I have sourced a whole bunch of transformer oil from a friend at a electric utility; they pay a bunch to get rid of the stuff. Does anybody know anything about this stuff? I threw some on a camp fire and it burns like diesel, maybe a little slower. It's clear and just a little thicker than diesel; nothing like wmo. Somebody told me the stuff is toxic, the last thing I want to do is turn the truck into a people fogger. Thanks for any info/opinions. cd

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PCB's. ever heard of them.

Yeah, transformer oil is a wee bit carcinogenic at best. They say the newer stuff isn't as bad, but then neither are the newer brake linings that are "asbestos free". ok sure.

I realise that fuel is expensive, but stick with dino or veg based products, don't get carried away

Weren't PCB's banned in 1977? That being said...unless you know the actuall chemical make-up of the oil...I wouldn't run it through your truck. Find out all you can about it. I'm interested to hear what it is.

I just did some quick research...no PCBs have been used in new equipment since the 60's and 70's. The new stuff seems to be mineral-oil based material. I don't know what you have...find out for sure...it could be usable.

My uncle works for dominion power as a lead lineman ( he retires in 6 months) He said he wouldn't mess with it especially if it is used. Who knows what is in that stuff some may have came out of 40 year old transformers with pcb and everything else.

They have over 1500 gallons of the stuff drained out of a bunch of transformers just replaced for more efficient ones. It would be nice to see the date labels on those things as well; supposed to be newer stuff but I will get it checked at the fuel lab on the base. I do know what PCB's are and don't want to mess with them. I'll post my results and would like to hear if anybody has ever tried the stuff; it's supposed to be pretty high quality oil with zero moisture so there isn't any arching in the windings. cd

Is the health risk really worth the $6000 you'd save in fuel?

they can not let any pcb contaminated oil out , there is no pcb in that oil it is high quality mineral oil of about 5 to 10 weight and will burn just fine

I work for a utility and there are literally thousands of transformers still in use which have PCB oil. As far as I know we are the only utility which has proactively been replacing the contaminated ones w/the more up-to-date (safer) transformers. The oil is highly toxic and kills all vegetation upon contact. I would not recommend touching or using the stuff.

Sounds like the question is if the older PCB waste oil is mixed with the newer waste oil. My bet is it isn't even for recycling purposes.

Federal law prohibits the ditribution of PCBs. So no company would give away or sell oil that contains PCB because the fines would be tremendous. I have been researching this. The EPA site has a whole listing of rules governing this stuff if you all would like to also. However, it is boring reading. The oil you can get should not, by law, have any PCB in it. If it does...whoever is giving it to you can be in big trouble. If it turns out to be just highly refined mineral oil...which is probably what it is...it will burn safely. If it turns out to have PCB in it...your garage and truck will be declared a Hazardous Waste Site...by law.

1)Have the company provide you with the "material safety data sheets (msds) of the product.2) Those in charge of the disposal to you will of course sign the forms you provide releasing you from liability,3) making you aware of any known or porported health risks.End of story.

Something to think about, even here there are companies actively trying to buy all your old waste oil, most pay in excess of a buck a gallon for old motor oil.

If it weren't contaminated with bad stuff, why wouldn't they sell it instead of paying big bucks to have it hauled away?

I am in charge of a transformer recyclying devision and the ones we get have oil that is less than 1 PPM or a few that are less than 50 PPM pf the PCB's. If this is something that will work I might look into it. I have an almost endless supply [coffee]

I have kin that burns jet fuel with additives. A friend of his burns the mineral oil out of transformers in a cr. He said both burn just fine, the cr is really quite with the mineral oil. I would just make sure of the quality and maybe put a big inline filter just to be safe.

I have kin that burns jet fuel with additives. A friend of his burns the mineral oil out of transformers in a cr. He said both burn just fine, the cr is really quite with the mineral oil. I would just make sure of the quality and maybe put a big inline filter just to be safe.

Does he run it straight or mixed? Is it like SVO / WVO and needs to have water removed? What year is the friends cr truck?
Thanks

My understanding is straight, it's a real good mineral oil. I have seen some on the job and it perfectly clear.

