What do you guys find works best to mix this wvo/solvent blend together?
Use a mixing stick to mix it up in a drum?
or
Just pour the two or three solutions together?
or
Electric drill with paint mixer or whatever?

Does it even make a diffence how well it is mixed up, or will it naturally just blend together.

I am just in the stage of collecting this wvo, but am not new to mechanics etc and wvo ideas. I have been looking into it for 5 years now, and this is the first I have heard of people blending wvo with solvents other than diesel.
I could be wrong on this observation, but I put a sample of my wvo in a jar and added diesel, and it seemed like the diesel or lighter colored fuel stayed towards the top of the jar, and diesel sort of stayed towards the outer edges of the jar. Although I could be wrong on this and it is hard to tell, but just wondering if anyone had any feedback on this, thanks.

Pour the components together in a barrel and mix with a pump sucking from near the bottom and discharging at the top. If mixing VO with D1 or kerosene, or RUG, there shouldn't be any separation other than the fats and PHO settling out when the mix cools below 50°F.

Always test samples of your specific mix in the fridge and freezer to anticipate any cool problems.

A drill-powered mixer or a paddle should work fine. However, they both will introduce dust and other particles to your fuel. If you go that route, I'd keep your mixer wrapped in something so it doesn't get dirty.

Personally, I shake mine up, though that wouldn't be practical on a barrel larger than about 20 gal. I usually only mix 5-15 gallons at a time.

I just settle and filter my WVO. Water trapping happens as I filter and screen down to 5 microns right into the fuel tank. I then add whatever solvent I happen to be using, which is usually 10%-30% unleaded gasoline (petrol) depending upon the nighttime low. I increase the solvent the colder the temperatures get. I have found vegetable oils mix so readily with gasoline, that there is not need to mix. The fuel gets mixed as I drive, and I have had no problem with this method. However, if one has a high animal fat content WVO, then one may find some separation. In that case, experiment with adding acetone, and start with small quantities, such as 0.1%.

Sources in support of Mixed Fuels:

Peterson, C.L., J. C. Thompson, G.L. Wagner, D. L. Auld, and R. A. Korus. 1982. Extraction and utilization of winter rape (BRASSICA NAPUS) as a diesel fuel extender. For presentation at American Oil Chemists’ Society Annual Meeting in Toronto, Canada, May 2-6, 1982.

Wagner, G. L., and C. L. Peterson. 1982. Performance of winter rape (BRASSICA NAPUS) based fuel mixtures in diesel engines. Vegetable Oil Fuels: Proceedings of the International Conference on Plant and Vegetable Oils Fuels. St. Joseph, MI: ASAE.

Using Unmodified Vegetable Oils as a Diesel Fuel Extender –
A Literature Review
By Sam Jones and Charles L. Peterson
Graduate Research Assistant and Professor and Interim Head
Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83843
http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel_library/idahovegoilslitreview.pdf

Vegetable Oil As A Diesel Replacement Fuel
Phillip Calais* and AR (Tony) Clark**
* Environmental Science, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia,
** Western Australian Renewable Fuels Association Inc,
http://www.shortcircuit.com.au/warfa/paper/paper.htm

Sources in support of Mixed Fuels:

Mixed Fuels Dialog
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vegoil-diesel/message/15660

Mixed fuel Essays, Testimonials and Dialogs on Additives, Blends and Fuel mixes
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vegoil-diesel/message/15950

Key essays on Mixed fuel:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vegoil-diesel/message/7728
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vegoil-diesel/message/12030
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vegoil-diesel/message/13421
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vegoil-diesel/message/14379
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vegoil-diesel/message/15616
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vegoil-diesel/message/15660
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vegoil-diesel/message/15749

Mixed fuels-Acetone
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vegoil-diesel/message/10779

Mixed fuels-Alcohol
"Gaydou, A.M., Menet, L., Ravelojaona, G., and Geneste, P. 1982. Vegetable energy sources in Madagascar: ethyl alcohol and oil seeds (French). Oleagineux 37(3):135–141."

Owner’s manuals that recommend Mixed Fuels
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vegoil-diesel/message/15704

'82 VW Pickup owner’s manual there says that "UP TO 30% GASOLINE" may be added for cold weather starting.
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vegoil-diesel/message/12021

BMW manual
http://www.biofuel-uk.net/bmwpetrol.jpg

Viscosity stuff . . .
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vegoil-diesel/message/15342
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vegoil-diesel/message/15692
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vegoil-diesel/message/15728

Specific gravity measurements of SVO fuel mixes with gasoline
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vegoil-diesel/message/16317

Mixed fuels forums:
infopop forum
http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/frm/f/9751014871

Paddy's goat forum
http://www.vegetableoildiesel.co.uk/forum.

Forums where dialog on mixed fuels is not tolerated:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vegoil-diesel

Best regards,

Jeffrey S, Brooks
the Great Western Vehicle
http://www.greatwesternvehicle.org/rightlivelihood/fuel/index.htm

Some solvents like RUG are highly volatile and the brushes in the drill ( A/C DC motor ) powered SBC pump spark . Using this method could result in an explosion or fire . Can someone suggest any other electric pump WVO/RUG blend mixing methods that would be safe ?

quote:

Originally posted by wvoalaska:
A drill-powered mixer or a paddle should work fine. However, they both will introduce dust and other particles to your fuel. If you go that route, I'd keep your mixer wrapped in something so it doesn't get dirty.

