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Original poster

Anyone run their car on vegetable oil?

23 replies

MrsSpoon · 07/12/2006 22:51

Saw a guy today in the ASDA carpark over at the recycling bins filling up the petrol tank in his van with vegetable oil, which he had obviously just bought. I couldn't help but stare and was slightly peeved that he was putting the empty containers in the rubbish bin rather than the plastic recycling bins (although he did notice my glare and asked me which of the recycling bins was for plastic).

I have heard of this before but was surprised to see someone just glugging veg oil straight out the bottle into their car. Is it legal? Do you need to have the car converted? Presume it's cheaper. Do you get more miles to the gallon? Is it more environmentally friendly?

Do you run your car on veg oil???

OP posts:
Yorkiegirl · 07/12/2006 22:54

Message withdrawn

Original poster
MrsSpoon · 07/12/2006 22:55

Ah, that's perhaps why he was a bit shifty looking. Wanted to ask him about it but thought he might lamp me one.

OP posts:
PeachesMcLean · 07/12/2006 22:57

Why's it illegal? Probab ly because the government doesn't get any tax from it?

Original poster
MrsSpoon · 07/12/2006 23:20

Probably PeachesMcLean. I would have thought it would be more environmentally friendly than petrol/diesel.

Nobody on MN want to admit to this then?

OP posts:
Tortington · 07/12/2006 23:22

i assume you need some kind of converter - there is a place in brighton that does convert your car for a few hundred quid - but i only know of its existence through a collegue - so dont know much about it

JollyOldSaintNikkielas · 07/12/2006 23:25

You can do it if you pay the tax , there is some way to buy it/pay tax specially

Original poster
MrsSpoon · 07/12/2006 23:50

Ah, presume wee shifty man at ASDA wasn't paying the tax! Wonder if it's still cheaper after paying the tax?

Thought you might need to have the car converted. Interesting though.

OP posts:
whensantagotstuckupAITCHimney · 08/12/2006 00:00

it's amazing. you don't have to get the car converted but you are supposed to pay tax on it. there was a thing on Fifth Gear where a guy was getting oil from chippies, filtering it and using that. apparently he stank but it got him from a to b.

Original poster
MrsSpoon · 08/12/2006 00:17

A bit tempted to look into it.

OP posts:
Chandra · 08/12/2006 00:20

I remember seeing a program about this, the idea of using used vegetable oil is older than Diesel but was revived in the US to recycle used vegetable oil which is a bit fidlesome to dispose of by using it as a fuel for park ranger vehicles in Yellowstone Park, the idea worked well in theory because the bears started to follow the smell of the vehicles and therefore putting the rangers in danger! but heard it was going to be introduced here where we don't have such a bear problem

I'm not really sure so please don't believe me, but I think I saw that a diesel engine may run in vegetable oil without the need of conversion, as long as you reduce the viscosity of the oil by mixing it with petrol diesel. However, it may damage the car in the long term.

Skribble · 08/12/2006 00:22

Apparantly the only damage seems to be that the filters clog up quicker, best oil is supposed to be used oil.

Tortington · 08/12/2006 00:53

if you google it the kit costs 600+vat and same again to install by a professional - for a diesel.

if i had a diesel and 1200 quid tospare - i would do it just as a two fingers thing to the large companies

Original poster
MrsSpoon · 08/12/2006 13:14

It's tempting Custardo. We have a petrol car at the moment but are thinking of changing in the next year or so, could choose Diesel and go for it. Only thing is buying the veg oil from the supermarket is a bit more time consuming than filling up at the petrol station.

OP posts:
Stockingsofdinosaurs · 08/12/2006 13:40

Not sure I'd want a car that stank like a softplay zone .

Skribble · 08/12/2006 14:16

LOL at soft play, you could get all the cooking oil you needed out the back of one of thsese.

ohlittletownofBendihem · 08/12/2006 14:21

A friend of mine runs his Volvo diesel on Tesco veg oil - regularly comes from South Coast to Yorks & no problems - every so often for a treat he chucks a tenners worth of diesel in. I've driven it & it's no different to any other ancient diesel, apart from the just cooked doughnuts aroma,mmmm....

Chandra · 08/12/2006 18:11

Oh, that's good news! I was expecting the car to smell like fish and chips!

doyouwantfrankincensewiththat · 08/12/2006 18:27

I thought the buses in Reading were supposed to run on veggie oil

Tinker · 08/12/2006 19:17

You can do it but you have to pay the duty on it. Pure veg oil will become thick and waxy in winter.

snowdivaflakes · 08/12/2006 19:56

dont try wth you got newish car. latest engine wont run

realjolly · 08/12/2006 22:22

link with some info on this
another good link
hth

flack · 08/12/2006 23:00

Used chip oil is one of the best (apparently). And it solves the problem of disposing of it.

Original poster
MrsSpoon · 10/12/2006 19:34

Fantastic links Realjolly, going to show those to my DH. Thanks.

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