Our Vegetable Oil Car

While I've been in San Francisco, my husband Larry converted our diesel Mercedes to run on waste
vegetable oil. I personally haven't driven the car yet, but I was excited to hear that his conversion was
successful and how easy it was to do. -- Debra

Recently, I modified our old diesel Mercedes Benz to run on vegetable oil instead of diesel fuel. This fuel is
also known as waste vegetable oil (WVO). The miles per gallon burning WVO is approximately the same as
burning diesel fuel, about 27 miles per gallon.

Diesel fuel is now around $4.00 a gallon where I live in Florida, way more than I want to pay just to burn.
Also, diesel and gasoline are non-renewable petroleum resources, and I shouldn't be contributing to global
warming by burning these fossil fuels when I drive my car.

Vegetable oils are carbon neutral when burned as fuel. They don't produce more carbon waste than the
vegetable crop would just biodegrading in the field.

Vegetable oils also have the huge advantage over diesel fuel, because I can get vegetable oil for free.
That's right...free. I only have to pay for the cost of the filters, which is still way less than the cost of
diesel fuel.

I love driving down the road waving at gas stations selling diesel for $4.00 a gallon. I smile to myself and
am pleased that I am no longer participating in the inflated cost of petroleum and the war in Iraq by
burning fossil fuels in my car.

Vegetable oil burns cleaner than diesel fuel and it also has better lubrication qualities than diesel fuel, so
engines should last longer. So, It's cleaner, greener and cheaper.

How I Modified Our Car to Run on Vegetable Oil

About one year ago, I bought an old 1978 Mercedes 300D diesel car. I bought it with the intent to modify
it to run on veggie oil. After catching up on all the regular maintenance things like brakes, oil change, etc.,
I drove the car around to ensure it was in good running order. Everything looked okay.

Then, I did considerable research on the internet about various different kits to modify diesel cars to run
on vegetable oil. They ranged in cost from about $1,000 to $2,000. More than I wanted to spend, but still
doable. I continued to look and found a vegetable oil kit made especially for 1977-85 Mercedes Benzes for
around $250. This is a single tank system for use in warmer climates (usually above 50 degrees). Since I
live in Florida, it was perfect. It's almost always warmer than that here.

I ordered the simple Benz kit from www.fattywagons.com. They communicated quickly and clearly and
I had the kit in just a few days.

This time, I actually read and followed the directions. The kit consists basically of a pre-filter, electric
injection line heater, a supplementary fuel pump, and an electric fuel heater line that heats fuel before the
injection pump. Vegetable oil is thicker than diesel fuel, so it needs to be heated or thinned in some other
way before it can be used as fuel.

One afternoon, I installed the kit in my Mercedes. It took about 3 1/2 hours. Most of it was pretty simple
put-the-fuel-pump-here-and-wire-it-up-here-to-this-fuse kind of stuff. The part that was tricky was
installing the electric injection line heaters with the silicon tape between the injection lines without having
it all stick to itself. That tape really sticks to itself very easily and needs to be wound around each injection
line. Tedious, but doable.
The kit was very well designed. I didn't even have to cut the metal fuel line or drill any holes in the body.
It used existing holes and only the rubber fuel line got cut. Very simple.

I tested the injection line heaters and the injection pump preheater line, and they all worked perfectly.
They got very hot in just 1-2 minutes. Perfect.

Now, I needed some vegetable oil. I drove to Costco and bought several gallons of pure soybean oil. This
new vegetable oil looked pretty clean, but I decided to run it through a denim cloth just to be sure. This
pre-filtering took a little while, but better safe than sorry.

Then, I put the vegetable oil in the fuel tank and I was ready to go for a test drive.

I drove about twenty miles north of Clearwater on US 19. I drove that far to be certain it was running on
vegetable oil and not just on whatever diesel remained in the filters and lines.

Voila!

After only a few miles I was driving on pure vegetable oil. The engine ran quieter, but otherwise just
about the same as on diesel fuel. Big smile, it works. Diesel cars can be modified to run on veggie oil, and
I have one!

Finding Veggie Oil for Fuel

Next, I went to several restaurants until I found one that had decent-looking waste vegetable oil that they
were willing to give me for free. The first few restaurants I went to had ugly oil that had lots of garbage
floating in it. Finally, I found some primo oil at a nice Thai restaurant (that also has great food!).

