Sounds crazy, but if u have a diesel engine, check this out...

http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_svo.html

first go to this link, then read it.

Basically, for a few hundred bucks, you can get a conversion kit that will adjust your desiel engine so that it runs SOLEY on used (wasted) veggie oil, they even deliver it to ur home or, many times u can stop at McD's and get the stuff they would throw out and out directly into ur car, dont believe me - ask woody harrelson or darryl hanna, they both have this. Its a huge key to getting off of saudi oil and even more key for the enviroment, plus its way cheaper and u get massive mileage - peace luv & pot

 

Yeah, thats really cool. Diesel was a really smart man. Apearently, there is all sorts of stuff you can run your diesel engine off of. Someone here has a car that runs off vegitable oil, I think.

 

JourneytoForever is an awesome site! I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one promoting it!

 

Here's an article I read a while ago that I really liked. I think this guy says you don't even need to do any kind of conversion stuff if you already have a diesel whatever.....

http://alternet.org/story/18706


*like my strong usage of intellectual terms??

 

It's great to see more people praising the merits of the diesel engine! I think diesel is a better alternative than hybrid/gasoline and (for the moment) fuel cell power. The healthier our environment and the less dependent we are on foreign oil, the better.

Unfortunately, it seems that few of the major manufacturers are willing to embrace diesels. When I was at the Motor Trend car show back over the winter, I spoke with reps from Toyota and Honda trying to sell them on the idea that diesels were a good option. The Toyota rep seemed to like the idea for applications in trucks but the Honda rep wrote it off completely saying that they'll concentrate their efforts on fuel cell technology. I hope this changes soon.

The preceeding links are excellent! In addition, I highly recommend the following sites on biodiesel and hemp fuel:
http://www.hempcar.org
http://www.hempdiesel.com
http://www.thehia.org
http://www.veggievan.org
The last sight listed is operated by Joshua Tickell, author of the book "From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank"- a highly recommended read.

 

This is NOT a crazy idea! Many people are converting to "bio-diesel". You do have to make some modifications ( i.e.-rubber parts are not compatible with bio-diesel) but most diesel engines can be run on if not on 100% veggie oil, some percentage of veggie-oil (termed bio-diesel). Also, with many larger cars such as old full-size jeeps (Wagoneers), VW's, large trucks, ect., it is relatively easy to swap in a diesel engine for the regular engine. That way you can run it on bio-diesel, be less dependent on fossil fuels, get better gas mileage, AND it is less polluteing than most gas and/or diesel engines.

 

There are very good reasons why most environmentalists do not embrace the diesel engine. the primary problem has to do with the generation of heavy hydrocarbons. This heavy soot is not good stuff, and is very hard to eliminate in diesels, even when run on veg. oil or biodiesel. If the automotive industry wanted to make environmentally friendly vehicles, they would. The technology being applied now was developed in the fifties. it is not a lack of technological development that keeps cars gulping gas. It is the greed of those who make money off of fuel consumption and planned obsolescence. It is relatively easy to design an extremely efficient vehicle, but it would never make it to market. If you made it through the bureaucrats, and you refused to sell out, you would be shot!

 

In biodiesel applications, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and soot are reduced by as much as sixty percent. Some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are drastically reduced, if not virtually eliminated (e.g. phenanthren, 97%; benzapyren 71%; benzofloroanthen, 56%). Also, if biodiesel is so bad, why has the California Air Resource Board endorsed its use?
I'll make an arguement for hemp. Because hemp is a versatile crop, it can be grown under a variety of climates, not to mention the fact that it has been known to help provide for a cleaner environment as it can absorb some foul particulates. I believe if hemp were re-legalized some, if not many pollution problems could be drastically reduced. In addition it, too,(IMO) can provide for clean-burning fuel.