Personally, I shake mine up, though that wouldn't be practical on a barrel larger than about 20 gal. I usually only mix 5-15 gallons at a time.

quote:

Originally posted by rkpatt:
Some solvents like RUG are highly and the the brushes in the drill ( A/C DC ) spark . Using this method could result in an explosion or fire . Can someone suggest any other electric pump WVO/RUG blend mixing methods that would be safe ?

Use an explosion proof motor like on the common pumps made for fuel, I use a 13 gpm Fill-rite diesel 12v pump. But I don't use RUG in my blend anymore for many reasons.

Sunwzard - Please update us on what you are using for blending and why. I would use K1 but it is very expensive in cans at HD / Lowes and hard find at the pump where live. - Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by Sun Wizard:

quote:

Originally posted by rkpatt:
Some solvents like RUG are highly volatile and the the brushes in the drill ( A/C DC ) spark . Using this method could result in an explosion or fire . Can someone suggest any other electric pump WVO/RUG blend mixing methods that would be safe ?

Use an explosion proof motor like on the common pumps made for fuel, I use a 13 gpm Fill-rite diesel 12v pump. But I don't use RUG in my blend anymore for many reasons.

quote:

I don't use RUG in my blend anymore for many reasons.

What are some of those reasons?

I use an air compressor set around 20 psi and pressure mix with the top open.

quote:

Originally posted by john galt:

quote:

I don't use RUG in my blend anymore for many reasons.

What are some of those reasons?

Besides the explosiveness issue: The fact that much of the RUG evaporates from my tank before I get to burn it (the tank is vented to the air and RUG evaporates easily, this is why all gas cars have a sealed system to capture vapors), Retarding of the timing, less power, and lower MPG it gives me. More info here:
http://www.burnveg.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=267

quote:

Originally posted by rkpatt:
Some solvents like RUG are highly volatile and the brushes in the drill ( A/C DC motor ) powered SBC pump spark . Using this method could result in an explosion or fire . Can someone suggest any other electric pump WVO/RUG blend mixing methods that would be safe ?

I think you are being overly and unnecessarily pedantic.

ULP or other volatile solvents need a fairly defined concerntration of vapours to ignite. You will not get an explosion unless those vapours are confined in a space and the container reaches a pressure where it bursts. Short of this all you get is a flash flame which is an entirely different thing to an explosion.

How to mix the WVO and say ULP safely?

Keep the drill or motor out of the mixing container. If it is away from the concentration of fumes the opportunity for ignition is reduced.

Do the mixing outside. This makes an explosion an impossibility and the chances of getting a fire about the same as winning the lottery.

If you mix inside, open all doors and windows and put a fan in the doorway so there is a circulation of air that will keep the concentration of fumes well below the required ignition ratio.

If a person was to mix anything volatile in a confined area regardless of using seal motors, spark proof light switches or any other over the top safety measure one could think of, they would be an idiot. Ventilation is the only way to be sure of avoiding trouble and is simple and easy to do and will be better for your health from an ingestion POV as well.

There are all sorts of over the top saftey warnings from people who don't really understand what they are talking about and see everything on earth as a dire threat to life and limb. When you discuss this with said people, you quickly wonder how they have managed to stay alive as they see imminent death in everything a person can suggest or think of. It's a wonder some people haven't killed themselves just worrying about if they could drown in a cup of coffee!

Forget about what motor you are using, that's not the issue.
The thing you should concentrate on is making sure you are in a well ventilated area ( outdoors is perfect) so there is NO opportunity for any fumes to reach a flammable level.

BTW, How much oil /Ulp are you looking at mixing?
They blend very easily and a quick shake of 25L drum is all I have ever done to mix them and never had a problem in 2.5 years. If you were doing drum volumes, a 60 second stir with a paddle would be all that were required.
No one can argue that wouldn't be safe!

quote:

Originally posted by SunWizard: Retarding of the timing, less power, and lower MPG it gives me.

In comparison to using Straight Veg oil, It is my belief that a small amount of ULP actually advances the timing back closer to where it should be.
Through repeated testing I know some ULP in my oil gives me better power and less smoke as well.
On the weekend I was driving my car and felt it was not as responsive as usual and felt like it was dragging something behind it. Yesterday when I went to top up the fuel, I remembered that I had grabbed the oil in the car from right beside my processor and put it straight in the car. Normally I bring about half a dozen drums to the side of my house where I park the cars and add 5-10% ULP to my oil as a matter of course now.

I had given the theory an honest test un wittingly and today when driving immediately noticed the car was back to what I was used to and running much nicer.

Economy I can't comment on with any particularly knowledgeable answer because even though I do keep consumption records, I know my driving patterns alone affect my mileage so much that I could not make any authoritative comparison.

Given the improved performance and better combustion as evidenced by less smoke, my gut feeling is economy would not be likely to be any worse.

In the end I think it all comes down to the car your using the fuel in but I have learned what mine respond to best.

SunWizard - What "solvent" are you currently using for WVO blending ? - Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by rkpatt:
SunWizard - What "solvent" are you currently using for WVO blending ? - Thanks

I use D2, which is now 10-20% cheaper than RUG as another benefit.

The other reason from the thread I linked is that I was getting RUG vapor lock issues in warm weather (>90F) and its a pain when it doesn't start at all and my wife calls me stranded and mad. Or when we have to crank for a long time, and then it starts with huge clouds of smoke due to the accumulation of lots of unburned fuel from cranking after a vapor lock.