I pumped the oil into two 5-gallon containers with a hand pump. The pump had a screen on the pickup
end to keep out the bits of shrimp and whatever.

Earlier, I had bought a couple yards of denim for $12.00 at a fabric store to use as pre-filters. I then
filtered the waste oil through the denim and into two other 5-gallon buckets. Then, I pumped it into my
fuel tank.

Now came the real test: could my car run on essentially free fuel...waste vegetable oil?

I drove about 100 miles north of Clearwater. The car ran great on waste vegetable oil. Free fuel! I smiled
and waved at a gas station selling petroleum diesel for $4.09 a gallon.

Cleaner, greener and free (almost) fuel seems to be a much better way to drive.

I did need to make one minor repair. I had some trouble with the alternator pulley squealing and eating
its belts. The pulley had been damaged by the previous owner putting on the wrong size belt. So, now
that pulley tended to squeal and eat its fan belt rather quickly. This was a problem I had before, but now
with the added electric drain from the injection line heaters, what before was borderline was no longer
adequate.

Since I couldn't just purchase the alternator pulley by itself, I recycled a whole alternator with pulley
($20) from a wrecking yard! It works great now; no problems at all.

Costs

So far my costs have been:

Diesel Mercedes $835.00

Fattywagons Simple Benz Kit $250.00
Denim for filtering fuel $12.00
Alternator $20.00
Alternator Belt $7.95
TOTAL $1,124.95

A small price to pay.

I've driven over 700 miles on waste vegetable oil so far. At 27 mpg with diesel fuel at approximately
$4.00 a gallon, I've saved $103 already! This car will pay for itself in about 7700 miles, and then my
savings will be profit! I'll make 15 cents for every mile I drive (and more as gas prices go up and up)! I
love it!

It does take 1-2 minutes longer first thing in the morning to start the car when it's cold. This is to heat up
the injection lines before starting the car. I'm entirely willing to take this time in exchange for driving on
cleaner, greener, cheaper fuel.

One more benefit...The car exhaust doesn't stink of diesel fuel any more. Now it smells like fried
shrimp...or fried chicken...or french fries.

See Plant Drive

http://plantdrive.com

VEGETABLE OIL Cars and Converting Your Car to VEGETABLE OIL

http://plantdrive.com
http://www.greasecar.com
http://www.vegpoweredsystems.com
http://www.goldenfuelsystems.com
http://www.goodgrease.com
http://www.vegpower.com
http://www.elsbett.com
http://biocar.de
http://www.enviofuel.com
http://www.frybrid.com
http://www.vegiecars.com
http://www.theorganicmechanic.org
http://www.fattywagons.com
http://greasebenz.com

http://www.vtvegcar.com

http://www.vegengine.blogspot.com

http://www.greenconversion.net

http://www.alaskavegoil.org

http://www.ehow.com/how_2004136_vegetable-oil-fuel.html

http://www.vegdvw.com

http://www.greendiesel1.com
http://vegwerks.wordpress.com

http://www.vegiecars.com

http://vegetablepowersystems.com

http://danalinscott.netfirms.com

http://www.bebioenergy.com

http://www.instructables.com/id/Biotour.org-Waste-Vegetable-Oil-Conversion-Diesel-/

DVD LIQUID GOLD 2

Learn the Do’s and Don’t's of Gathering and using Waste Vegetable oil as a fuel. Perfect for anyone who is currently
using, or planning on using SVO (Straight Vegetable Oil) or Bio Diesel as a fuel!

These questions and more are answered on this DVD:

• The legality of collecting waste vegetable oil and burning it as a fuel.

• Overview of how diesel engines burn waste vegetable oil as fuel.
• How to identify good waste vegetable oil.
• How to identify bad waste vegetable oil.
• How to ask a restaurant for their waste vegetable oil.
• How to fuel up on the fly with the automated One Shot Filtration Unit.
• How to setup your own waste vegetable oil accounts.
• How to collect large quantities of oil for later filtration at home.
• How to filter waste vegetable oil using filter bags.
• How does salt, sugar and animal fats affect waste vegetable oil for fuel?
• How to tell if there’s water in the oil?
• How to filter the oil once it’s been gathered.
• Cold Weather gathering techniques and tips.

http://www.goldenfuelsystems.com

DVD S.V.O. Seminar 2006

Lately there's been a lot of talk about the effects of Global warming due to our love of gas guzzling vehicles and our
dependency on foreign oil. Scientists and entrepreneurs around the world are busy developing what they hope will be
our answer to cleaner burning vehicles. What many people don't realize is that this technology already exists and it's
been around for quite some time now.