You're partially right. Yes, you're right by implying that manufacturers tend to 'drag their feet' when applying new environmentally friendly technology, and domestic manufacturers may be the worst offenders. However, there are newer technological breakthroughs which are being implemented whereby the combustion process is made more efficient thereby reducing the emissions levels. An excellent example of this is the new Volkswagen Turbo-Direct-Injection (TDI) diesel, availiable in the Golf, Jetta, Passat and New Beetle. The Touareg model also has a V-10 TDI availiable.

Exactly! That's (likely) how Dr. Rudolf Diesel ended up dead!

 

perfectly said speez - btw - i had a tdi, it was awwesome, got about 55 miles per gallon with the a/c on and only would cost about 20 bucks to fill - dumbass ex crashed it though - lol - good to c some other intellegence on this thread - not from me though - im just a pothead - peace luv & pot - MGDG

 

you say less polluting.... does anyone know how much an engine run on vegetable oil does pollute?

 

Any diesel is a very polluting vehicle. So biodiesel can reduce emissions by 60%...so what.. it is still a very polluting means of transportation. Internal combustion engines in general are outdated environmentally unsound devices. Diesels are far worse than a well engineered gasoline engine. Furthermore. a gas engine can be run on methanol to have much lower emissions.

Biodiesel is a sham technology. It is just a crumb thrown to the masses to allow those in power to get away with not implementing real improvement.

Also, growing oil for fuel is a horrendous idea from an environmental perspective. Even with hemp, the energy yield per acre is far less than what would be produced from standard solar cells. To provide fuel for the US, at least 10% of the land area would have to be used for oil crops. You can not use desert land, and available farm land is already being swallowed up. It is just not a viable energy policy solution. It is deception, slight-of-hand, and a diversion tactic to keep people pacified and distracted form the real technology that is already available to truly solve this problem.

One last point, do not forget that biodiesel is made with a petroleum derived product, (methanol). Methanol can be made from excrement, but currently the only methanol cheap enough to be used for fuel is from petroleum.

Methanol is highly toxic, attacks the optic nerve, readily absorbs through the skin and the vapors are extremely hazardous as well.

Biodiesel is a hobby technology. It will never make a significant difference in terms of environmental issues and global energy policy. It is not green at all!

Jim

 

ok thanks for clearing that up because these threads on veggie oil to replace gas do give the impression of a more environmentally sound 'discovery'... which, if you're right, they obviously arent....

but: in the mean time, awaiting better, more environmentally sound and affordable technology, isnt vegetable oil a good alternative since it can be collected for free as restaurants' waste (no need to dedicate more land to the cause since considerable amounts are still being used and then desposed of by the food industry), and also as a boycott of politically entangled petroleum?

 

That sixty percent is at or below the levels of current gasoline engines. The technology of diesel engines has come a long way since the days of the late '70s and early '80s. Today's engines have more efficient fuel combustion processes via technology such as direct injection as used in the VW engines.

Who and where are your sources for your claims?

To provide for the fuel needs in the entire country, you would only need about six to ten-percent of the land in the entire United States to provide for the fuel needs of the entire country. Moreover, ten tons per acre of hemp can be produced in four months time, hemp is drought resistant and thus can be grown on marginal land and farm land that was once struggling can be revitalized with such a crop.
http://www.jackherer.com/chapter02.html
http://www.jackherer.com/chapter09.html

FTR, here's a link to a previous post on ideas as to how we can conserve energy and improve our environment:
http://www.hipforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=126560&page=15&pp=10
entry#144

Not all sources of methanol are derived from petroleum! Moreover, it is only toxic if it is derived from petroleum or perhaps wood sources. Methanol derived from hemp is much less toxic.

Not as long as fuel companies lobby the government to prevent alternative energy from becoming reality!

DieselPower magazine in the Winter 2005 issue featured articles on the VW Jetta and the Honda Accord wagon which is currently for sale in Europe. Hopefully, the Honda can make it stateside before long and that engine could also be sold in the other Accord models and maybe the even the Civic as well.
http://www.dieselpowermag.com/