Anyone know of Elsbett conversion workshops that still take place?

I just purchased an Elsbett kit (second hand, but never installed), for an early 80's rabbit (1.6L).

I probably won't use the whole kit. However, as I go through the install process, I'd be happy to share my insights with you.

I believe there were a number of US vendors, and there may be one in California.

----- Clifford -----

Best way to find out about workshops is to ask Alexander Noack at elsbett.com
info@elsbett.com I think.

Try to find a dealer if you aren't a mechanic.

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Elsbett conversions

I would like to convert my landcruiser (80 series) to run on SVO. The only problem being I regulary do 1000k trips, and are sick of towing a trailer and refuelling along the way. (1000Ks being the distance to the parents (or in laws) and return). This leaves me with 2 options that I can think of. (landcruisers come with 2 tanks already)

1 swap rear 50 tank for 160l long range tank (and fill with UCO), relocate spare on the rear tailgate, then conversion with FPHE, extra fuel filter etc. Aprox cost $1600 (mostly being new tank and shifting spare)

2 Get elsbett conversion keep both tanks for veg oil. Kit comes with extra filters etc. Aprox cost, $1600.

So I am leaning towards the elsbett. Mine is a 1990, only one is listed for that year, which matches size, cylinders, turbo, power, voltage, injector pump manufacturer. At the end of the listing it has (nur/ only IDI) My car has written on it “direct injection”
Did Toyota do 2 heads for the 1HD-T engine for different markets (a direct and indirect injection) perhaps IDI for colder climates, or is there some other explanation I don’t know about?
Any other way of going about this conversion you may like to suggest?

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Mercedes Repair Raleigh | Integrated Marketing Raleigh

This message has been edited. Last edited by: josephmethew,

From what I've seen of Esblett.They are junk,to small flate platte.They maybe good for new fresh Canola,but not for wvo.

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I would like to convert my landcruiser (80 series) to run on SVO.

I wouldn't advise an Elsbett type conversion, not with a DI engine like the 1HD-T. You could easily incur very expensive damage just to save a few bucks. Either do a complete 2 tank conversion, or run VO blends with a FPHE.

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Did Toyota do 2 heads for the 1HD-T engine for different markets (a direct and indirect injection) perhaps IDI for colder climates

No, Toyota turbo engines are DI.
For that vehicle I'd advise spending the money to make biodiesel instead of a SVO conversion. In the long run it will be less risky and probably more economical.
Also consider converting to 16" Toyota wheels to get an increase in MPG.

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Originally posted by john galt:Either do a complete 2 tank conversion, or run VO blends with a FPHE.

I agree.
Elsbett have been at the veg conversion game a long time so it would be hoped their products can be relied upon. They seem to be mighty pricey for what they are though. You should also look at the specifications for the fuel they mandate as well. There was a discussion on the local forum some time back and if memory serves they specify NEW oil with allowance of Used oil that meets their standards. As I recall, the " standards" were a bit hard to define but it could be concluded that it would have to be VERY good WVO. Blending with some dino may help bring it closer to standard.

A 2 tank conversion for the vehicle could be very easy and cheap to setup especially if your main use is long trips. you could put a temporary/ removable wvo tank in the back of the truck ( 205L drum on brackets to hold it) FPHE and some valves which could be the normal ball type seeing you are only going to have to switch them at the beginning and end of the journey. Again, a blend may be helpful as may hedging your bets with a simple Water injection system to keep deposits and buildup at bay.

If you want to do something more elaborate and built in, you could still do something much cheaper than the Elsbett and have the same amount of reliability and security for your engine if not more.

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Did Toyota do 2 heads for the 1HD-T engine for different markets (a direct and indirect injection) perhaps IDI for colder climates

No, Toyota turbo engines are DI.[/QUOTE]

I believe there is 1 engine that is an IDI turbo but that is fitted to the baby cruiser they call the Prado here. It was a 1 off and only had a short model run.
To the best of my knowledge all other Toyota Turbo's are DI.

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At the end of the listing it has (nur/ only IDI) My car has written on it “direct injection”

That indicates that kit is ONLY for IDI engines, and not for your DI.

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Elsbett have been at the veg conversion game a long time so it would be hoped their products can be relied upon. They seem to be mighty pricey for what they are though. You should also look at the specifications for the fuel they mandate as well. There was a discussion on the local forum some time back and if memory serves they specify NEW oil with allowance of Used oil that meets their standards. As I recall, the " standards" were a bit hard to define but it could be concluded that it would have to be VERY good WVO. Blending with some dino may help bring it closer to standard

WARRANTY PEOPLE WARRANTY!!!

Elsbett offers a 1 year WARRANTY on the ENGINE, not just the kit.
Thats right, a WARRANTY WARRANTY WARRANTY on the ENGINE.
Let that sink in for a minute.

Of course they aren't going to cover engine damage caused by whatever you fished out the dumpster.
Hence to not void the WARRANTY, you need to run fuel that meets their standards.
Food grade virgin canola with receipts is ok.

The kits can run other types w/o a problem including WVO.
WVO filtered to 1 micron absolute w/o free or dissolved water and low in acidity is recommended.

I have 114,000 miles running SVO/WVO canola /soy/corn in my Direct Injection TDI.
A recent examination showed no unusual deposits.
Lots of single tank Elsbetts in Europe with 200,000+ miles.
Only problem I've had is with wiring that I did that got dirty or broke.

Blending with dino does not bring it closer to the W. std.
That's because the std specifies debris, water and acidity.

And the poster claiming the FPHE is 'too small' is uninformed.
I've measured temps using the 'small' FPHE at 160*F @ the ip on my TDI and M_B's I've done.

Elsbetts use modified injectors, timing and glow plugs to achieve the reliability and conveniance no other kit can match. [Ever seen an UN-modified Grease Car kit w/o problems?] They've designed their own multi-fuel engine and have done thousands of conversions in Europe.

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Originally posted by jburke:
[QUOTE]
Elsbett offers a 1 year WARRANTY on the ENGINE, not just the kit.

Hence to not void the WARRANTY, you need to run fuel that meets their standards.
Food grade virgin canola with receipts is ok.

The kits can run other types w/o a problem including WVO.
WVO filtered to 1 micron absolute w/o free or dissolved water and low in acidity is recommended.

I don't know about the US but here in Oz the cheapest new oil I have ever seen in BULK ( 10K L) was still more than double the price of diesel even at the still high price. I believe in the UK oil is cheaper than Dino, at least if you don't pay road tax on it. :0)

The problem with using WVO and claiming warranty would be proving that what you had been running the vehicle on met spec.

On the Vegetable oil standard page, there are quite a lot of parameters for the oil. even at the " rough" check stipulates a check on Phosphorous levels. Anyone know of a cheap and easy way to test for Phosphorous in your oil you can do at home??

I can see nearly any warranty claim being knocked back especially if WVO were revealed as the fuel.
One would want to keep samples of each batch of fuel used, after having them tested to make sure they did meet " Standards.

Hi DCS,

SVO is currently $4/U.S.gallon in America and Europe.
AFAIK, diesel and gas are close to $8 in Germany and $3 where I live.

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I can see nearly any warranty claim being knocked back especially if WVO were revealed as the fuel.
One would want to keep samples of each batch of fuel used, after having them tested to make sure they did meet " Standards.

No one should bother keeping WVO samples. No tests will be made by me or Elsbett.
The only acceptable proof would be receipts for canola SVO during the warranty period. A lot of them.

On TDI Elsbett owner reported her ip died and was rusty inside. She never even knew there might be water in her WVO. Thats the kind of repair Elsbett is not responsible for.