This DVD was Shot during a seminar on Straight Vegetable Oil at Ecoversity in Santa Fe, New Mexico and is packed with
2.5 hours of valuable information. Listen along while many of the most frequently asked questions about this technology
are discussed and answered.

These questions and more are answered on this DVD:

• The History of Straight Vegetable Oil

• Different Alternative Fuels
• Straight Vegetable vs. Biodiesel
• Straight Vegetable Oil Facts and Fiction
• Diesel Engines vs. Gasoline Engines
• How a Straight Vegetable Oil System Works
• The Importance of a Vehicles Air Filter
• Increase Power and Economy/Computer Mods
• Oil Gathering 101
• Filtering on the Fly with the One Shot
• Using Filter Bags
• What to do with leftover Nasty Oil
• Diesels Available in the USA

http://www.goldenfuelsystems.com
DVD GREASY RIDER

Picture a cross-country road trip powered by vegetable oil in a 1981 Mercedes-Benz. Greasy Rider follows the two
filmmakers, Joey Carey and JJ Beck, as they meet with fellow Greasecar drivers, friends, and critics. Traveling as far south
as New Orleans and as far north as Seattle, the car is fueled by used cooking grease collected at restaurants along the
way.

Interviews include Morgan Freeman who is opening up a Biodiesel plant in Mississippi. Political analyst Noam Chomsky,
“You're supposed to believe we would have liberated Iraq even if its main product was pickles,” appears along side Yoko
Ono, “This whole world is now ruled by corporations and their greed,” and Tommy Chong, “You guys figured it out. You
got your little bio-car, and there you go.” Additional interviews include the founders of the four major vegetable oil
conversion kit companies, Greasecar, Greasel, Neoteric, and Frybrid, as they discuss the reality of vegetable oil as a fuel.

The heat is felt in this political documentary as America's energy consumption continues to grow. With gas prices on the
rise and the reality of global warming setting in, Greasy Rider points to vegetable oil as one part of the solution to our
energy problems.

http://www.goldenfuelsystems.com

JOURNEY to FOREVER
http://www.journeytoforever.org
The Film:   FUEL
http://thefuelfilm.com

FUEL is an insightful portrait of America’s addiction to oil and an uplifting testament to the immediacy of new energy
solutions. Director, Josh Tickell, a young activist, shuttles us on a whirlwind journey to track the rising domination of the
petrochemical industry — from Rockefeller’s strategy to halt Ford’s first ethanol cars to Vice President Cheney's
petrochemical company sponsored energy legislation — and reveals a gamut of available solutions to "repower
America" — from vertical farms that occupy skyscrapers to algae facilities that turn wastewater into fuel.

Tickell and a surprising array of environmentalists, policy makers, and entertainment notables take us through America’s
complicated, often ignominious energy past and illuminate a hopeful, achievable future, where decentralized,
sustainable living is not only possible, it’s imperative.

DVD :   Biodiesel #2

Filmed at the National Biodiesel Board Conference and Expo in Palm Springs, CA, this 45 minute video helps qualify the
emissions benefits of biodiesel and illustrates how biodiesel can reduce cancerous diesel emissions.

http://fryertofuel.com

DVD:   Biodiesel 101

In this 45-minute presentation, biodiesel author Josh Tickell provides an economic, social and practical context for
biodiesel. "Biodiesel 101" goes deep into the technical world of the biodiesel production, showing how the fuel is
chemically formed. This video also examines current data and trends within the biodiesel industry to illustrate growth
patterns and future potential.

http://fryertofuel.com

Convert GAS Cars to Plug-In ELECTRIC Autos

http://www.electroauto.com http://www.kta-ev.com http://www.nedra.com http://www.evparts.com
http://www.sourceguides.com/energy
book: Convert It; by Michael Brown and Shari Prange
DVD: Convert It http://www.electroauto.com

