vegetable oil fuel

We recently met a young english couple who arrived, bought a troopy the next week, had it checked by ARB and a few things fixed and then had one of these vegie oil systems fitted. The next week they did the St John's Remote First Aid course (where we met them) and at the weekend did a 4wd training course as they have never done any 4wd driving before. So arrival to departure was just on 3 weeks.

They intend to travel around Aus for ~ 9 months using only veg oil to prove it can be done. Apparently with their system you start on diesel, and then switch to veg when up to temp. Switch back to diesel and run for a few minutes to ensure that the pump is full of diesel before stopping at the end of the day. Apparently will glug up and probably not start if this is not done, especially in cold weather. I wonder how long before they forget.

alastair

My mate runs his 2.8 Hilux on straight vege oil. He filters it and puts it straight into his fuel tank. He has made an inline heater for the oil and doesn't use diesel at all. Has had it going for about 12 months and so far so good.

Check out his site here www.bjblaster.com He is very knowledgeable and will answer any questions when he has time.

WVO or Waste Vegetable Oil (sometimes SVO - straight vegetable oil)...

Reasonably common, but generally old bangers like Merc diesels or Pugs or the like.

You miught like to look at: Biofuels Forum

My Wrangler is approved for max 5% bio...not worth it for the latest diesels it seems. I wonder what would happen if....!?....silverback

I have not had any experience with these types of fuels so I can't comment one way or another. I am a member though of another automotive site and one of the major contributors to it holds a high position with Toyota Australia. He often travels to Japan and always keeps us well informed on what Toyota is up to even though it is not a Toyota site. He has mentioned alternative diesel fuels a couple of times and has said he has seen plenty of engine damage caused by them. He refers to them as "silly fuels".

One problem the average motorist has with assessing the suitability or degree of reliability with any aftermarket product is he/she has little to go on other than advertising, magazine stories and the experiences of a few friends. This executive with Toyota would have access to all feedback from every Toyota dealer in the world as well as plenty of other service centres and engine reconditioners who would have called Toyota with questions about their products. If these fuels can cause problems then he would know about it.

All I am trying to say hear is if you are contemplating going down this path then look very thoroughly into it. By all means listen to the company making the kits as well as your friends but also check with the vehicle manufacturer as well as organisations like the NRMA, the Motor Traders Association and the Institute of Automotive Mechanical Engineers.

Brian

"Toyota and the other manufacturers are in bed with the oil companies"


That is why I suggested asking other places like the NRMA, MTA and IAME. It does not worry me what other people put in their cars, I was just passing on a warning from someone else. After listening to him for many years and being a member of a car club that he is a member of, I don't believe he was talking as a Toyota representitive.

It has always seemed odd to me how people will go to no end of trouble to find out what is the best oil for their engine. You see the subject discussed on the net, in magazines and anywhere car enthusiasts meet. Everyone has their favourite brand and grade and are convinced theirs is the best. Some of them then put cooking oil through their fuel systems without even as much as a discussion on the type of oil, its lubrication qualities for the pump and injectors or anything else.

I don't know about you but I would like to know a little more about it before I did that and would prefer to go as high up the information ladder as possible before deciding.

Brian