Why can't I put a fuel converter in my car?

Question

I was told it wasn't worth the money to have a fuel converter put in my 1990 Ford Escort. As I understand it, a fuel converter and using biodiesal can double or triple your miles per gallon. But when I inquired about putting a converter in my car to a relative who works on cars, he told me it wouldn't be worth the money. I put in around 3-400 miles a week on my car, so I would really like to up the miles per gallon, so why can't I do the converter with my car?

Answer 1

Did you say you are running bio diesel?
that is a good enough reason not to put a converter in your car, converters are for petrol engines, not diesel engine, you will be wasting your time and money.
And besides, a diesel engine in a 1990 ford escort?

Answer 2

the first statement is Myth ! i will NOT double or Triple anything , except your costs. Snake oil ,salesmen.
20 mpg + 100% is 40mpg , triple? is BS.
I presume( you forgot to say) Dino to Biodesel conversion.
same engine ?

its not a conversion its an upgrade. they put VITON seals in it. maybe a fancy fuel filter.
there are other issues.
cold starting , wax, to name just 2 serious problems.

if you want low cost Mileage at any cost get a smart car and be done with it.

do the math , its not hard.
take the investment and then the differnental cost of fuel.
compute the true fuel savings in dollars.per year.
then divide the that into the investment
and you get the years pay back.


You have pie in the sky dreams, come down to earth.

One of the best vehicles ever made is a Honda 50 cub.
it gets about 120mPG. Take a long look at that.

that will be the machine to beat.


Now look at the best smart cars, 58 mpg real.
50cc = 120mpg
700cc = 58mpg and a 1/2 ton of steel on your back
not to bad huh? The Smart can carry the cub in the back.

Dont get me wrong, if some sucker is giving you free Biodiesel then break a leg.
it does cost more to squeeze rape seed, then it does to stand with a bucket in front of Gwar well #1. in Saudi.

everything has a cost of ownership.
always compute that first before making a decision.

i hope this makes sense and opens the way to the truth for you.

Answer 3

I am assuming you have a gasoline engine in your car. You can NOT convert a gasoline engine to run on diesel fuel. Diesel engines have a typical compression ratio of 22:1, your car's engine has about 8:1.
Besides it would be physically impossible to convert. So, conversion to ethanol is theoretically possible but impractical as is conversion to natural gas, where would you get the fuel once you convert ?
Diesels do indeed get much better mileage.
If you are interested in a diesel car which gets good mileage buy an usedVW Jetta TDI. Contrary to what people tell you running biodiesel vs petroleum-based diesel does NOT involve any engine modifications. You can also make your own biodiesel for about 10 cents/gallon, but you may not want to do that...
Interesting note, the first Diesel cycle engine demonstrated ran on peanut oil, modern diesels will run on vegetable oils, but they are more expensive than regular diesel fuel.

Answer 4

He was trying to break it to you gently, Lady M. The Escort was designed to be a disposable car in the first place. Save your money and put it into something built in this millenium.

You would have to replace your gas engine with a diesel for starters, which would cost several times the book value of the car.

An 18 year old Escort isn't even worth putting new tires on. Especially not if you're doing that much driving.

An apropos song comes to mind:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJiBA49E_MM

Answer 5

You mean running on ethanol or some such? I don't think your car is built to do that. I suppose you could figure out how but it's not worth it. Ethanol has lower energy content.

Claims about doubling fuel mileage are preposterous and false.
You won't save money at all.

do the math. The very best hybrids get around 44 mpg. What is your car getting now?

If you want to run biodiesel, buy a used VW TDI diesel Jetta or some such. They get great mileage, up to 50 mpg. I think you could find one for about $8,500. They started making them in the year 2000.

Answer 6

Lady M.... you absolutely can put a fuel converter into your Escort that will give you Phenomenal gas mileage. I am sooo tired of people in the automobile industry that tell the same story to keep in place the rubber wall. They are just trying to save their jobs & pensions.

Now my friend Pookie says that if you bring your ride by his place around 10:30 he will Pimp it out in the latest fuel effiecient technology.I'm not sure of the technical manuers .... but I think it involves taking out the engine and cutting holes in the floor board so that you could do the Flinstones thing. I think that you wouldn't use any gas at all with this setup.

Answer 7

I have seen many people have great results with older model Mercedes Diesel Bio Conversions; it sounds like a worthy long term project, and I hope that you don't give up on it... remember, there will never be a shortage of people who will try to shoot down an innovator or their ideas... an early 1980s model Mercedes Diesel may be perfect for what you have in mind and they can found relativley cheaply if you look enough... and, if the Tech you are working with now does not share your long term goal, maybe it would be better to find someone else:)

Answer 8

don't be attentive to regarding the a hundred mpg's, yet i be attentive to with a plastic soda bottle, 2 chrome steel tubes (3/8"), water, and a battery we had a flame getting in my keep. Is it useful? don't be attentive to. My automobiles would probable want a greater useful alternator to run the hydrogen generator besides by way of fact the electronics. i'm greater in contact regarding the hydrogen recombining with oxygen and forming water vapor somewhat of burning.

Answer 9

Most cars as old as yours are not able to take alternative fuels. The numbers you have on increased fuel mileage are very high and I doubt them.

Answer 10

double or triple ur miliage? dont know what you r smoking but i want some.....a converter?? from gas to bio? no such thing... and a 1990 car [escort] is about done anyway...