Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) in a diesel engine
You can modify your Diesel car so that it will accept straight vegetable oil (SVO) directly as fuel, rather than modifying this oil into fuel (Biodiesel), as described elsewhere on this site. SVO or Biodiesel? Your first consideration is whether to choose SVO at all. With Biodiesel, the issues of fuel viscosity and filtration are already resolved. But if you choose the SVO route, your car must deal with these issues on an ongoing basis. Your fuel must be thin enough, and clean enough, to be injected into your engine without damaging it or otherwise shutting it down. Used properly, however, SVO can help your diesel engine, especially earlier ones, run more quietly and smoothly. Also, unlike biodiesel users, you will most likely be committing to the collection of your own fuel. Collecting your own fuel can be cost-effective and rewarding, but it can also be dirty and frustrating, especially in the beginning. But with time, trust us, it gets easier! Other Considerations A proper kit conversion will ensure that your vegetable oil fuel will be thin enough (by heating), and clean enough (by filtration), to run your car without a problem. The initial expense of the kit conversion is indeed a consideration; however, it is pretty much a one-time thing. And some kits can be purchased and fully installed for just a few hundred dollars. What vehicle is best for SVO? Your next consideration, if you have not already chosen a vehicle, is which make and model of diesel car to buy. Most people seem to choose between Mercedes and Volkswagen. John from Fatty Wagons calls the Mercedes, especially from about 1977 to 1985, “a nearly perfect car†for SVO conversion. There is only a short list of diesels considered not ideal for conversion, such as some models of the Dodge Cummins, the Lucas and some by GM. 1 tank or 2 tank system? The type of car you choose will determine the type of kit you will use. Many cars, for example, require the installation of a second tank, so that the engine can be started and then stopped on either diesel or biodiesel fuel. The injectors in these cars must be purged of the thicker SVO before cooling at the end of a drive, or else starting the engine later becomes a problem. Mercedes do not generally have this issue, but in colder climates most cars must deal with viscosity issues. Fortunately, most of these kit-making companies come with deep knowledge of which kit suits which car best. In the past few years, many people have created many different “systems†or conversion kits, and Americans have generally benefited from decades of earlier European experience in this field. The more mechanically-inclined could certainly create their own systems fairly inexpensively, since the issues are not very complicated. However, the rest of us have chosen to benefit from the research and work of those individuals and/or companies who have labored to perfect SVO kits. SVO conversion companies We are not interested in endorsing one company over another, but here are some of the better known ones: Elsbett, Thalmässing, Germany Call and check out the various conversions BEFORE you commit to one. You'll learn a lot about the pros and cons of each system to make the best decision possible. Most of these companies offer the essential elements for SVO conversion. The price includes more than just parts and a manual—it includes deep knowledge gained from considerable time and work. Many of these companies share knowledge on some very informative websites. Neoteric, for example, whose SVO enterprise is called PlantDrive, has an excellent FAQs page. Fatty Wagons is known for its freely-shared information, even regarding its “competitors.†John at Fatty Wagons states that he wants fully-informed customers; he is not interested in convincing them that he is the only game in town. His links page, for example, is a wealth of information. Frybrid, likewise, has a forum that is active and highly informative. A good first place to start gathering information is The SVO infopop forum, where you'll see the front lines of SVO discussion. Many SVO conversion vendors regularly contribute to this forum, and for the most part, the discussion is civil. Collecting Fuel Choosing your source of oil can be as complicated or as simple as you wish. Some SVO enthusiasts are very discerning between various types of oil, such as canola, soybean, peanut, and with good reason; the chemical properties of these different oils can create different effects in your car’s engine, especially in the long run. It has often been said that canola is the oil of choice, but we feel that if your oil is unhydrogenated, not overly used (black), and not rancid, your oil is fine. You, however, can research and judge for yourself. When you are ready, you will design a simple system for storing, settling and/or filtering your oil at home. Many or all of the companies listed above, and certainly others, offer general information and sometimes products related to the issue of settling/filtering your oil once you have collected it. Some enthusiasts warn against “dumpster diving†because of proprietary issues, while others sell pump attachments for that very purpose. Again, the final decision will rest with you. Links: |
