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Equipping the Overland Vehicle Vehicle accessories - Making your home away from home comfortable, safe and reliable.
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  #1  
Old 3 Feb 2008
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Veg Oil??

This may sound a daft question, but I am a bit confused about the basics of this subject, I have a 1995 Landcruiser 4.2 VX diesel, can I just go down to my local supermarket, buy some veg oil (at about 50p/litre) & bung it in with the diesel??
Or is there more to it than that??
Surely its cant be that simple!!

Hopefully somebody will know & possibly advise me of pitfalls if this is the case
Thanks
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Old 3 Feb 2008
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Google 'veg oil as fuel' and variations of that title there is plenty of info, I have put up to 25% in a '94 DI Transit, and it runs smoother, am ate of mine puts nearly 100% veg oil in a Sierra and over the last 3 years had no problems, I believe there have been threads on here previously, infact I am sure I have posted on it!!

ps, where are you getting veg oil at 50p per litre???
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Old 3 Feb 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Trumpton View Post
This may sound a daft question, but I am a bit confused about the basics of this subject, I have a 1995 Landcruiser 4.2 VX diesel, can I just go down to my local supermarket, buy some veg oil (at about 50p/litre) & bung it in with the diesel??
Or is there more to it than that??
Surely its cant be that simple!!

Hopefully somebody will know & possibly advise me of pitfalls if this is the case
Thanks
A quick google search should help you out with an answer - there are some dedicated sites out there to help you make this happen - in essence though you can't mix the fuels (EDIT: you can I'm wrong) and you need a pretty heavy duty fuel filter - which you'll go through a rather high number of. But other than that it's pretty straight forward.

The other thing to remember is even though the oil is only 50p/lt you STILL have to pay duty on it otherwise it's still illegal...

this is an interesting read

RUN A DIESEL CAR ON VEGETABLE OIL
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Old 3 Feb 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mattcbf600 View Post
A quick google search should help you out with an answer - there are some dedicated sites out there to help you make this happen - in essence though you can't mix the fuels (EDIT: you can I'm wrong) and you need a pretty heavy duty fuel filter - which you'll go through a rather high number of. But other than that it's pretty straight forward.

The other thing to remember is even though the oil is only 50p/lt you STILL have to pay duty on it otherwise it's still illegal...

this is an interesting read

RUN A DIESEL CAR ON VEGETABLE OIL

No filter problem with straight (new) veg oil(svo). DO NOT use Waste veg oil(wvo) unless treated. Water only appeared in the filter after using too much kerosene (white heating oil), I believe that you No longer pay duty if you use up to 2500litres per year!! new laws!! details also available on Google.
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Old 3 Feb 2008
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Yes it's true

DieselVeg Home - Diesel to Vegetable Oil engine conversions details about using 2500 litres before duty to be paid!!

Not widely broadcast, but now we know !!
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Last edited by palace15; 3 Feb 2008 at 15:15.
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Old 3 Feb 2008
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i used to run a j reg escort van on a mixture of 3/4 tank veg oil to 1/4 disel. it ran fine just smells a bit. once in a while i used to run a full tank of disel. Look into it though as i believe more modern disel engines are not so tollerant. You get some strange looks at tescos but i just told em i ran a snack van !
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Old 3 Feb 2008
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You're right about the smell.... just be carefull, you'll have all the local kids hanging around looking for 2 quids chips...
A mate was running 60 / 40 veg oil - Diesel in a '94 Disco It was a bit down on power but no other probs
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Old 3 Feb 2008
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be carefull

Be carefull, not from a technical point of view but running a car on vegie oil is a serious criminal offence, at least it is in the Netherlands. Basically you are dodging fuel taxes and that is a serious crime. You might just as well use agricultural fuel which is half the price of normal fuel while it is the same stuff. What are the chances you get cought in a big traffic check, especially with the smell of chips hanging around the car!

