How to Use Vegetable Oil in Diesel Cars to Save Money as Gas Prices Skyrocket!

As the price of gasoline rises more and more people will begin to search for ways to get around the expense. One way is to use vegetable oil as fuel. In order to use vegetable oil for fuel one must have a diesel engine. Diesel cars and trucks are very fuel efficient under normal use, providing 20 to 30 percent greater fuel economy than non-diesel engines. They also have a greater resale value than regular cars. As of today fewer than 1% of Americans have diesel engine cars. This may change in the very near future. Yes, they are a bit more expensive up front but the way gasoline prices are going you will save much more in the long run, especially if you can get free vegetable oil from your local Mexican restaurant and use it instead of gasoline! Besides, you can always save money by buying a used car.

There are only a few types of cars sold in America that have diesel engines. They are:

Audi

BMW

Mercedes

Volkswagen

Vegetable oil can be used as fuel in any car that has a diesel engine, however there can be unwanted results if not done properly. Vegetable oil is very thick and it can clog the engine. There are three ways you can remedy this:

One, is to cut the vegetable oil with more conventional fuels so that even if you are not using 100% vegetable oil you are still lowering your gas usage and saving money.

Two, you can add White Spirit which is an oil based cleaning liquid (see the video below).

And three, according to Wikipedia straight vegetable oil works in diesel engines if it is heated first. Some diesel engines already heat their fuel, others need a small electric heater on the fuel line. How well it works depends on the heating system, the engine, the type of vegetable oil (thinner is easier), and the climate (warmer is easier).

It's all about saving money now isn't it? If you plan on using used vegetable oil from restaurants you will have to run it through several filters. You can use any fine durable fabric such as a mesh for this purpose, a 40 micron mesh filter is recommended. Vegetable oil is also about the greenest way you can go when driving a car. The carbon footprint is minuscule and if you can get it for free at a restaurant the price is right as well. The only thing better would be a bicycle but is not very practical when you have to go long distances.

With the current middle east crisis underway, I have a feeling that diesel cars will become the next big thing. If you buy a used one they are cheaper than electric cars and if you have a good source (like a Mexican restaurant) of vegetable oil nearby...you'll be set for life or for as long as people keep eating Mexican food!