Bob C
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| posted on 16/8/05 at 09:57 AM |
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DIY BIO diesel
I just looked at this this morning - the economics are staggering. Forecourt diesel is >90p a litre. Spry crisp'n dry is 43p a litre FROM
TESCOs!!!!! Add methanol & caustic soda & you can make your own diesel for about 20p a litre (you wouldn't get the oil from
tescos.)...
Anybody tried this?
I believe it has a higher flash point so you need proper diesel for starting...
cheers
Bob
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liam.mccaffrey
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| posted on 16/8/05 at 10:01 AM |
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its illegal if you don't pay tax on it BUT i think it still works out cheaper! i'd love to try it 
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marktigere1
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| posted on 16/8/05 at 10:46 AM |
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Been running on BioDiesel for nearly a year until some idiot in a TVR wrote off my Nissan Almera.
Have now aquired a Peugeot 306 XLD and I'm about to start running this one on BioDiesel.
I purchase the fuel from a local garage and its fantastic stuff
Couple of pointers though. If you make it yourself you will need to pay tax on it. C&E don't take kindly to fuel avoidance. I am sure even
this post is being monitored so beware. Also, if you make Bio from fresh oil you will need to pay the full 47.1 p per litre tax. Waste veg or WVO
only gets charged at 27.1p per litre.
If you do start using the fuel, be aware that it is a great cleaner of the fuel system and all the accumulated crud from the last few years will be
cleaned into your fuel filter so expect to change this after a tank or so. Also, if you intend to run on 100% Bio (as I did/do) then you will notice
a slight drop in mpg unless you alter the timing a tad.
I suggest you visit http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html
Hope this is of help.
Cheers
Mark
PS. The Nissan ran for just under a year with no problems. It ran quieter and smoother and I am sure I saw a few trees wink at me as I drove
passed.
PPS. You don't need normal diesel for start up when using biodiesel. Thats only if you run a twin tank system and straight vegetable oil. The
diesel is used to start and then used to purge the fuel system when you are about to switch off.
[Edited on 16/8/05 by marktigere1]
[Edited on 16/8/05 by marktigere1]
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smart51
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| posted on 16/8/05 at 11:25 AM |
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I'm surprised more fuel companies don't sell it. If it can be made cheaper than mineral diesel and sold just a bit cheaper then people
would buy it in preference. Even if it was the same price, people would buy it. Not so sure it's good for your car? Sell a 50 - 50 bio /
mineral fuel. there isn't enough biodiesel to go round anyway.
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Hellfire
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| posted on 16/8/05 at 12:10 PM |
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BioDeisel is all well and good - but it's made mainly from Oil Seed Rape.
Does anyone know where Oil Seed Rape stands in the table of allergens (for asthma sufferers) you'de be surprised!
I was told by my doctor that during the 'Yellow Field Season" her surgery is inundated with asthma sufferers and people complaining of
Hayfever-like symptoms.
All that glitters... 
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NS Dev
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| posted on 16/8/05 at 12:56 PM |
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"somebody I know" used heating oil + a small % engine oil for some time in a diesel sierra, worked great.
No tax on it and no dye in it, dunno the price now but twas 18p a litre then!!!
I guess the ministry can take a sample and analyse it, but they can't just dip as there's no red dye.
Alternative if you have a petrol is a s/h lpg conversion and a load of propane bottles, works out quite cheap too and the ministry can't check
the difference on that! (know of a chap with a bulk central heating propane tank for his house with an "extra tap" for this very purpose!)
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marktigere1
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| posted on 16/8/05 at 01:29 PM |
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Thing is that the Bio I use is from waste veg oil that was grown for deep fat fryers anyway so the oil seed was grown regardless.
Better to use it in a car than simply dump it in the ground.
Mind you it is biodegradable either way.
Cheers
Mark
If a bolt is stuck force it.
If it breaks, it needed replacing anyway!!!
(My Dad 1991)
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smart51
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| posted on 16/8/05 at 01:43 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Hellfire
BioDeisel is all well and good - but it's made mainly from Oil Seed Rape.
It doesn't have to be. Any oil rich plant will do. sun flowers, and olives stand out for food use but certain nuts have the highest oil to
mass ratio. It doesn't even have to be a food crop
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mookaloid
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| posted on 16/8/05 at 02:13 PM |
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quote:
certain nuts have the highest oil to mass ratio. It doesn't even have to be a food crop
Nobody is going to crush my nuts to try to get oil out
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Bob C
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| posted on 16/8/05 at 03:27 PM |
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Looked into it a bit more: starting problems are with neat vegetable oil not biodiesel. To use these you really need to preheat the
fuel/filter/injectors & best to use a 2 tank system. Lots of folks run on a mix, whic is quite appealing - crisp 'n dry straight in the
tank..duty?? it's for me chips officer..
Biodiesel is available at about 70p a litre duty & VAT paid, you get a 1000litre tank delivered to your house. It's like having a central
heating tank there - this looks quite appealing too - such a tank would run my car for a year & save me £200 to £250. I'd need to review
security but how excellent would that be when the inevtable fuel crisis comes.
cheers
Bob
PS DIY biodiesel is possible but a bit of a pain, easy to screw up + you have to fill in the same excise duty forms as shell - the forms have about 10
digits for the litres you've produced this month!
PPS the pro lobby wax lyrical about "the appetising exhaust smell of popcorn and french fries" yeah right........
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steve_gus
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| posted on 16/8/05 at 04:44 PM |
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quote:
I am sure even this post is being monitored so beware.
Thats a bit paranoid!
My local tesco sells something claiming to be biodiesel - its a 5% mix. However, its a penny or two more than the 'real thing' so I dont
use it - why pay more for 'less'.
I have used it when cheaper, and the car runs no different.
atb
steve
http://www.locostbuilder.co.uk
Just knock off the 's'!
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omega 24 v6
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| posted on 16/8/05 at 04:48 PM |
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I hope I never have to follow you guys.
I'll be wanting to stop every so often for a bag of chips
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steve_gus
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| posted on 16/8/05 at 04:49 PM |
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http://www.veggiepower.org.uk/page208a.htm
what a hassle. I hope diesel never gets that expensive that i need to go thro that hassle.
(I do 100 miles a day)
atb
steve
http://www.locostbuilder.co.uk
Just knock off the 's'!
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spunky
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| posted on 17/8/05 at 06:47 AM |
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Bio nonsense....
You dont need to screw around with adding acetone or caustic.
Most diesel engines will run quite happily on 60% veg oil mix in their tank. Run it at less in the winter, around 25-30%.
Of course fit a preheater and they will run at higher percentage all year.
The limiting factors are some pumps dont like the extra viscosity and cold start can take a few seconds before the engine settles down.
True, rape is not nice for asthma sufferers but any vegetable oil will do (rape is the 'thinnest' though) But it does have a totally
neutral nitrogen cycle and fewer emmisions.
We are all being conned with the 'Bio bollox' straight veggie works....
And there are ways to go legit and only pay the lower tax.
allegedly
John
The reckless man may not live as long......
But the cautious man does not live at all.....
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Cita
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| posted on 17/8/05 at 06:59 AM |
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Nobody is going to crush my nuts to try to get oil out
Nice one !!!!
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marktigere1
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| posted on 17/8/05 at 08:50 AM |
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Lucas CAV pumps are NOT suitable for use with straight veg.
The Bosch ones are but I personally would only use preheated veg if not using Bio.
Cheers
Mark
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