WASTE VEG OIL - anyone using?

[DaiZX]

Been researching the whole veg oil thing on here and other sites. I have access to waste veg oil but wondering what i have to do to it befoe i can use it??

So far i have found you have to leave it for about a week to "settle".

Anything else?

Is there any other problem with it? My 2.4 TD was running excellently at mot, fantastic readings on emmisions, so i assume its in good nick having covered only 58k miles.

ANy help gratefully received......

Dai

[ssray]

leaving it settle will allow water to seperate and then you can pour off the oil and then filter it thru `j` cloth type things to get rid the chips etc.

[DaiZX]

cheers.

SO its ust a case of pouring it through a filter of some sort. I'm liking the idea of this!!

[MattF]

cheers.

SO its ust a case of pouring it through a filter of some sort. I'm liking the idea of this!!

Theoretically, yes. However, this will only remove solid particulates. There are far more things
in there which a filter will not remove, which you would not find in SVO. The initial quality of the
oil before use is also known to vary widely. Certain types of restaurant/food premises use vastly
differing grades of oil. Also, which type of plant oil is it?

WVO is more suited for conversion to biodiesel, whereas SVO is more suitable if you are planning
on popping it straight in to the tank.


Matt

[DaiZX]

OK, so how do i find out if the original stuff is good quality ??

Is it likely to damage the engine then ?

[da SLUG man]

if it's only been used for chips then it's a straight filter... but if it contains animal fats then you're gonna need to filter/separate it more

[DaiZX]

think its pretty much chips. Will check though.

cheers

[MattF]

It might also contain excess acids as well, if it has been well used. Honestly, if you are
chucking it straight into the engine, you really do want to be careful. Some sites you may
find useful for further info are:

http://danalinscott.netfirms.com/vegoil.htm
http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x?a=cfrm&s=447609751
http://journeytoforever.org/
http://www.vegburner.co.uk/

By the time you have finished with just those above, you'll wish you had never asked.
One further thing to note, the biodieseler's will sleight SVO, the SVO'ers will sleight biodiesel.
Pay them no heed. Both types of fuel have pros and cons.


Matt

[DaiZX]

Wow !!

Loads there.

Basically mine would be from the school canteen, used for chips and not high usage i think,
will check it out though, but intend mixing it about 30% with diesel.

That sound about ok??

[kitesurf_phil]

You need to put WVO through a process called transverification. It involves some pretty wicked chemicals like lye (caustic soda) and ethanol (wood alcohol I think) to de-acidify it. I made some small batches but didn't know what to do with the by product, which is 100% pure glycerine soap. The neighbours still hide if I come from the garage with a couple of containers!!!

The soap is great for putting in your empty Swarfega tins and very gentle on your hands.

Have a look at goat industries site.

[MattF]

Wow !!

Loads there.

Basically mine would be from the school canteen, used for chips and not high usage i think,
will check it out though, but intend mixing it about 30% with diesel.

That sound about ok??

If it is fairly clean oil, and decent quality to start with, potatoes are not the hardest
taskmasters on oil, so separation and filtering should get it to decent spec. The only
way to find out for definite is to try it, small ratio at first and working up in ratio whilst
monitoring for any possible problems. BTW, rapeseed is slightly preferable
to sunflower.


Matt

[DaiZX]

so without doing this, its a no no ????

[MattF]

You need to put WVO through a process called transverification. It involves some pretty wicked chemicals like lye (caustic soda) and ethanol (wood alcohol I think) to de-acidify it.

It is also possible to use potash rather than lye. Possibly has minor benefits over lye.


Matt

[That Ruddy Squirrel]

Two slight words of caution:

1) Beware Palm Oil !! - It's like lard
2) Remember Gordon will want his cut, don't you just love the Customs / Inland Revenue ?

One final thought - you will not be popular with people following you - their diets will suffer with the chippy van exhaust !!!


Trev

[MattF]

so without doing this, its a no no ????

I assume 'this' refers to the transterification process? As I mentioned earlier, and Phil
just said, WVO is preferable for the biodiesel process rather than just filtration. However,
how long is a piece of string? It is nigh on impossible to say whether the WVO will have
picked up enough contaminants to make it unusable.

The problem is that the answer is a lot more involved than a simple yes or no. In short,
(or as short as you can possibly make it with any explanation), WVO is contaminated. As
to how much is a completely different matter. SVO, however, is not contaminated by any
external process, as it is virgin oil. During use, WVO will pick up solid particles. It will also
have a higher acid content, higher emulsifier content, higher water content, etc, etc.


Matt