`
Convert HYBRID Cars to Plug-In ELECTRIC Autos
http://www.calcars.org http://www.hybrids-plus.com http://www.rqriley.com/xr3.htm http://www.eaa-
phev.org/wiki/PriusPlus http://www.hybridplugs.com http://www.hybridconceptcars.com
http://www.afstrinity.com http://www.a123systems.com/hymotion http://www.hybridconsortium.org
http://www.energycs.com
LOCAL Groups Supporting ELECTRIC AUTOmobiles
http://www.nicecarcompany.co.uk http://www.greenvehicles.com
http://www.zapworld.com
http://www.sourceguides.com/energy
http://www.green-car-guide.com

Electric MOTORCYCLES
http://www.solarmobil.net
http://www.e-max-ltd.com
http://www.topmotorx.com
http://www.patente-erfindungen.de/erfindungen_fahrraeder.htm
http://www.zeromotorcycles.com
http://www.sourceguides.com/energy

Electric BICYCLES
http://nycewheels.com
http://www.myebike.com
http://www.cyclone-tw.com
http://www.powacycle.co.uk
http://www.electricbikesales.co.uk
http://egovehicles.com
http://www.electricbicycle.com.au
http://www.evehicle.com.au
http://www.electric-bicycle.cn
http://www.greenspeed.us
http://www.sourceguides.com/energy

TAX CREDITS
http://www.dsireusa.org

HOME POWER
http://www.homepower.com

SOLAR TODAY
http://solartoday.org

Solar Industry NEWS

http://www.seia.org
http://www.solarbuzz.com

Solar Industry MAGAZINE

http://www.solarindustrymag.com

Recharge your Electric Auto with RENEWABLE ENERGY

http://www.bergey.com http://www.bwea.com http://www.vestas.com http://www.awea.com
http://solarenergy.org http://greendragonenergy.co.uk http://www.lowimpact.org
http://www.scoraigwind.com http://www.greenempowerment.org http://www.grupofenix.org
http://www.solarliving.org http://www.arthaonline.com http://www.the-mrea.org http://www.txses.org
http://www.irenew.org http://www.nmsea.org http://www.azsolarcenter.com
http://www.microhydropower.com http://www.newenergycorp.ca http://www.canyonhydro.com
http://wattsun.com http://www.lorentz.de http://www.etsolar.de
http://www.solargenix.com http://solar.sharpusa.com http://solren.com http://www.spirecorp.com
http://www.windpower.org
http://www.sourceguides.com/energy
http://www.i2p.org
http://www.ises.org http://www.firstsolar.com
http://www.rmi.org
http://www.sourceguides.com/energy

Do not bend over and allow Big Oil to molest your Family, Friends and Community
VOTE SOLAR

VOTE SOLAR
http://votesolar.org
http://www.seia.org
http://www.blackboxvoting.org
http://valparaiso.indymedia.org/news/2006/09/8723.php
DVD: Uncounted; Director: David Earnhardt
DVD: Hacking Democracy; Director: Simon Ardizzone
book: What Went Wrong In Ohio; by Congressman John Conyers
book: What Happened in Ohio; by Bob Fitrakis

IS YOUR CONGRESSMAN IN BED with BIG OIL?

How much bribes (campaign contributions) did your congressman take from the sleazy OIL Companies?

CAMPAIGN FINANCE INFORMATION CENTER

Where does the money come from?
http://www.campaignfinance.org/states

CENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEGRITY

stop the Fat Cats from BRIBING your politicians
http://www.publicintegrity.org

POLLUTION and RACISM, INJUSTICE

book: Confronting Environmental Racism; by Robert Bullard
book: Environmental Injustices; by David Camacho
book: Environmentalism and Economic Justice; by Laura Pulido
book: Pollution and the Death of Man; by Francis Schaeffer
book: From the Ground Up, Environmental Racism; by Luke Cole
book: Struggle for Ecological Democracy; by Daniel Faber
book: No Safe Place, Toxic Waste and Community Action; by Phil Brown

FREE eBook on Oil Spills: Not One Drop

http://www.scribd.com/doc/31483843/Not-One-Drop

Big Oil’s Dirty Secrets

http://bigoil101.insanejournal.com