaurants throw away everyday.

I don't think using vegetable oil is good for the engine, as I am sure it must develope a build up. I have been looking at some interesting articles about fuel cells.
http://osat-ext.grc.nasa.gov/emo/pub/P2/sustain/FUEL%20CELL%20RESEARCH
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/RT2001/5000/5130bansal.html
http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/spinoff2003/er_6.html

Yeah, that is very interesting technology, it has been around for some time, but it is sustainable. I saw a conversion kit for a modern VW TDI diesel on TV. Jeep is coming out with a desiel Liberty next year which would be great for a conversion. Now, I just need to get going on making that hemp oil...

genteel, I can't begin to afford a fuel cell vehicle and biodiesel, in Europe, is basically from the same stuff and seems to be gaining in use and popularity. From the testimonials, appears you need to start and stop the diesel engine using straight diesel to avoid that potential build-up with a straight diesel engine converted to use the vegetable oil. Diesel should dissolve any of the vegetable oil, me thinks, that is left in the engine.

Lots of diesel cars in Europe, something like 60% in France. They have vehicles designed for biodiesel also that I suspect might be convertable to be used with vegetable oil. Why convert? Well, paying little (mainly the effort to collect and clarify) if any for your fuel is attractive. But then, in Europe, a lot of restaurants have contracts to supply the stuff for biodiesel manufacture and it may not be as readily availabe as here, in the US, where biodiesel has yet to gain a foothold.

genteel, I can't begin to afford a fuel cell vehicle and biodiesel, in Europe, is basically from the same stuff and seems to be gaining in use and popularity. From the testimonials, appears you need to start and stop the diesel engine using straight diesel to avoid that potential build-up with a straight diesel engine converted to use the vegetable oil. Diesel should dissolve any of the vegetable oil, me thinks, that is left in the engine.

Lots of diesel cars in Europe, something like 60% in France. They have vehicles designed for biodiesel also that I suspect might be convertable to be used with vegetable oil. Why convert? Well, paying little (mainly the effort to collect and clarify) if any for your fuel is attractive. But then, in Europe, a lot of restaurants have contracts to supply the stuff for biodiesel manufacture and it may not be as readily availabe as here, in the US, where biodiesel has yet to gain a foothold.
:bugeye: Wanna go 50/50 on a hemp farm and processing plant? :m:

aaah depending on the vegetable oil being used I don't think a diesel engine needs any "conversion" or modification what so ever. Also biofuels can and have been made that are chemically identical to diesel (aka they are diesel) just strip any fatty acid to its fatty acid chains and you have diesel.

Biofuels have no net greenhouse gas emissions and can run on conventional technology and infrastructure.

It is my understanding that the conversion consists of a heated tank and filter unit in the trunk. Some common oils and grease like the stuff you can get from restaurants is solid at lower temp, so it won't flow to the engine unless it is warmed up.

We should design new engines to do that efficiently.

The Original Diesel was designed to run on the likes of (coal dust suspended in water, heavy mineral oil and, vegetable oil). It wasn't until later that it was bastardized to run on petroleum fuel.

http://www.veggievan.org/biodiesel/articles/dr_diesels_invention.php

the first Diesel engine ran on peanut oil to be exact.

Do these engines actually run on oil, or do they run on esters that you get by hydrolyzing the oil lipids with a strong base?

No they simply run on the oil, no modification.

Nasor, the oil is mixed with methanol and lye to remove the fatty acids and leave a complex alchohol ester behind. In that sense, its not unlike making soap. WellCookedFetus, I'm curious what would happen if someone bought a bottle of vegetable oil, poured it into their fuel tank, and turned the engine over. Might be funny.

The principle troubles with biodiesel are:

poor performance;
doesnt do well in cold weather;

Biodiesel combusts at a much higher temperature than petroleum diesel fuel. Unfortunately, this means the engine must work harder to complete its cycle, resulting in lower mileage and bhp ratings.

But, the technology has potential. I'm not a fan of conspiracy theories, but the oil lobby will certainly won't lend biodiesel a helping hand in it struggles for recognition. More than likely it will end up sidelined in favor of more bling bling solutions, namely hybrids and fuel cells.

Its principle advantages are:

Renewable;
Up to 70% cleaner emissions;
High viscosity;