Free Fuel!??...

[hobbyfarm]

I just heard this morning on our local AM talk radio. Some yahoo runs around to all the restaurants and offers to take their old vegetable oil off their hands.
The restaurants are greatful to get rid of the stuff. I guess after filtering it, it would work. The person who was being interviewed said it sort of smells like what's been cooked in it! Fish or [freedom] fries. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Has anyone tried something similar to this?

 

[Dachshund]

There have been several write-ups in magazines about this. You take the oil and turn it into Bio-Diesel. Works if you have a Diesel! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[hobbyfarm]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( You take the oil and turn it into Bio-Diesel. )</font>

You mean there's a specific process to convert it to Bio-Diesel? It's not close enough already to use?

 

[TORQUIN]

While you can run straight vegatable oil, that has been filtered well, most people don't because it congeals at a higher temperature than biodiesel. The process of making BD separates the BD from the glycerine in the oil, and the BD congeals at a much lower temperature, around 15-20 degrees F.
Those who run veggie oil usually have made modifications to their fuel system to have a heated tank and heated fuel lines to keep the oil from congealing at 40 degrees.

Chris

 

[_RaT_]

<font color="blue"> Works if you have a Diesel! </font>

Huh, what, you mean there is someone on TBN that does not have a diesel, thats sacralige!

 

[newcountry]

I was just reading about bidiesel tonight.

Here's a couple links that have been linked to before on TBN.

http://www.biodieselsolutions.com/home/home.asp

http://www.biodiesel.org/

Here's one I found on a Google search -

http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html

Enjoy!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The main hazards of making biodiesel are poisonous fumes, dangerous chemicals, and fires. See Safety for the first two. Here we'll deal with fires. There have been several fires, one operator lost all his equipment, his shed, and was slightly burned. But don't be put off, it's easy to avoid fires. Most important, use closed, fumeless processors. Preferably they should be able to withstand some pressure.
)</font>

The above was from the last web site listed. IF you plan to do this PLEASE do it away from anything you value like tractor, home, kids, not in that order /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Some of the things they discuss are clear violations of Fire Codes.So do not be surprised if your insurance company does not want to pay if you have an accident, not to mention a very angry fire department.

To me it seems like a lot of trouble to save a few $$. Then again some people are happy if they save a few $$. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bottom line BE SAFE if you do this.

OK work hat off now. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Junkman]

it is also only a matter of time before the states start looking for you to pay State Road Tax and the Federal Government starts looking for there tax money also.

 

[Scrounger]

Tom

I was thinking of doing this in the garage like they suggest, but it sounds like the risks are just a bit too high for cheap fuel. Maybe an small shed in the out yard or somehting.

 

[lynxpilot]

I did mine outdoors strictly for safety reasons. The only real hazard involved is methanol. It's probably no more dangerous than working with gasoline. The fumes have both chronic and acute effects, so obviously you avoid breathing methanol fumes whenever possible, but that's not that hard.

I warmed the oil to react it with the methanol, thus making it a little more volatile. Since I had heaters and pumps and such in the vicinity, I felt a lot better keeping the rig outside. I reacted in a full tank, so there would be minimal explosion hazard.

As far as tax, if it's used off road, i.e. in your tractor, it's not taxable anyway. The only lingering problem is that homemade bioD is not EPA approved for use in motors and if your local EPA rep wanted to be a problem, that's the point they could get you on, but I think we're a long way from that.

It's just a hair less efficient than regular diesel, but smells nicer, and is supposed to have gobs of lubricity to keep your fuel pump running for years to come.

I highly recommend it!