vehicles running on vegetable oil (Biofuels)

[seftonm]

Modern high pressure direct injection systems are very sensitive to fuel quality, it would probably be best to get an older IDI engine if you are planning on running WVO for many years.

[nelsonmp5]

read a blurb in the costco magazine...
they say the emissions are better than gasoline.
looks like the major issues are filtering and logistics of getting the oil
once modified, these diesels can still run regular pump diesel with no ill effect

[stealth]

For people doing research, you want to search on 'waste vegetable oil', which is different from biodiesel.

It's free, you just need to make arrangements with a restaurant to pick it up. They will usually be happy to give it to you, as they currently have to PAY to get it taken away. Asian restaurants are best, better oil than fryer joints.

I did a lot of research on this, but have not yet done it. My problem is that all new diesels in Canada are either VW's (which I consider low quality), or unsuitable (pick ups). I looked into lder Toyota Land Cruiser diesels, but they lacked the safety features I want. I will likely still go ahead with this at some point, I heard more diesels are coming to Canada.

This site is one of the best I found;

http://www.greasecar.com/

You can drive your car down to a mechanic trained in installing their systems, and have the conversion done there. You'll need the heater, of course, unless you live on the west coast.

What are the emission outputs on these vehicles like? I'm concerned with people confusing renewable energy sources with those that are actually green/environmentally friendly.

[Bullseye]

What are the emission outputs on these vehicles like? I'm concerned with people confusing renewable energy sources with those that are actually green/environmentally friendly.

'Q Will a Greasecar fuel system reduce emissions?

A Yes. There is no sulfur content in vegetable oil which eliminates the first major carcinogen associated with diesel fuel. Vegetable oil plants absorb more carbon dioxide from the air during their growing cycle than is released when the oil is burned, this means that vegetable oil does not produce excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (this is referred to as carbon neutral). Due to a slightly cooler burn some studies have shown NOX reductions when burning vegetable oil. More studies are underway and results will vary depending on engine and tuning. As a sulfur free, bio-mass fuel vegetable oil emissions are less harmful to the environment and less toxic to people and animals. '

http://www.greasecar.com/faq.cfm

All WVO vehicles would have the same result as with the Greasecar example.

[nelsonmp5]

'Vegetable oil plants absorb more carbon dioxide from the air during their growing cycle than is released when the oil is burned, this means that vegetable oil does not produce excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (this is referred to as carbon neutral).

Um, you can't loose carbon, due to conservation of matter. Are you saying it get sequestered in the compost? After the oil is extracted.

[raxen]

Um, you can't loose carbon, due to conservation of matter. Are you saying it get sequestered in the compost? After the oil is extracted.

No. He's saying that there's no net output of carbon dioxide if you use biodiesel because the carbon dioxide released from combustion is taken up by the crops when they grow.

Biodiesel won't work. The biological footprint needed to produce it is immense. Also, government subsidies are driving the prices artificially low.

[nelsonmp5]

No. He's saying that there's no net output of carbon dioxide if you use biodiesel because the carbon dioxide released from combustion is taken up by the crops when they grow.

Biodiesel won't work. The biological footprint needed to produce it is immense. Also, government subsidies are driving the prices artificially low.

Ah yes, of course. Actually I do believe in it but I agree we don't have the infrastructure to support it today.
I thought we were talking diesels running on used vegatable oil, not biodiesel.

[PurpleTiger]

Biodiesel won't work. The biological footprint needed to produce it is immense. Also, government subsidies are driving the prices artificially low.

Depends. If you mean growing corn and soybeans, letting the government subsidize these inefficient crops for biodiesel, then yes, there is little hope. Canola is somewhat better.

There is a lot of promising research going on with algae...

US Gal/Acre
corn 18
soybeans 48
canola 127
algae 819