My WVO experience......

[AZBLACKSMOKE]

Alright, I got a little impatient and went ahead and mixed some WVO in my truck. My WVO supply was starting to grow too big and I was running out of room while I was getting my BIO processor together. I have spent countless hours researching BIO and WVO for my trucks.

I mixed 15 gal. of WVO and 15 gal. of regular diesel together. I filtered the WVO thru countless paint filters and then thru a 20 micron fuel filter before mixing it with the diesel and then pouring it in my truck. Temps here in AZ right now are in the 70's +or- 5deg. Night time we are in the high 30's low 40's.

The real test will be tomarrow morning when I try to start it.

So far, I have logged 68 miles and all I can say is wow. I noticed a immidiate change in engine noise. Sounds quieter. Acceleration also feels smoother and stronger. The entire truck just feels different in a good way. So far, the truck really seems to like it. Exhaust smells like burnt french fries.

If the truck passes the "cold" start test in the morning...I may increase the WVO ratio. Expecially in the warmer weather coming soon. I am also going to install another fuel filter on the truck just in case. I dont think there is need for a fuel heater just yet....I think I can get by because I am in AZ....but for piece of mind....I will install another filter.

If this continues to turns out good, I may just skip the BIO altogether and stick with the WVO...much easier.
I will use this post to keep everyone updated with the good and bad of this experience.

And the really cool part??? I spent $40 for 30 gallons of fuel....thats 1.33 per gal!Diesel at the pumps here is $2.65gal.

Ok...lets hear the comments and suggestions.

__________________
2001 Chevy Xcab,4x4,LB7/Allison, Straight4in, predator.
Previously a 12valver...

---

Last edited by AZBLACKSMOKE : 01-28-2006 at 09:37 AM.

[ndurbin]

Keep us updated. I'm going to hopefully expirement with WVO in the summer if things work out.

2nd filter was a good idea. Watch for it plugging since ya mixed such a heavy batch of WVO. I planned on running a 10% max. blend at first til the fuel system cleaned out. Then uping it slowly to find the best mix.

__________________
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...tinb4k/New.gif


1994 2500 Reg. Cab 4x4 SLT Laramie CTD/DTT 330hp/765trq - Work Truck
2002 Ford F150 Super Cab - Daily Driver

[AZBLACKSMOKE]

Originally Posted by ndurbin

Keep us updated. I'm going to hopefully expirement with WVO in the summer if things work out.

2nd filter was a good idea. Watch for it plugging since ya mixed such a heavy batch of WVO. I planned on running a 10% max. blend at first til the fuel system cleaned out. Then uping it slowly to find the best mix.

Ya, I tested some different ratios in smaller containers to see the difference. The 50/50 didnt seem too thick. I mixed it with a paint mixer and cordless drill prior to dumping it in my tank. My theory is that it needs to be mixed together real good.???? I figured what the hell....lets try it and if it doesnt work...I'll find out real quick.

The main thing is I think the temps are on my side....and I think that is very important. That and filtering. I learned today, you cant "over" filter this stuff.

Stay tuned.......................

__________________
2001 Chevy Xcab,4x4,LB7/Allison, Straight4in, predator.
Previously a 12valver...

[AZBLACKSMOKE]

Nathan,
Do you have any sources or carry a external filter that I could mount on my truck?

__________________
2001 Chevy Xcab,4x4,LB7/Allison, Straight4in, predator.
Previously a 12valver...

[ndurbin]

I can get some filters thru Amsoil at decent prices. They'd be Wix, Donaldson, or the Amsoil brand filters.

__________________
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...tinb4k/New.gif


1994 2500 Reg. Cab 4x4 SLT Laramie CTD/DTT 330hp/765trq - Work Truck
2002 Ford F150 Super Cab - Daily Driver

[AZBLACKSMOKE]

So far so good! The temp was about 40-45 degrees this morning and she fired right up. The idle speed was much lower till she warmed up...but it only took a min. longer than usual for it to idle normal.

I think If I would have plugged in the block heater, I would've noticed anything different.

I dont think I will go any more than 50/50 for the winter here. I think In the summer, it will be ok run a little more WVO. I dont wanna push my luck.

Stay tuned.

__________________
2001 Chevy Xcab,4x4,LB7/Allison, Straight4in, predator.
Previously a 12valver...

[DieselBurps]

I filter my WVO through 0.5 micron bag filters. As you said, you cannot over-filter WVO! I think the stock diesel filter is 10 micron - so if you aren't filtering it to that level, you may clog that filter sooner rather than later.

Make sure there isn't any water to that WVO. A lot of people blend it - but don't get too ambitious with that ratio. If it starts getting too thick due to temperature drops, it will gell up and clog your filter... Do you have a fuel pressure gauge mounted before the IP? It would give you some indication of the filter becoming full.

I think I'll break down and start blending as well - I still have to heat up the engine in order to burn straight WVO - if I can drag out the diesel refills, so much the better!

