Running my Vauxhall Astra on veg oil

worried_jim

I am being stupid or is Dexron II ATF automatic transmission fluid ? Really? More stuff I can chuck in the fuel tank that isn't actually "fuel"?

Rolandtheroadie

Just another thing whilst I remember, thats the 1.9 dti Renault covered 2500 miles with no problems. It hasnt even an inline filter fitted .

molerat

Always used hydraulic fluid instead of redex (OM15 to those in the know);)

Farzackerly

worried_jim wrote: »

I am being stupid or is Dexron II ATF automatic transmission fluid ? Really? More stuff I can chuck in the fuel tank that isn't actually "fuel"?

That's the size of it - ATF is good at cleaning stuff in the combustion chamber. There are differing opinions on this on the oil forums, but empirical evidence from experience trumps every time.
Another good combustion chamber cleaner is biodiesel. I've read a few accounts of those who've done many miles on BD and taken the head off for inspection or repair of a valve/gasket/leak (simply for age reasons, nothing to do with BD) and found the combustion chambers and injectors to be clean as a whistle - much cleaner than the engine would have been running dino for the same length of time.
What I do, before MoT time, is fill the fuel filter with ATF and bung it back on, chuck a pint of ATF in the tank and drive for 100 miles at main road speed. The emissions have always been well within limits on the test.

Rolandtheroadie

The Corsa started playing up there for a day or 2. Changed the inline filter but no help.
I've not been very disciplined in my mix recently, and had ran the tank right down once probably drawing crud into the system so as I had about 10 litres veg in it and added £15 of diesel. Problem solved.
I'll need to try and keep to 25% diesel 75% veg for the forseeable.
I've also ordered business cards from Vistaprint to drop off at all the small pubs out in the countryside round here.
We've now got 2 X Corsas and a Megan running it.
We've also got around 300 litres of sludge that could be converted to Bio. With winter approaching, it's back to thinking about a Bio Diesel Processor.
This would allow the wifes Voyager to be run on it as well.
Still the same company I've looked at before, they supplied their instructions booklet which was a good read.

Farzackerly

You need to watch it if you dump unthinned veg oil into the fuel tank and then attempt to mix it with more diesel on top. If it's an old car that's got umpteen tens of thousands of miles on it, the tank has got a lot of crap in the bottom and the vegoil can just sit there, causing problems later.
Exactly this happened to me a few years ago on my old Toyota. I slung in some vegoil, and the following day topped off with dino. The two didn't mix properly and the fuel line and filter blocked. I cleared it and it blocked again a couple of times, eventually blocking solid. When I pulled out the fuel sender it was obvious what the problem was - an inch of jelly in the bottom of the tank
Had to drop the tank and steam it out. It's been fine since, but just to let you know what can happen.
My Tranny hasn't ever given me similar trouble, as it's been running on vegoil/BD/dino from nearly new, but there might be some !!!! there, who knows.

worried_jim

Great comments! Glad you got your Corsa sorted Scotsman.

I have just returned from my first ever 100% wvo road trip- did 400 miles with no problems at all. I had to let friends and relatives have a go driving as well as they couldn't believe what I was running on, this also involved revving the engine and letting people sniff the exhaust for evidence. I did 400 miles on 50 litres so 36 mpg at a cost of sod all.
The bad news- I am all out of wvo, so this morning I launched operation "bin dip". I was out at 7am and I first checked out the bins at the back of the toby carvery- no joy just 3 huge barrels of solid. Next stop Kebab row, looked behind the !!!!!!, pizza parlour and kebab shop and all they had was empty cans and cubies of solid (which I've had a couple for the sake of it- don't know what I was thinking but it must be the kleptomaniac in me. Good job that I couldn't find any more as I forgot I had my golf-clubs in the boot so had no room.) A quick return to the garage to drop off the Golf bats and the cubies and I was out again. Went to the kebab row on the other side of town- nothing, they were spotless. So finally and desperately I had a look behind a local pub- Bingo! 4 15L buckets of Prep ZT with the lids, straight in the boot and are being filtered as I type.
I've never seen Prep ZT before but-A non hydrogenated vegetable oil made from Non GM materials, specifically blended for deep frying applications. Product will start to crystallise at temperatures below 10°C. To restore pourability store at 18 - 20°C for approx. 24 hrs.
Happy Days. Free motoring is here for at least another month. Safe driving everyone !

Skeksis

Jim,

Be careful with the Prep ZT, we use it at work and it seems to solidify quicker than other types in the colder months, even though it's stored indoors!

worried_jim

Skeksis wrote: »

Jim,

Be careful with the Prep ZT, we use it at work and it seems to solidify quicker than other types in the colder months, even though it's stored indoors!

I had a feeling that this was the case as I think its a blend of veg oils including palm. I have got a sample in a jam jar on the window-ledge so I can see its condition every day.
I have just finished filtering my first batch using the prep zt oil, I filtered it twice cos it was filthy and did actually have chips in it ! The first filter was full to the brim with pale grey gunk and I thought it best to give it another go which also gave me the perfect opportunity to clear the barrel out and clean it. I've got about 15 litres of usable fuel and if it runs ok I may go back and get some more but as soon as it turns cold that will be me done for the year and back onto dino until spring '11.
So far this year my fuel spend is up to £96, not bad for 3000 miles of motoring.
I've met a chap who makes bio and he has taken all the crap off me including the clogged up filter full of fat and he was only to happy to take it away and said it would make excellent fuel and if I have any more waste crap in the future to give him a call and he'll collect- recycling my recycling.

worried_jim

I've got a bout 20 litres of prep zt in the fuel tank and so far no probs, but I can definitely tell I've changed my fuel source to a pub cos it smells different !