Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do tailpipe emissions compare between burning gasoline, diesel and wvo?
A: The short answer is that emissions from burning wvo are lower than that from gasoline in most cars. More comprehensive answers can be found here and here.

Q: Can I convert my gasoline powered car to run on vegetable oil?

A: No. Only diesels (compression engines) can run on vegetable oil?

Q: What is the difference between a single-tank and two-tank conversion?

A: A single tank conversion is one that results in a vehicle with just one fuel tank. One can put diesel, veg oil or bio diesel in the tank.

A two-tank conversion is one that results in a vehicle with two fuel tanks. One tank (usually the one that came built in to the vehicle) is filled with diesel or biodiesel. The second tank is filled with veg oil. This vehicle is started up on diesel (or biodiesel) and then, after the engine and veg oil heats up to a certain temperature, a switch is thrown by the driver that sends the veg oil to the engine. At the end of each trip, the switch is thrown to a purge setting, and the engine is allowed to run for a couple of minutes. This purges all veg oil out of the engine and injectors, sending diesel in instead.

Q: I found a good solid 55g plastic drum but it has no top. So, I’m thinking about making a plywood top for it (ring cut to fit inside the drum’s rim, ring to fit outside and all screwed to a round plywood top. Then I could cut a hole in it for the filter sock and set it up like yours. Sound good? Or does plywood get manked and nasty?)

A: plywood should work fine. You may want a second hole to allow airflow while filling and dispensing. You don’t want “burping”.

Q: Do you filter once through the sock? Is it 5 micron?

A: Yes, I filter once through a 5 micron filter. I also let the oil sit for a while before filtering. A week is a good idea in warm weather. Most of the water and other crud will sink.

Q: How do you clean the sock filter?

A: Not a fun task but not too bad. Squeeze out as much of the sludge as possible. then, I soak the filter in a bucket with warm water and Simple Green (about 50/50 mixture) overnight. Then, I hose off the filter thoroughly and hang dry.

If you squeeze the sock does it defeat the purpose by forcing the crud through it?

I first remove the lid and take it outside. You don’t want any of the crud or stuff that drips off of it. it is all bad stuff. I don’t do this very often, perhaps twice per year. I dump the sludge (perhaps a gallon or two) in a hole where it decomposes.

You will have some sludge from letting the oil settle. You’ll see a line after letting the oil sit for a week. At the bottom will be creamy stuff and at the top, nice dark, liquid gold. When you pour it into the filter, you should stop when the stream starts getting significantly creamy.

You will eventually end up, like me, with several cubies full of sludge. you can give those to a renderer or compost it.

Q: Do you heat your oil to dewater it before filtering?

A: No. I haven’t found that necessary. I did heat my filtering room to try to do some filtering in the winter. I stopped doing that. I really don’t like the idea of using more energy to get my wvo to work for me. the solution is to try to collect and filter enough oil by September to carry you through the winter months. You may be able to filter some in the winter if you have a suitable heated space (where you don’t mind the smell and mess of wvo filtering).

Q: Do you allow the oil to settle before filtering it? Do you let it sit for awhile?

A: 1 week.