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Old 3 Feb 2008
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It isn't illegal in the UK but that's probably cos they cannot police it.
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Old 3 Feb 2008
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I run my 1991 Toyota 80 (4.2TD) on 50% veg oil (£0.64 per litre), I can even go to 100% in the summer (just). I simply put it in the tank!
And as someone said, you don't have to pay duty if you use less than 2500L per year (2500L is a lot!). This law changed last summer I think, but it's worded very badly so know one knows exactly what it means, not even the customs and excise people!

So yes, go get some veg oil and chuck it in! And bring on that nice summer BBQ smell!

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Old 3 Feb 2008
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Many vegetable oils will freeze or at least produce visible crystals in a refrigerator. If mixing with conventional diesel fuel you run an increased chance of a filter wax-up as temperatures drop.
It's really only safe crystal-wise at ambient temps above ~8-10 C. And I promise you that mfgs of the modern common-rail electronically controlled super high pressure engines don't recommend it. But it's perfectly safe in older pure mechanical diesels, with the caveats about careful cleaning of waste oil and temperature.
I believe the 1HZ engine in your 95 LC is pure mechanical.
I'd try it first at warmer temperatures than January (right now outside my house it's -20 C.)

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Old 3 Feb 2008
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Have a look around on tinternet and you'll find loads of conflicting advice.

Issues are..

Can your pick up pump cope with the viscosity without dammage

Ditto injector pump ( expensive dammage )

It goes waxy at warmer temperature than derv.

If you leave it in the tank for many weeks it can start to go claggy in the bottom (and you don't want a claggy bottom) clogging filters.

No issues with duty if you use less than 2500 litres a year.

100% rapseed is the best (54p / litre at Tesco)

You should have no issues running 25% veg in most engines.

A test would be to try upping the proportions until your car becomes a bit grumpy to start.

Have a check around specifically to your vehicle. Some are very tolerent ( 80s passats & old mercs) some aren't (Most HDIs)

My van ( shogan clone engine ) will happily run 30% veg in winter and 75% in summer. It runs smoother, smells nicer, no appreciatable drop in power.

It's cheap, but it ain't "Green" unless you are using recycled veg. Lots of land has been turned over to oil production at the expense of food staples.


Sorry for jabbering

Last edited by Big Yellow Tractor; 3 Feb 2008 at 20:15. Reason: Spelling
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Old 3 Feb 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Yellow Tractor View Post
Have a look around on tinternet and you'll find loads of conflicting advice.

Issues are..

Can your pick up pump cope with the viscosity without dammage

Ditto injector pump ( expensive dammage )

It goes waxy at warmer temperature than derv.

If you leave it in the tank for many weeks it can start to go claggy in the bottom (and you don't want a claggy bottom) clogging filters.

No issues with duty if you use less than 2500 litres a year.

100% rapseed is the best (54p / litre at Tesco)

You should have no issues running 25% veg in most engines.

A test would be to try upping the proportions until your car becomes a bit grumpy to start.

Have a check around specifically to your vehicle. Some are very tolerent ( 80s passats & old mercs) some aren't (Most HDIs)

My van ( shogan clone engine ) will happily run 30% veg in winter and 75% in summer. It runs smoother, smells nicer, no appreciatable drop in power.

It's cheap, but it ain't "Green" unless you are using recycled veg. Lots of land has been turned over to oil production at the expense of food staples.


Sorry for jabbering

Not jabbering...all very valid points, the only thing is our Tesco does not sell at 54p ltr, more like 80+p

My 2.5 Transit likes the stuff and runs well on it, but kerosene in too high a proportion causes bad vibration especially on 'tick-over'
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Old 3 Feb 2008
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I've been using 100% Veg oil today put approx 24 litres today and have more to go in using it in a 300 Tdi Discovery and it runs great i paid 74p per litre (Tesco's) and here in the UK it's perfectly legal.

My fuel stops involve going to supermarket buying cooking oil and pouring it straight into the tank in the carpark.

3/4's of the price of diesel.
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Old 4 Feb 2008
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My Local Tesco has a brand which is still under 60p / litre. It does sell out very often. I always seem to be able to catch it when they've got some. My next step would be to start using reclaimed 00.00 / litre.
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