Hello all,
I am a newbie looking to find answers from people actually running SVO in there diesels... First I have to make this statement.... I understand that you have to install either a commercially sold kit or make one yourself. I'm not interested in making a kit or hearing how your kit got around these problems. I'm interested in finding out simple cut and dry answers to these questions.

What are the long term effects of running WVO on a diesel engine?

Has anyone had any problems with injectors? If so at what mileage?

What happens if you stall your engine and you're running on WVO?

Is anyone running WVO in cold (below -30 degree F) temperatures?

Are there any addititves that are on the market that can be put in WVO to thin it on colder days?

Any comments are greatly appreciated. I'm having a hard time finding any straight answers about these things and I am seriously concidering purchasing a diesel truck and converting it to SVO. Thanks!

Joe Gill
Helena, MT

quote:

Originally posted by JGillMontana:

What are the long term effects of running WVO on a diesel engine?

Has anyone had any problems with injectors? If so at what mileage?

I guess in terms of the questions one can ask going in, there are the biggies. Opinions vary, but I think the bottom line is that theoretically your car can last as long on VO as it can on diesel fuel, as long as you do it right. Now... this is where you can become bombarded with a lot of stellar marketing information about which components are best, etc...

Probably good to skip over all that for now and go to the basics. There is a 10 steps sticky at the top of the forum that gives a lot of info. I think the general principles for longevity are:

1. filter, dewater, and test your oil to make sure it's kosher before putting it into your expensive engine
2. get your motor up to operating temp on #2 or b100 before switching it over to VO.
3. get the oil "near 150" before it hits the injectors (actually 160-170 is even better and many people seem to be able to manage this). This gets the viscosity in the range of #2 which is what the injectors were designed for.

That's all I can think of, but I'm just a hobbyist at this....

Good luck.

Charlie

Cut and dry answers to some of your questions are just not possible. Too many caveats (such as how primitive a conversion you use) exist in a field that is still in the mid to latter stages of "experimental".
But I will do my best.

quote:

What are the long term effects of running WVO on a diesel engine?

This depends so much on how uncontaminated the WVO/VO is and how many of the improvments made in the last few years in comversion technology are incorporated in the conversion.

Doing it incorrectly leads to Ip damage or upper ring land coking and major engien damage from lube oil contamination/polymerization. Doing it right strong indications are that the lifespan of a diesel engine may be ver close to what can be expected on petrodiesel.

quote:

Has anyone had any problems with injectors? If so at what mileage?

Yes...
From 200 miles (free water in the fuel tank) to over 100K (uncontaminated VO fuelm advanced covnersion design, and proper switchover protocol.

quote:

What happens if you stall your engine and you're running on WVO?

Nothing. You start your engine again by activating the starter. Only cold engines have a problem starting on VO.

quote:

Is anyone running WVO in cold (below -30 degree F) temperatures?

A few are...not many though since this is an extreme climate.

quote:

Are there any addititves that are on the market that can be put in WVO to thin it on colder days?

No. Unless you think of RUG as an additive.


I hope this is helpful.
I kow "strait answers are hard to come by..and vendors answers can be misleading and more confusing than helpful.

Several members of this forum are in the process of putting together a source for up to date solid VO fuel info. With luck it will be accomplished quickly..though few are willing to volunteer for the project.

Another option is vegoil blending in a stock vehicle. This takes a good bit of testing with your specific vehicle to find what will work for you.

Thanks all! The advice has been very helpful. I have to ask my diesel mechanic if he has any other questions and then purchase a vehicle to convert as well as secure a source of oil.

Joe Gill
Helena, MT

So am I'm correct in assuming as long as your oil is dewatered, I could mix it with my bio and be safe. I have a 2002 F350 7.3 that I would like to add 25-50% filtered WVO/bio in the summer months. I dont have any mods. as far as converting to svo done. The replies on dieselstop say I should be fine with that ratio...is anyone doing the same or in agreement.

quote:

The replies on dieselstop say I should be fine with that ratio...is anyone doing the same or in agreement.

I think that this is a huge assumption.
I really think you may need to define "safe" and "fine" better.

Will your diesel run on this? Sure.
Will it have no adverse effects in 20-30K?
I have seen nothing to indicate this it probable.

If someone on thedieselstop is advising you it will be "fine" I would ask exactly what they are basing that advice on. There are quite a few folks who assume that if their engine RUNS on a mix and does not destroy itself in 20-30K it is "fine". I tend to set higher standards and prefer some basic testing such as testing to determine if any compression loss is developing over 20-30K.

I advise caution and more research before doing this. And performing regular compression testing/charting if you decide to risk it.

I have run my 86 F250 as cold as -7 F this winter. Next winter I hope to run colder but this winter was mild and that is as cold as we got. I had no problems at this temp. I homebuilt my conversion as per Dana's how-to-files on the 86 with the exception of a 12 volt 300 watt electric water heater element installed to achieve the desired temps in very cold weather. If you are running in extreme cold I would plan on some form of electric heat and a ton of insulation. It is amazing what a 10 degree drop in temp (outside air) can do to your VO temps, especially when the temps begin dipping below freezing

Hello JGILLMontana. First let me say I am a blender.......I Do Not Have Experience At That Low Temperature and can not give a opinion on successful blending, but..........experience tells me the learning curve to work out a successful blend could get Expensive and be problematic during the process.............

My suggestion would be a dual tank system that can provide 150°F temperature at the IP..............

before you install any "system" make sure the top radiator hose maintains a min of 195°F...............

have the injectors cleaned and the pop off pressure set to OEM speck and Make Sure they do not drip at 75% or higher of OEM Pop Off Pressure ........if they drip, they are not clean or need to be replaced..........

check the compression on the engine........should be well within 10% of speck...........

set the timing............

install a electric fuel pump at the tank...........

if you get a IDI style engine, make sure the glow plug system works as it should...............

I do not sell plans, kits or add on items ............

regards,
crossbones

Thanks Dana, I guess the only way to know for sure would to be test and chart it like you said. If I were more mechanically inclined in that area or had access to a shop I probably would. It was just a thought to further reduce the cost, at least for the time being. If anyone has done any research on this, the info would be greatly appreciated.

Joe ... I'm a nearby neighbor of yours, Montana City area. I sent you a PM. Contact me if you wish, I'll show you what I have going.
Ken Gardner