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[JamesV6CDX]

As per the title, I'm looking for a few opinions on this.

Has anyone else had any experience of doing this?

As I've made clear before, I've sucesfully done 60,000 miles running on neat SVO (new vegetable oil) in a Peugeot 406 with a 1905cc Xud diesel engine. I made no mods at all, just literally threw the stuff in the tank.

I know it's often necessary to fit a heat exchanger, which is just s basic device which takes heat from the coolant (you split a host and run through the heat exchanger) - and it's job is to heat the veggie oil before it hits the injectors/pump, in order to thin it out, so it combusts better and doesn't "gum up" any components.

Given the cost of fuel, and that I'm not confident to fit LPG (and can't afford a good SGI kit at present) I'm thinking about getting an old Pug to run around in (on chip fat), and
get a nice Omega Elite 3.0, as my toy. As much as I love my meega's, and I won't part with them, I just can't afford to run one for about 100 miles a day now I'm considering getting on the property ladder.

One question I have, is that at this time of year, the veg oil in the tank goes thick, especially on a cold morning, which can result in poor starting, or even no starting in bitterly cold conditions.

SO - my challenge, is to see if anyone can come up with a very simple solution, that would heat the oil in my fuel tank, prior to starting, so that it's nice and thin. I've already thought of running the veggie oil from the tank, through a metal pipe which runs along the exhaust, which will heat it up nicely, but I still need a system to heat the oil before I crank the engine.

Any ideas welcome, if anyone comes up with something easy, cheap and workable, then a few beers are on me

[Nickbat]

No ideas on the technical side, but if you do get it done, please don't drive down my road - One whiff and I'll be off for cod and chips.  

[CaptainZok]

Well if you can get close enough to a power point how about an immersion type heater, thermostat and timer then it would be lovely and warm when you get in.

[JamesV6CDX]

You know people laugh, but my Pug 406 did 44mpg @ 40p a litre

[Elite Pete]

I run my wifes Rover 25 on a mixture of 75% rape seed oil and 25% diesel in the summer and alter the ratio as the weather gets colder. I have also heard that mixing 10% white spirit is good to thin the Rapeseed oil but is also illegal so I dont do it . You have to be careful which car you choose as some of the fuel pumps dont like veggie oil and pack up but there are loads of forums about which ones work well

[JamesV6CDX]

I'm liking that captain. Power is not a problem, I'd even run it off a leisure battery stored in the boot.

What sort of heater, and most of all, how the heck would I get the heater inside the diesel tank?

[hotel21]

Why heat it.  Introduce diesel as a mix (not Kerro or red) which thins it a tad and (I'm told) enough to make it work.

Ensure you fill out the forms (not got the link to hand) that keeps HM Rev & Customs at arms length.

Loads on the web.  Just explore....

B

[Andy B]

.......
Any ideas welcome, if anyone comes up with something easy, cheap and workable, then a few beers are on me

   

[JamesV6CDX]

What mixture do you use in the bitter cold, pete?

I didn't know it's illegal to use white spirit etc to thin it - but you could use petrol instead of that - BUT that also costs money, which is what we're trying to avoid here

It's also illegal to run on chip fat,  unless you declare it with HMRC, using form EX103....

[CaptainZok]

Will you be getting it chipped?

Sorry I couldn't resist.
 

[JamesV6CDX]

You Bar-steward

[Andy B]

Will you be getting it chipped?

Sorry I couldn't resist.
 

   

[Nickbat]

What do truckers in Scandinavia use? At temps of -40, their diesel should freeze, so do they have an inbuilt heater or do they use an additive?

[Elite Pete]

What mixture do you use in the bitter cold, pete?

I didn't know it's illegal to use white spirit etc to thin it - but you could use petrol instead of that - BUT that also costs money, which is what we're trying to avoid here

It's also illegal to run on chip fat,  unless you declare it with HMRC, using form EX103....

I have gone back to diesel for the winter. I have read that you have to change the fuel filter often because veggie oil cleans the crap out of the tank and fuel lines and I also put some millers diesel additive in as well. Oh and you will need a box of tissues to wipe the slobber up because of the smell of dough nuts cookings

[CaptainZok]

I know you can get an additive to stop diesel waxing up. The oil companies add it to supplies in winter.
I think I have heard of using heating coils around the fuel pipes, but running off the large batteries in the 24v system means theres much more juice available than from a small car battery.