Steve's foray into Waste Vegetable Oil

Friday, Sep 14 -- stopped at Harbor Freight, they were out of $30 Clear Water pump. Will keep trying.

Saturday, Sep 15 -- driving to Dallas to pick up centrifuge and pump

Sunday, Sep 16 -- after lunch with Ravi I will drive to S. Austin and pickup used water heater.

Saturday, Sep 22 -- have talked to Dave the Barrel Man in San Antonio and plan on picking up 8 barrels from him. 4 metal and 4 poly. 3 metal will be open to be placed at collection points (with removable lids). 1 will be closed and will be used with centrifuge. The 4 poly will be used for settling, drying and a storage for clean oil and clean biodiesel. $25 open, $35 closed...

The part hunt has started:
Saturday -- driving up to Rockville (Dallas) to pick up a used centrifuge and pump. If I am running a 40 gallon batch, this should clean the oil in about 80 minutes (4 passes). Found on craigslist.

Sunday -- picking up a used 50 gallon water heater in South Austin. Had a chance to get a new one, but wanted to save the other $90. Found on craigslist.

Harbor Freights has their clear water pump on sale for $30 right now (saves $20). Still waiting for their brass valves to go on sale. I should go at lunch and check local store to see if they have pump in stock and buy it. It will be used with water heater to process the biodiesel.

I also need to call down to Dave the Barrel Man in San Antonio and get both the steel drums and poly drums from him.
I also have an idea of how to dry the heated oil by using a solid brass shower head. This will get it accessible to the air and get it to dry after all the other processing.

Car is scheduled for pickup tomorrow in CA....

Costs so far
Centrifuge and pump - $600
50 Gallon Water Heater - %60

I have been looking around various websites and seeing different things from different people about single-tank vs. dual-tank systems. Also the question about how much heat does it take on the oil. I am trying to find a good balance and also do the 'best' I can for the engine.

It appears that there is a consensus in my mind on the design that I want to do.
1 -- install injection line heaters. (need to review the power requirements as this may suggest an alternator upgrade). This will allow me to switch to oil much faster and keep temp up.
2 -- use a 6 port fuel line switch
3 -- use a Davco fuel heater/filter in the engine compartment
4 -- use a line-in-a-line (metal in rubber) fuel line from the main tank. Get a second small tank in the back somewhere and connect it to the existing fuel lines for running biodiesel at startup.
5 -- one site can make custom plastic tanks, Tom in WI has offered to custom weld a tank, also sent nots to people that produce bladder tanks. factor will likely be price.
6 -- maybe install larger outlet at main tank
7 -- definitely install metal inline fuel prefilter that is cleanable
8 -- need to pick a low PSI secondary fuel pump and decide if I am going to mount it back by the tank or in the engine compartment.

Vendors I like for the pieces:
1. Fuel heater/filter - is the Fleetguard FS19624 filter in the 232 Diesel Pro from http://www.davcotec.com
2. Injection line heater -- http://www.vegiecars.com/Injector_Heater/ while this is not absolutely necessary, it would be a way to get to oil faster since a lot of driving will be in town. cost is $275.

veggietanksplus has the best deal on hose-in-hose

On Sept 8th a 1983 Mercedes Wagon 300TD will be picked up by the carrier and transported to Austin. Time to clean out half the garage to make room for the new car.

I can also buy filtered oil from Diesel Green Fuels here in Austin for 1.50, but I need to start talking to resturants about picking up some for free and getting it heated and settled to take care of it. Then send through a filter or a centrifuge to get the last remaining solids out.

I think I found a good car, it was less expensive than one we test drove here in Austin. The one here is in excellent mechanical shape (owned by a mechanic) but was just above what I wanted to spend. I still want to get the new car checked out in more detail once I get it.

Pat wanted a wagon, so I don't have a trunk for a second tank. I want a small tank to put diesel into and use the regular 20 gallon tank to put WVO into. Once I have the car and get some measurements of the back storage areas under the carpet then I will look closer into using either a flexible bladder tank or getting a custom tank welded. My goal is to have the back area totally accessible (95% accessible) which means I cannnot install a large tank there. I guess I could strap in a HDPE bottle there and put diesel in it...would have to figure out how to vent it without getting fumes. ideas...ideas.

Here is the car, more pics as I work on the conversion.

Just checking all the settings..

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