[AZBLACKSMOKE]

Logged about 75 miles today. Truck is running flawlesly. My buddy even commented on my exhaust smell. He didnt know I was running 50% WVO.

As soon as thins tank is gone, I am going to pull my fuel filter to see if I can see anything abnormal. I havent had any problems yet. But something is telling me that this is all TOO easy. But...so far so good.

I also let a sample of filtered to 10 micron WVO sit in a glass jar, just to see if I have anything settling or whatever. And I am suprised how clean it is. Its semi dark in color, but there are very few "floatys" in it. I think this is because I get my oil from a fancy, high class resturant and they change their oil frequently.

Stay tuned......

__________________
2001 Chevy Xcab,4x4,LB7/Allison, Straight4in, predator.
Previously a 12valver...

[AZBLACKSMOKE]

Originally Posted by DieselBurps

I filter my WVO through 0.5 micron bag filters. As you said, you cannot over-filter WVO! I think the stock diesel filter is 10 micron - so if you aren't filtering it to that level, you may clog that filter sooner rather than later.

Make sure there isn't any water to that WVO. A lot of people blend it - but don't get too ambitious with that ratio. If it starts getting too thick due to temperature drops, it will gell up and clog your filter... Do you have a fuel pressure gauge mounted before the IP? It would give you some indication of the filter becoming full.

I think I'll break down and start blending as well - I still have to heat up the engine in order to burn straight WVO - if I can drag out the diesel refills, so much the better!

Where do you get your filter bags from?

The fuel gauge probably isnt a bad idea. I am thinking of installing another filter on the truck. I havent had one single problem yet...but I think its still to early to tell. But the oil, temps, and general design of the trucks fuel system are on my side...so I think I'll be ok.

To further my savings I am thinking of buying my diesel in bulk. I have a 600 gallon diesel tank. I really like the idea of vigerously mixing the two together for some reason. It just seems better to do that rather than dumping WVO in a tank of diesel. My test batches seem to verify this theory....

I thought about converting my truck to 100% WVO but this method doesnt fit my lifestyle. I only have a 10 mile commute to work. So the purging would be very time consuming and pointless. Thats why I decided to blend instead....I see the benefits of this right away....mainly...my wallet doesnt hurt as much and I can now drive more because the ole ladie doesnt freak out when it cost me $80+ to fill my truck up.

__________________
2001 Chevy Xcab,4x4,LB7/Allison, Straight4in, predator.
Previously a 12valver...

[pluguglyinhere]

very cool and promising

__________________
2006 CTD 2500 4x4 Quad Cab, issipro tranny, boost and egt guages in the a-pillar. Amsoil dry filter with homemade 4 inch intake. 4 inch out, aero only and the stock 3.73 behind the automatic.

[DieselBurps]

Originally Posted by AZBLACKSMOKE

Where do you get your filter bags from?

Search www.mcmaster.com for filter bags. There's also www.filterbag.com.

Originally Posted by AZBLACKSMOKE

The fuel gauge probably isnt a bad idea. I am thinking of installing another filter on the truck. I havent had one single problem yet...but I think its still to early to tell. But the oil, temps, and general design of the trucks fuel system are on my side...so I think I'll be ok.

Just to clarify - fuel pressure gauge was the topic - I didn't want other readers to get confused here.

Originally Posted by AZBLACKSMOKE

I thought about converting my truck to 100% WVO but this method doesnt fit my lifestyle. I only have a 10 mile commute to work. So the purging would be very time consuming and pointless. Thats why I decided to blend instead....I see the benefits of this right away....mainly...my wallet doesnt hurt as much and I can now drive more because the ole ladie doesnt freak out when it cost me $80+ to fill my truck up.

I've got a 4 mile commute - but I do make the occasional longer trip. My newly designed (and soon to be implemented) setup should allow me to switch to WVO in about a mile. Purge time shouldn't be that bad - when I switch back to diesel, the WVO should be purged down to a reasonable % mix within a 1/2 mile, and completely gone by 1 mile. That helps to cut my fuel consumption in 1/2. Blend by 50% also and it's down to 1/4! Also - if I head home for lunch and don't take too long at home, I can do ~ 6.5 miles of the 8 mile trip on WVO.

The final satisfaction comes in when I can finish up my biodiesel refinery and then do 100% of the trip off diesel!

[illflem]

Main problem folks run into running WVO is that there is no way to filter out dissolved sugar, salt, MSG, etc in the oil. Eventually this cokes up your injectors, valves and piston top.
This is the reason many people who have touted WVO have switched to BD, the dissolved impurities are removed.
Give it 25k for problems to start showing up.
There was a guy at DTR raving about how he had been running heated WVO for 20k. He PMed me about month ago with engine rebuild questions, haven't seen him post about WVO since then.

__________________
Bill
'95 2500 4wd auto
'95 3500 5 speed heavy hauler
Both far from stock