How much WVO can you filter and dump in the tank and still be safe? I have an opportunity to collect a steady 30-35 gallons of WVO a week but I dont have a way to refine it nor do I have a conversion kit for my truck. I have mixed about 3 gallons at a time of filtered WVO directly into my tank with no problems, just wonder how much is too much? Thanks

So nobody is using vegetable oil in a single tank mixed with diesel as opposed to having a dual tank set up?

hey txwelder, after seeing what you did with that bumper, I would have figured that you could make an in-bed tank. I have been doing some research on this, and a two tank setup would be pretty easy to make work. All you need is a tank, and some parts from a farm and ranch store.

If you insist on doing it in one tank, how much you can get away with depends on how well you filter and separate the oil before it gets to your tank, and the lowest temperature you expect to see. You could go 50/50 with some warm temperatures, and well filtered oil. when you filter the oil well, it will have a tendancy to coalesce the water into larger droplets that will drop out of the misture. if you have a big filter with a water drain, and warm temperatures, you will be all right at 50/50. That is kind of pushing it, and you don't want to go any more than that without a system that will preheat the fuel, and heat the tank.

Nice bumper by the way, I still think you should have cut the vent holes in it. it looks pretty clean your way though too.

I actually did build an aux tank with a side mounted transfer pump, but I sold it because I want to get stacks and didnt think I would have much bed room left with the stacks and a 47 gal tank. Thanks for the compliments on the bumper. I have since added more pieces, I am finishing the paint this weekend, as well as painting the truck. I will post some pictures when I get done. Alot of people have asked why I didnt add lights or a winch, and honestly I dont know why, I just didnt.

I really want to use the single tank method, or save cash and buy the whole system that comes with the wash tank and pumps and all to make bio. I was just wondering if anyone was mixing in the tank and what results they were having.

I dont think Id want to run single tank with a WVO mix. Maybe if you had the room to store barrels of it so it can settle out over a few weeks and filter it a few times. Try that hot pan test to see how much water is in the oil, it shouldnt pop.
I installed two coolant heated 12gallon tanks under the bedsides with a vormax filter and heated fuel lines back and forth from the engine compartment.

I have mixed up to 8 gallons of WVO to a tank. My tank is 30 gallons. I let the WVO settle out for about a week then pump off the top. Has to be pretty clear. Cloudy oil is something to avoid. I pour it in and then fill the tank on top. Did this on my trip out to NY from chicago this summer with no troubles. Also I only mix in the summer. once the temps get below 50 I use straight diesel/kero/jet-a. I have burned about 50-75 gallons of wvo since June. There are some people on here that say they are running 80% in the tank. Down in the warmer climates you can get away with that.

So lets say I filter my oil down to 5 microns through a fuel water seperator. After that I re-heat the oil in a cook pot, enough to make the oil start to smoke, would that be an indication that the moisture in the oil is "cooking off"? Can you boil the water out of the oil? I would think after that you could mix it at leisure with diesel as long as it is warm enough out not to gel up.

yes, you can boil water out. it just takes time.

how is the performance in comparison to #2?
also does mileage go up or down?

how do you boil 55 gallons?

it never goes below 80 degrees here, ever. can I run 80% WVO and 20% diesel?

how will it run on 100% WVO?

When you ask about running on 100% WVO, I would say yes. Think of a two tank system, the truck is running on 100% WVO, just not starting or being killed on WVO. I wouldnt think it would hurt anything as long as the temps are right. I wonder if there are starting issues with pure WVO?

Single tank system is scary.. Id go with a dual tank setup.
Theres enough space under the bed for a couple tanks on the sides, and one large one where the spare sits.

how is the performance in comparison to #2?
also does mileage go up or down?

how do you boil 55 gallons?

it never goes below 80 degrees here, ever. can I run 80% WVO and 20% diesel?

how will it run on 100% WVO?



as for boiling 55gal, i would say to use a BIG deep fryer. a restaurant in your area may have an old one they'd sell ya

how is the performance in comparison to #2?
also does mileage go up or down?

how do you boil 55 gallons?

it never goes below 80 degrees here, ever. can I run 80% WVO and 20% diesel?

how will it run on 100% WVO?

Here is a setup that I found on you tube. Seems to be a pretty nice de-watering setup.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hGT6VAFOFE

sorry here is the link

http://www.biodieselsolutions.com/home/home.asp

Found this set-up during search for homemade biodiesel methodology

I dont see why a single tank diesel/WVO mix would be so scary. As long as your WVO is filtered and dried properly and the outside temps dont gel the WVO, it is no different than running a two tank system. The purpose of using the two tanks is so that you can eliminate the chances of engine internals gelling with WVO by starting on diesel and killing on diesel. That keeps the WVO out of the fuel system when it cools. If anyone has any more specific info on why not to use a single tank system in a warm climate, please let me know.

Easy enough to mix up a percentage of WVO and #2 in a glass jar and see what it does as far as settling out or turning cloudy.

If the WVO has been filtered and dried, what does the cloudiness indicate if it occurs in a jar?

If the WVO has been filtered and dried, what does the cloudiness indicate if it occurs in a jar?That the WVO isn't fully mixing with the #2. The #2 should basically "melt" the WVO but will only do it up to a certain percentage of WVO.

I understand now, the diesel can only break down so much WVO before they start to separate and the diesel loses its "breaking down" abililty.

http://www.biodieselsolutions.com/home/home.asp

Found this set-up during search for homemade biodiesel methodology

They're claiming 70cents a gallon to make. ......BS
It cost at least twice that to make biodiesel.
With the price of methanol climbing, methanol hydroxide is your main cost.
Include labor/filters and the fuel you use to go get all the WVO, it wasn't really saving me that much.
I know, I know, it's not just about saving money.
But makng biodiesel is really misconcieved. Not to metion a really dirty and potentially dangerous process.
You can buy it anywhere here for about 2.30-2.50 a gallon. B20 to B99 if I feel like going to Alternative fuels.
I'd do some homework before you make that investment.
....Just wait til the government wants their share.

.76cts a gal to make mine:cool:

This is my first post actually to this forum. I have a 93 dodge 1ton which I just converted to a two tank wvo setup. I am in Tucson, Az and since you are in Texas I feel that our climates are perfect to be using wvo. But the Two tank set up is the best way to go I feel. You don't just have to worry about the fuel delivery lines gelling on cool down the purge cycle is a very important feature of the two tank setup. If you shut down your hot engine on wvo the injectors have sprayed the combustionchamber, piston tops and ring lands with wvo that can "coke over" and glaze these areas eventually leading to combustion seal problems and high carbon build up. It would be similar to taking a very hot frying pan and pouring oil on the surface and letting it cool off. It will smoke and and leave a shiny burnt glaze on the pans surface. The purge cycle on the two tank setup ensures that you have 1) allowed the engine to cool of some before shut down especially with turbo motors and 2) have evacuated all of the wvo from the fuel delivery lines AND the combustion chambers. I pieced my system together for about $700 and it is more complete and has more features than any of the conversion kits available. Just my .02 cents.

Methanol cost me 225$ delivered not long ago, but I hear the price is expected to drop again.
A gallon of fuel costs like 1.50 in chemicals to make with that high priced methanol.. almost killing off the cost incentive to run bio.
If you run a single tank WVO system and you gum it up with bad oil and the gunk that inevitably settles out of it, you might just leave yourself stranded someday.