Running A Pickup On Used Cooking Oil

[uk_falang]

Oil prices are on the rise. My old toyota costs a fortune to run with petrol now.

I keep hearing about people converting diesels to run on used cooking oil. You need some good filters to remove the food debris. In cold climate (not in thailand?) you need something to heat the oil to prevent waxing - and you also need some system to start the vehicle on regular diesel and then switch to the vegetable oil. Although other people say this isnt necessary. And some people are using marine glow plugs in their engines. Some other people mix 50% diesel and 50% veg oil

I'd really like to be the crazy farang in the villiage who runs his car on cooking oil. I am sure i can get this stuff for free or next to nothing.

Id like to hear from anyone who has done this, and to know what components and where they can be found in Thailand.

I dont have a truck yet. Ive got about 200,000 to spend on a used truck so any ideas for suitable models etc.

Thanks

[Gary A]

Let's say it would run on used cooking oil. The question is where would you possibly find enough? In our area there are hundreds of basic very simple fuel system Kubota two wheel tractors. Farmers pour nearly any kind of oil, vegetable or used oil into them.

[Cuban]

As Gary says - where would you find enough 'waste' oil, there are few fish and chip shops outside of the likes of Pattaya, most market traders that fry chicken/fish etc. use the oil without a refresh cycle that is common or enforced by H&S in Europe. They just add new oil to the pan as required when the level drops as fried chicken is removed.

There was a thread here recently where someone mentioned that it was just becoming viable for him to buy cooking oil at the shops to use is his truck.

As for engines suitable for SVO - I understand older Benz' are likey candidates.

[mikethevigoman]

issan farmers wife wants to know if you can cook on old engine oil ?

[ignis]

Friend in UK ran his Citroen BX 1.9D on free old Fish & Chip oil for years, all he did was change the filter every few weeks

[katabeachbum]

used cooking oil is being sold here. Mc donalds for instance, replace their oil, and the used pil is being pickud up by a buyer.

when B5, 95% Euro 3 diesel blended with 5%fresh cooking oil is only 27 baht i dont see a saving

Most old low power diesels can run a blend of 50% diesel and 50% cooking oil

[soundman]

Used cooking oil (or engine oil, or any animal fat) can be turned into bio-diesel quite easily using basically the same trans-esterfication process that commercial producers use to make palm oil into bio-diesel.

After this process, as long as you have done it properly, there is no need for modification or extra filters etc to be used on your engine and the product can be used in most engines that don't have rubber parts in the fuel system as B100 ie. not mixed with regular diesel fuel. (Probably would not put it as B100 in my new commonrail engine! )

The trans-esterfication process is relatively easy, however fairly dangerous.

Here is a link for those interested in making their own bio-diesel. FAQ's and doing it for the first time. Chemicals are readily available and cheap. Just be very careful and follow the safety instuctions regarding handling hazardous chemicals.

[Lancelot]

Let's say it would run on used cooking oil. The question is where would you possibly find enough? In our area there are hundreds of basic very simple fuel system Kubota two wheel tractors. Farmers pour nearly any kind of oil, vegetable or used oil into them.

I've seen several clips on You Tube featuring Thai farmers using waste veg oil in their single cylinder farm tractors. They are a real hoot to watch

Would be interesting to know whether or not it would be possible to get enough free waste veg oil to significantly offset yoru fuel expense. Probably a "Labor of Love..."

[apetley]

Several years ago my brother used to run his Ford Mondeo Turbo Diesel on nothing but vegetable oil bought from Makro. This was in the UK where I think it was about half the price of pump fuel.

Mind you it wasn't used although he had a friend who put used oil through a pair of ladies tights before putting it in his own car!

Both cars seemed none the worse and ran very well.

[jay1980]