Supplimenting Diesel with Veg oil in an XUD

Chlorate · Unread post by **Chlorate** » 15 Oct 2010, 23:55

So it's got to the point when veggie oil from Asda is marginally cheaper per litre than diesel.
As I understand it, to do a proper veggie oil conversion usually requires a secondary tank to hold the veggie so the engine can warm up/cool down on diesel and some extra fuel preheating from the engine coolant. Or an electrical heater to do away with the two tank setup altogether.
I don't really have the time to fiddle around with this, and the savings from a SVO system like that would take a tad too long to pay for itself to be worthwhile given the miles I do.

So what about using a high-ratio diesel to veggie oil mix-say 5 litres of diesel to 3 litres of veggie oil.
Would an as-is XUD be able to run it without consequence?

This is an idea born from a couple of bottles of Harvey's porter, so I may have the wrong end of the stick altogether

Any comments appreciated, just a skint student trying to save a few pennies here and there.

Thanks.

-Alex

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 16 Oct 2010, 00:07

Firstly, only run an XUD on veg if it has a bosch pump fitted.

Assuming you have a bosch pump, to run on veg you open the filler cap and pour it in.
Job done.

Start at about 50% and work your way up until you're comfortable.
Only mix with diesel.
Keep an eye on your fuel filter, it's a good idea to change it after 500 miles running on veg for the first time, then change as normal every service, unless it looks dark gold, in which case you'll need to change more regularly.

Chlorate · Unread post by **Chlorate** » 16 Oct 2010, 00:14

Definitely a Bosch pump on my car; the piston type arrangement with the "UFO" boost compensator on top.

I'm not sure but I think it was standard on turbo diesel Volcanes.

Good point about the fuel filter, ought to change that before I start meddling with my fuel. The car is a smidge overdue for a service anyway.

Something to do over the weekend I suppose.

Thanks for the advice.

-Alex

Edit: If anyone can recommend a good motor factors in the Brighton area, it would be greatly appreciated. Don't want to buy Halfrauds bits/pay Halfrauds prices, and my usual place in Headcorn is a bit too far away.

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 16 Oct 2010, 00:28

Also check under the rear driver's seat where the fuel sender is, on Xantias it has a mesh filter on the bottom end which gets clogged.
It just needs popping out and blowing through with air/flushing with petrol.

Chlorate · Unread post by **Chlorate** » 16 Oct 2010, 00:35

I recall I've seen a few pictures of those gunked up on someone's website.
Had a quick peek at my Book of Lies, the fuel pickup is in the same place in the ZX, annoyingly it says "tilt or remove the rear seats, according to model", mine has the sliding seats, so this could be entertaining.

Does it have to be petrol or will a quick blast of brake cleaner do it?

-Alex

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 16 Oct 2010, 00:58

break cleaner should be fine

Chlorate · Unread post by **Chlorate** » 16 Oct 2010, 01:05

Excellent; always got a tin of the stuff around, tis so useful.
But I was having visions of spraying it on the pickup filter and watching it dissolve

best to make sure.

Thanks for all the help Xac, my car is currently being unusually reliable so I figured it was time for a fiddle.

-Alex

Gammy leg · Unread post by **Gammy leg** » 16 Oct 2010, 09:22

Re: motor factors in Brighton, Cliffords used to be a good bet. I bought a fair few bits there when I worked in Patcham.

Don't bother changing your old fuel filter until 500miles after you've changed to your veggy blend otherwise you may end up doing it twice. The veggy will clean up the fuel system so why waste a new filter for 500miles worth of motoring.

Gammy

Chris570 · Unread post by **Chris570** » 16 Oct 2010, 12:25

i ran my xud xant on wvo for a 10k roughly, the xud's respond well.

on cold mornings you have to be wary of the fact you're on veg, so need to be kind to the engine till its warmed up.

i used to run 100% veg in the summer and anywhere between 0-50% veg in the cold winter we had. you'll find your own balance though.

Another thing you might want to do is make sure that your glowplugs are good as i promise you veg will show up any weaknesess. On cold mornings give an extra go of glow plugs too.

Enjoy your savings though

Chlorate · Unread post by **Chlorate** » 16 Oct 2010, 19:39

So, experiment batch in the tank: 5 litres of diesel+the smidge that was left over in the tank and 6 litres of veggie oil, so approximately 50% veggie oil, possibly slightly less.
Quite surprised, was expecting there to be a difference in how the car runs, but as far as I could tell everything was normal. No noticable loss of power and no big plume of smoke, although there was the telltale smell of burning cooking oil

Thanks for the tip Gammy, Cliffords seems to be a good little place, not very far away from where I live.

Picked up some leak off pipe whilst I was there, been meaning to change those since forever...

Will check on my filters in a month or so, the fuel filter in there is coming up to the service interval anyway.

Thanks again.

-Alex

jgra1 · Unread post by **jgra1** » 16 Oct 2010, 20:09

chlorate, my oilman is very near you

40p a litre any use? WVO? I am about 40k now on it..

John

Chlorate · Unread post by **Chlorate** » 16 Oct 2010, 20:47

Now THAT's extremely interesting

Although the filtering and drying stuff could pose a problem, haven't got a garage and I'm not sure if my housemates/landlord would appreciate a drum of old cooking oil in the kitchen

Although it just occured to me that marine fuel filters seperate water from diesel fuel...

-Alex

jgra1 · Unread post by **jgra1** » 16 Oct 2010, 21:06

nooo

pour in and drive.. ! its all done

Chlorate · Unread post by **Chlorate** » 16 Oct 2010, 21:15

40p a litre you say?
I'm sure I had a 20 litre drum somewhere...

jgra1 · Unread post by **jgra1** » 18 Oct 2010, 14:56

well. 40-50 if you go pick it up..

pm me if intested, I will pass on your email to him..