The Basics:
WVO / RVO: Waste Vegetable Oil / Recycled
Vegetable Oil
Used vegetable oil from restaurants and other sources that
is filtered and used for fuel.
SVO: Straight Vegetable Oil. Sometimes
used when referring to any car that runs on vegetable oil.
More commonly means using new vegetable oil.
BioDiesel: Processed vegetable oil that is
made into a fuel. Biodiesel can be run in any diesel engine
without a conversion. Biodiesel is made by a chemical
process called esterification, which removes glycerine.
(The glycerine can then be sold for use in soap or other
products.)
B20: 20% biodiesel, 80% dinodiesel
B80: 80% biodiesel, 20% dinodiesel
B100: Biodiesel 100%
Cubie: A plastic jug of vegetable oil,
typically used by restaurants. Often considered to be 5
gallons. The ones I purchased are 560 oz = 4.375 gallons.
Dino Diesel: A term for the standard form
of diesel fuel that is derived from dinosaurs.
Conversion:
You either need to convert your fuel or your car. Meaning:
You can take any diesel engine with no modification and use
a converted fuel in it -- run it on biodiesel.
You can take a diesel engine car, convert it, and run it on
vegetable oil.
Single Tank System:
A type of vegetable oil conversion that only requires a
single fuel tank. This conversion works with indirect
injection diesel engines.
The 1980-1986 Mercedes are perfect for a single tank
conversion if they are driven in warm climates like
Southern California.
Two Tank System:
A type of veg oil conversion that requires two tanks. This
type of conversion is done on a direct injection diesel.
One tank (typically the smaller one) filled with diesel or
biodiesel fuel is used for starting the car and driving for
several minutes until the engine is warm. Then you flip a
switch and the fuel changes over to vegetable oil. Several
minutes before arriving at your destination, you switch
back over to the first tank to flush all the veg oil out of
the lines, leaving the lines filled with diesel/biodiesel.
What you need to get started (for a veg oil
car)
1. A diesel car.
2. A conversion kit & a mechanic to install it. (Most
conversion mechanics will get the kit for you & ensure
they have all the right parts for your car.)
3. A source of vegetable oil. It can be new oil from Cosco,
or waste oil.
What you need to filter used vegetable oil
1. Used vegetable oil from your local restaurant.
2. A 55 gallon drum
3. A 10 micron "sock filter"
4. A pump (we use a hand crank barrel pump)
What you need to get started with
biodiesel
1. A diesel car
2. A biodiesel fueling station
FAQ:
Can I convert my gasoline car to run on vegetable oil?
No. It only works on diesel engines.
