..is it possible to mix a bit of sunflower oil to my diesel without it causing damage?

Answer 1

You can run a diesel engine on un-processed NEW vegetable oil. FACT!
Only USED oil requires filtering & processing.

The ONLY people that say you need to process new oil are the ones set to benefit from it economically. You DON'T.

Nobody uses sunflower oil as it's too expensive. The cheap grades of generic 'vegetable oil' eg. rape work just fine.

I know of several people who run 2.5 V6 BMW engines with neat veg. oil straight from the "cash 'n' carry", and cut it 50/50 with diesel in the winter as the viscocity can be a problem in cold weather.

Downsides are: exhaust smells like a mobile 'chip van' and losing the detergents added to commercial fuel.
Of course, you are required to register with Customs & Excise to pay fuel duty - doing that will keep you legal and save around £0.10 a litre.

Answer 2

It depends on the type of engine you are using it in.

If you've got an old-technology engine, like a mid-80s or early 90s car - especially one with indirect injection - you probably won't have much of a problem.

If its a newer engine, particularly one with common-rail injection, or VW's "pumpe-düse" electronic unit injectors, then the "stickiness" (I can't think of a better word) of the sunflower oil could clog up the smaller apertures in the injectors. Up to 5% in normal diesel fuel would probably be acceptable, but not much more (and you would have to ensure that the fuel you're adding it too doesn't already include any bio-diesel components - for example diesel fuel in France is normally 5% bio-diesel).

Also if you're using it on the public roads you'll have to inform the Customs and Revenue that you are using the sunflower oil as a fuel, and pay the road fuel duty on it.

Answer 3

I run my 4x4 on a 50/50 mixture of diesel and vegetable oil (it's cheaper than sunflower oil). There are no special modifications, except that I change the fuel filter every 5,000 miles. I have registered with HMCR and have to do a monthly return.

Some cars require a modification to pre-heat the oil to reduce the viscosity.

Go to: http://www.pocuk.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=77&sid=7d203cd51bc83f62523dfd2bdeff8a9b .

It has a lot if information regarding alterntive fields and the law.

Answer 4

no !!!!!!!!! no !!!!! no!!!!!!!!
some diesels have a ceramice piston top and if you mix it with your fuel it migh damage your engine
best thing to do is find a biodiesel web site and they will give you more advice on the subject
true a diesel will burn just about any oil but your risking engine managment troubles as modern day cars have sensors everywhere
theres loads of sites out there which will help u need ethanol and oil and a catalyst to mix your own bio fuel so just be carefull
once you get it right though it smeels like your constantly following a mobile chippy ! cheap though
good luck

Answer 5

The answer to this is yes, but why would you? A Mythbusters episode covered a simmilar idea, which is using used cooking oil, and it works the problem is without a special treatment being done, which creates biodiesel, your engeen will burn up the oil quicker than standard diesel fuel, so your going to produce more polutants and get worse milage.

Answer 6

I just saw a story on the news about vehicles powered by vegatable oil, so I guess sunflower oil will work also.

Answer 7

smack em down Ward! You need to convert any vegtable oil into bio diesel through a special process. the process separates out something that is harmful to engines. I really forget what it is called (maybe glycol) but I saw it on the discovery channel.

Answer 8

diesel engine will burn darn near anything in small quantities without damage.

Answer 9

Major damage likely. Probably you will purge for days on end.

Answer 10

Are you making fuel or salad dressing?