What kind of mileage are you guys seeing with WVO?

After the high cost of setting up (truck and collection/filter system) cost per mile will drop significantly. How much have you guys invested to get it running good? (put your best $ amount for parts and disposables that you can up to this point)

FN74 seems to have reached a maintanence level with his system.

 

Don't let this thread die , it is too interesting ! I would also like to know the cost to set up a system and what you think your savings are compaired to petrol-diesel .

 

Fordnut and I discussed it for a short while and I like the idea. I have since then read on Greasecar.com that they do not recommend using VO as a fuel in Powerstrokes and other ultra high pressure diesel injection systems. Apperently the VO polymerizes in the injector tips at around 30,000 psi. So it's given me pause. They say it works great on engines that have external injector pumps, e.g. VW, Mercedes, older Izuzu, etc.
So I am for now adopting a "wait and see" attitude for about a year or two and see how this all pans out. What I am most concerned about is the survival of the injectors. It wouldn't take long before running on WVO would be more expensive than just sticking with diesel if it eats injector tips.

 

Thanks for the quick reply Kwikk . Yeah if that's the case I think I'd hold off too .

 

More food for thought:
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_TDI.html

 

How firm is that 30,000 psi? A PSD injector will rarely exceed 21,000 psi at the tip, so it might not be anything to worry about.

 

I don't know really. This alternate fuel thing has a steep learning curve for me. And I want to be careful because there is not enough room in my budget right now for a full set of injectors.
I agree that 21k is a LOT less than 30k and therefore would be well within the save thresh hold. But I am still learning at this stage of the game. If all checks out I will go ahead and take the plunge. The visit that I had with Fordnut74 at his house and seeing his setup gave me lots to think about.
I have also read cautions about switching over to VO before the engine fully warms up. Direct injection diesels are especially sensitive to that. Also I have read on GreaseCar's forum about VW diesels turning thier engine oil to jello for a reason that escapes my memory right now.
Still thinking and learning about the whole thing.

 

From the brief studying I have done about using VO, it looks like it takes a few dollars to get set up. Admittedly, I know very little about how it all works and I plan to investigate it further. Anyone care to share about what it would take to make it happen? I need to be able to figure up a break-even point and all that. I would love to be able to slice into that $2/gal deal on diesel fuel, but not if it costs an arm and a leg to get set up to do it.........

 

Kwik- Can't say I blame you for waiting for some longer time trials on this. I also thought about the injector issue as well. I figured i would try it, and of it ruined my injectors, I would buy a set of swamps or something along those lines, go back to diesel, and life would be good. Still no problems, other than a fuel pump, which come to find out was only dirty from my own stupidity. . I finally received my Blackstones oil sample kits, and hope to send out two oil samples in the next few days, one from before veggie, and one from after.

For those wondering about cost, I have invested around 1,000 total over the course of the last 3-4 months or so. This includes all my trial and error stuff. I would say that I could duplicate my efforts knowing what I know now, for around 5-600, including collection and home filtering. The single biggest cost item was the tank itself at $340, which of course i have found cheaper now. However that is for a pretty basic system, to do what I would like to do will cost another 500 or so. The additional freedoms I have now are absolutely great. I have been on several budget road trips, including Vegas, the beach a few times, and am planning a shotgun trip to San Diego with some friends for nothing other than to buy a particularly good burrito.

Quick (or is that Kwik?) Math

15,000+ miles on veg oil
15mpg avg
~1,000 gallons of oil used

1,000x 2.30/g for #2=$2,300 saved in fuel in 4 months!!

That comes out to about 575/month in fuel. My truck payment is 300. For all intents and purposes, my truck is FREE!!!, and I get money back!!! Why do I feel like I belong on an infomercial

 

And there is the cost of a good set of injectors right there. Less than six months. More food for thought. Veggie is looking better all the time.

 

Is it possible to suggest a new forum on FTE for Alternative Fuels, i.e. biodiesel or straight waste vegetable oil? Just an idea.