My vegetable oil fuel experience...

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Comments

  • Cassa
    Cassa Posts: 110 Forumite
    Anyone know if a 1997 Ford Escort 1.8 TD can happily run on SVO, and if so what a good mix would be?

    Thanks
  • EXPAT_2
    EXPAT_2 Posts: 76 Forumite
    Cashback Cashier
    Anyone know if a 1997 Ford Escort 1.8 TD can happily run on SVO, and if so what a good mix would be?

    Yes it will no problem, go 10% for the first week & then anything upto 50-60% during warm months, then back to max. 20% during cold months.
  • GarethK
    GarethK Posts: 180 Forumite
    EXPAT wrote: »
    Yes it will no problem, go 10% for the first week & then anything upto 50-60% during warm months, then back to max. 20% during cold months.


    No good because although the i.d.i engine itself is suitable, most were fitted with Lucas pumps which fail very quickly when SVO is added, so dont risk it!

    A Transit is a D.I so not ideally suited to SVO/WVO use without twin tanking however most are on their last legs and covered lots of miles and the increase in engine wear from cold SVO/WVO being squirted into the piston crown will not be noticeable for quite some time, many people do actually run 100% on these but being commercial vehicles and loads of parts available the short to medium term cost saving helps.
  • Cassa
    Cassa Posts: 110 Forumite
    Thanks EXPAt & GarethK for the info.
  • kylie1dw
    kylie1dw Posts: 13 Forumite
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    SVO in any vehicle is asking for trouble. Now turn it into bio diesel and thats a different matter.
    To make bio diesel you are basically washing the oil with the aid of certain chemicals and water so as to remove the glycerole out.
    Glycerole is thick and gloopy (makes soap) so you can imagine what SVO will eventually do to your engine.

    My hubby makes his own bio diesel for approx 15p a litre and his discovery actually runs better and quieter on it than regular diesel.

    15p cost is made up of free waste vegetable oil, electrics and chemicals.

    Bearing in mind goverment statistics say that 20 million litres of waste oil is dumped every month in the UK theres plenty out there for everyone.

    I know bio diesel works coz hubby makes the bio diesel processors for home use and they selling like hotcakes. Currently cant keep up with demand.
  • GarethK
    GarethK Posts: 180 Forumite
    kylie1dw wrote: »
    SVO in any vehicle is asking for trouble.


    A generalising statement when some can and do run 100% SVO all year round. The type of engine most suitable is indirect injection so cars like my Xantia will consume it no problem, replace the oil regulary and dont let it idle for too long when cold and your unlikely to do any harm and you would be extremely unlucky to do so, but i stress my engine type is ideal and has the perfect pump for the job.

    In total i've done over 20k on an SVO mix and my car uses less oil than when i got it, in fact oil consumption is now non-existant, its smoother and quieter when on a SVO and it even makes hot starting easier. Its a no-brainer for me, but i do have a better mechanical understanding than your average person on the street and if something did go wrong, i could fix it for very little cost.

    Gareth
  • Celticheart
    Celticheart Posts: 8 Forumite
    I have a Citreon Xantia 2.1TD with a lucas pump, 130,000 miles and have started using Bio Diesel, but would like to start using a 50/50 Bio Diesel and Veg Oil mix.... will this work or will it kill the lucas pump?
  • GarethK
    GarethK Posts: 180 Forumite
    Celticheart wrote: »
    I have a Citreon Xantia 2.1TD with a lucas pump, 130,000 miles and have started using Bio Diesel, but would like to start using a 50/50 Bio Diesel and Veg Oil mix.... will this work or will it kill the lucas pump?

    Nope, keep using bio. Your lucas pump is fly by wire and very expensive to fix if it breaks, so another SVO no-no. 2.1's can be better on mpg than the 1.9 because they have more torque and dont have to work as hard.
  • Craigl_3
    Craigl_3 Posts: 1 Newbie
    Hi there,

    I'm new to this site and just wanted to ask if I can run my Vauxhall Astra 1.7 CDTI (on an 04 plate) on SVO. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

    Many thanks.
  • Steve_xx
    Steve_xx Posts: 6,976 Forumite
    Name Dropper Combo Breaker First Post First Anniversary
    Will A Nissan Primera 2.2 TD, on a 54 plate, run on this cheaper stuff? If so, what will it run on?
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