Running my Vauxhall Astra on veg oil

Rolandtheroadie

Thats the plunge been taken then. Ordered the processor and enough chemicals for my first 1000 litres of bio. Should pick it up on Friday and hopefully get my first batch out over the weekend.
Now the quandry of whether to use the finished product in a common rail too.
More research required.

worried_jim

Which processor have you gone for?

Rolandtheroadie

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/UK-Biofuel-Systems-100S-Bio-Diesel-Processor-Reactor-V2-/140448092022?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item20b35bcf76
They have a website too.
Emailed someone who's bought the same one already and they said it's great, they're over the moon with it.
I think I've around 300 litres of sludge so thats my starting point.
Dont know how easy it'll be, but you've got to start somewhere.

worried_jim

Looks very impressive, you'll be churning out fuel quicker than a leaking BP oil well. You should be fine with the common rail if it is made properly just remeber to introduce it into the fuel system gradually as you clear any crap out of the tank and fuel lines. Let me know how you get on.

Rolandtheroadie

First 100 litres currrently going through the first de-water. Hopefully carry out tritation mix chemicals and add to oil later tonight.

Whilst I'm on, the Corsa started playing up again (both of them). Changed inline filter but no help.
Was on the vegoil site and just posted an update on how all the cars were running and the problem and someone said the paper inline filters can collapse. Removed them and both cars are running fine again.
I was just about to go into the fuel tank too (theres a hatch under the back seat) but wont have to now. I'm also going to change the main filter as there were fatty deposits in that as well. Apparently bio will dissolve all this anyway but it's probably long overdue.

Farzackerly

Keep your fingers crossed there's no paint in the tank. Vegoil and BD strip it off and you get gurt flakey slimy lumps of it blocking up the lines.
Fwiw, I wouldn't trust the small inline filters (tried them), I went down the breakers and liberated a heated Lucas/CAV filter from a Renault 20 (iirc) that takes the standard L/CAV elements for two quid a pop, or less.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/330439567184



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worried_jim

Now its a bit cooler mine is taking a bit of cranking in the morning, I've a third of tank left and when it is gone I'll be back on the dino till May '11. Had a very successful summer on veg, I've been running 100% with no issues, found a good new source of free wvo and saved £100's - very happy motoring. Now its time to batten down the hatches and prepare for the cold, hopefully over the winter I'll be able to pick up some wvo solid and store it ready for spring, warmth and freeness! Happy motoring everyone !

housesitter

Still on the WVO and will be all winter (unless it goes mentally cold like earlier this year).
Was taking an enternity to crank but turned out to be a duff glow plug.
I only have three of them fitted anyway due to a past problem so it takes a little longer to crank anyhow all year round.
But that's why it's got a bigger than normal battery and leads (keep the voltage up to the starter when it draws, also I switch the glows manually. Warming your battery up in winter will aid in cranking it, a smaller current draw than the starter achieves this).

20secs of cranking have been known in the past
Just ticked over 210,000 miles this morning. yay!!

New pipework for the bigger than stock intercooler should be with me tomorrow.
I turned up the boost to 20psi (from 12psi stock) and what a huge improvement.
Don't need the bigger IC, just nice to do it to keep things cooler.

Rolandtheroadie

A sample of my first batch. It's a lot clearer than it probably looks in the picture. Should have it in the tank Saturday with the next batch started too.
Heres hoping for a free fuel winter.
I'll look into that heated filter too farzackerly, great tip and cant do any harm.
A bit more checking to do, but hoping to run 50/50 in the wifes CRD too.
Also had a little brain burn on methanol and v8's but thats for another day (42p a litre!!!!).
Good luck all, whatever your burning.

worried_jim

Just checked on my prep zt sample- still looking good despite the temp drop.(no, its not always kept inside in a sunny window)