The mineral oil they use can't have Any impurities in it. The only way it would have any impurities in it is if it got in the oil while it was being taken out of the transformer.

It is possible that the oil has "more than meets the eye"





















sorry... couldn't resist.

It is possible that the oil has "more than meets the eye"





















sorry... couldn't resist.

LOL. That is hilarious.

The lab test came back and it's LESS than 1ppm pcb's. It seems when it's sorted it goes into lots of less than 1ppm, 1-50ppm, 50-500ppm, and greater than 500ppm. I'm mixing it 50/50 with #2 and it runs like normal fuel.

The lab test came back and it's LESS than 1ppm pcb's. It seems when it's sorted it goes into lots of less than 1ppm, 1-50ppm, 50-500ppm, and greater than 500ppm. I'm mixing it 50/50 with #2 and it runs like normal fuel.

Cool.


Any CR trucks running this? Are you mixing it?

Just what I heard the guy running it runs it straight in a 03. This is second hand.

It is more viscous than #2 for sure and that's why I am cutting it. When it starts getting cold up here I'll see how my mix works out. I'm just happy for another cheap source of fuel. Last month I found a stash of 30+ year old heating oil and I've been using it with zero problems; I think the truck even runs better with the stuff though it smells like ultra HIGH sulpher fuel. Go figure! cd

The lab test came back and it's LESS than 1ppm pcb's. It seems when it's sorted it goes into lots of less than 1ppm, 1-50ppm, 50-500ppm, and greater than 500ppm. I'm mixing it 50/50 with #2 and it runs like normal fuel.

You answered my question... I was going to say ask them for the PCB analysis and if it's a LOT less than 50ppm, burn it! (If I recall, less than 50ppm *USED* to be considered non-pcb oil by EPA.)


Back in the 70's I worked at a chemical plant that had many HUGE rectifier transformers that we maintaned. The first one that failed had to go back to the factory via a big rail flatcar to Sharon, Pennsylvania to be rewound. When they left our plant they all had straight mineral oil. But unknown to us, whenever they came back from that shop, they all were highly contaminated with PCB... Years later one was discovered to have contained almost 30% PCB! Seems the Westinghouse transformer shop only had one BIG tank for everyone's oil... mineral or PCB.
This was in the years BEFORE the EPA went on the warpath about PCB's and made everyone sample ALL transformers for PCB.
During those early years, we had some more partial failures not necessitating shopping the entire transformers. So for the guys to enter the transformer tank to perform the repairs, we had some truckers that came up to the plant to get rid of the used, filtered oil and bring us some fresh. (this from some of the same xfmr's that had come back from PA!)
The truckers told us they and all their buddies LOVED to put transfomer oil in their rigs everytime they got the chance, since they got more MPG's, had more power and best of all...it was FREE!
I shudder to think how many thousands of gallons of PCB contaminated mineral oil got "burned" that way, one power stroke at a time.

K.

It is possible that the oil has "more than meets the eye"




sorry... couldn't resist.

I don't know about that but I hear that there are additives in it that will turn your truck into a robot. I want to get some just so I can have my truck use it's installed weaponry to get through traffic[laugh]

Would this fluid have any affect on the rubber parts of the fuel system?

A guy I know of told me that he and other culprits would either shoot or steal transformers to get whatever kind of acid in them, out of them, to make crystal meth with. If whatever is in them can be used by dope fiends, then it probably is no good for your Cummins. I know my reply is not scientific, but just what was told to me.

Referring to the above, I heard the moon was made of cheese. [coffee]

Duh, what is the man in the moon gonna eat???

this could be a great overlooked source for our fuel needs!
hopefully the pcb thing will scare off the unknowing,where would one get this oil tested for contents?

A guy I know of told me that he and other culprits would either shoot or steal transformers to get whatever kind of acid in them, out of them, to make crystal meth with. If whatever is in them can be used by dope fiends, then it probably is no good for your Cummins. I know my reply is not scientific, but just what was told to me.
Interesting.
I checked it out and the only connection I could find between meth and transformer oil is they both might require hazardous waste cleanup methods.
I can see the crackheads stealing transformers for the copper though.