Biodiesel / Recycled oil use

[ashley]

Has anyone got any views on the use of biodiesel or recylced vegetable oil in the marine enviroment?
In light of the further diesel price rises, I'm now paying almost a euro a litre as there is no duty relief in France, whilst I think I can get filtered oil for about 25p per litre.
Changing over could make excellent economic (and obviously enviromental) sense as i can get the conversion kit for about £500.
You switch over to the vegetable oil once the engine and the oil pre-heater is warm, much like the lpg/petrol system, and back before shutting down.

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[DepSol]

Biggest problem is that it can easily get contaminated and the bugs grow very quickly in Bio diesel.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>

 

[mikewilkes]

I have an old friend who runs his Peugot deisel on neat Safeway Cooking Oil.

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[Talbot]

There are a number od sites about use of cooking oil in diesel cars. IIRC you need to add something to the cooking oil to avoid damage to the engine, a google should soon get you the info.

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[PaulF]

Funny old word isn't it? The very first diesels built 100+ years ago were run on vegetable oil. Here we are looking to do the same thing again, somewhere we lost the plot I guess.

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[ashley]

I've been thinking about this a lot recenrly.
To run correctly, the engine needs an rubber parts replaced with newer items as the oil penetrates and destroys the seals etc.
Regarding the bug problem, this would be an issue with stagnant oil, but I wouldn't be considering this idea if i ran the engine for only a few hours per year. I reckon to be using the boat for months at a time next year so the fuel would be relatively fresh.
Filtering this oil is obviuosly very important, as it is with diesel, but if i had to change filters every 50 hours or so, i could still save a fortune - and be feeling better about it too.


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[DepSol]

The conditions are ripe for the bugs to feed and multiply and in a matter of hours not days or weeks it could take over the whole tank.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>

 

[ashley]

Dom, thats a bit fatalistic!
It is noted by some companies that the oil actually breaks down tank slime and that you need to check your filters regularly after starting to use veggie oil.
These systems are used widely on enviro conscious lakes in america and there's be no reported incidents of tanks fouling up overnight

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[DepSol]

These systems in America use fuel conitioning machines to reduce the risk of contamination. Secondly our climate is much better for breeding bugs than theirs, humidity levels etc etc.

I am just passing on the info as the risks are higher with bio diesel than normal diesel and the chances are you are more likely to get it if you dont heed caution and seek some kind of prevention.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>

 

[Trevethan]

Like ummm Soltron?.. *grin*

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[DepSol]

You saidi it not I. I left it up to him to choose.

I would also probably put a mechanical system in plus something to check the engine oil on a regular basis.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>