doesnt it have to be a diesel engine or you will have to change the whole engine or something like that?
2007-06-15 11:26:35 · 7 answers · asked by william 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
Is it possible? I have heard of something like that, but I never put that much tought into it.
2007-06-15 11:30:40 · answer #1 · answered by amiari 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, it does have to be diesel. Gasoline powered engines are different and cannot be converted to run on vegetable oil. Gasoline powered cars use spark plugs to ignite the air fuel mix, diesel engines do not use spark plugs.
Basically there are heated hoses that connect the fuel tank to the diesel engine. At the engine there is a warmer and a filter. The warmer make the oil hot so it flows better, it is injected into the cylinder and cumbusted.
In warmer climates (here in Southern California) you can run the car on 100% veggie oil. Colder climates will require a blend, or prewarmed engine.
2007-06-15 11:40:55 · answer #2 · answered by adamose 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first diesel engine was originally designed to run on peanut oil. Modern diesels are optimized for petroleum-based fuel, but can be converted, as others have mentioned. Converting a *gasoline* (not diesel) car to run on veggie oil sounds like a major (and expensive) pain! Personally, I'm considering buying a diesel as my next car, which I'll run on commercially available biodiesel - I don't want to deal with a conversion, or having to switch between two tanks, or any of the other issues, but that's just me.
For more info, check out the links below, but note that the first two have their own bias. The third one may too, but I think it's fairly objective!
2007-06-15 11:52:16 · answer #3 · answered by Suman 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes it has to be diesel. personally, If saving money were my concern, I'd get a diesel car and not worry about the conversion. diesel is going to be more widespread because of the new low sulfer blends that were developed and mandated this year so the car makers can put out diesel cars that meet california and new york clean air standards. you couldn't even buy a diesel car in these two states.
A car with a diesel engine gets about 30% more mpg's than a similar one with a gasoiline engine. Europeans have known this for years.
2007-06-15 11:36:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, if it is a diesel engine it will run on recycled veggie oil just fine. You need to filter the veggie oil very well, and this is accomplished best when it is heated. You can buy units online pretty reasonable to heat and filter the veggie oil. It then is refferred to as "bio diesel". It is then poured directly into your diesel tank same as regular diesel. You can switch back and forth between bio diesel and regular diesal with no problem. That way you can start out on bio diesel you processed yourself, and switch to regular diesal if you can't get back home to refill the tank. The only "drawback" is that the burning fuel gives off a slight odor like french fries etc cooking!.
2007-06-15 12:23:54 · answer #5 · answered by randy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Diesel engines can run on veggie oil, however the veggie oil has to be clean and warmed up.
A veggie car will have an additional gas tank for the veggie oil and a switch to change which tank is in use. Start the car on diesel, then once the veggie oil is warm, switch to veggie. Then before shutting off the engine, switch back to diesel.
Straight veggie oil would gel in the engine, causing it to lock up, which is why you start and stop on diesel.
2007-06-15 11:30:53 · answer #6 · answered by DC 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn`t worry about it....Just buy a car that you like and drive it. You won`t be changing the world by listening to the likes of Algore, the jet setter.
2007-06-15 11:30:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