Vegetable oil conversion

[postmanpaddy]

Hi All,

This is a notion that has been going around in my hear for a while until I met a musician who converted his MK1 berlingo and has saved over 2,000 in a matter of months!!

I'm thinking if I'm going to do it ill do it right so I'm going to make a little used veg oil plant at home so I can process it, I've done some research but it's mainly people state side that have done and I can't find any good info for Ireland or even UK. Anybody out there done it or even better to a 07 berlingo?

[Baldricks Pilot]

I believe one thing to take into consideration is the type of fuel pump fitted. Some apparently cannot cope with veg oil. Should be some info on line somewhere. Try a Google on it.

[postmanpaddy]

I have looked on the forum and it appears nobody has actually tried a conversion!! This is a bit of a surprise to me with the price of fuel these days!! I have done some googling and basically some guy says its a bad idea and others say its fine, I'd love to find someone with the 1.6HDI who has done it to give me there side of the story!!

[addo]

A 1.6? Totally unquantified gut feeling says you're mad. A 1.9D, no probs...

[evdama]

The ones who say its fine are probably only halfway down their voyage of discovery
The idea is commendable and Ive looked into it myself when I had my C15 but like the addo says, on a 1.6 its a big no-no.
If you can afford to treat the engine as disposable then go ahead - its a very very efficient motor but there is no room for trial error.
A recent example discovered was loose injector bolts causing turbo failure


With this and BP's fuel pump caveat you will also have to look into a fuel tank/pipe heater for the winter and some means of coping with the extra moisture that will be present in the system.
With all the time hassle involved unless you are doing high mileage then derv is pretty cheap in net terms

[postmanpaddy]

So everyone is saying the same thing!! Newer engines just have such tight tolerances that veg oil would wreck them!! Big shame because it can save huge money!! I used to have a 1.9d too......

[geoff]

Saved £2000 in a matter of months - must have covered intergalactical mileage to save that amount, how much do you spend a month on fuel ?
Consider that you might only put around 30% oil in with the diesel so the saving is diesel price minus 30% with the difference between the oil and diesel price applied to the first difference if you know what I mean !
Better to get another 1.9D for veg oil.

[evdama]

Saved £2000 in a matter of months - must have covered intergalactical mileage to save that amount, how much do you spend a month on fuel ?
Consider that you might only put around 30% oil in with the diesel so the saving is diesel price minus 30% with the difference between the oil and diesel price applied to the first difference if you know what I mean !
Better to get another 1.9D for veg oil.

No geoff- 2000 is about right
Take into account the time spent at basic minimum wage ,the extra bits and bobs needed for the conversion and the 'still.
Add some repair costs for the riuned pumps and ,yes, you would be netting around 2000 (japanese yen...)