Straight Vegetable Oil - Good or Bad?

Josh Tickell, author of Biodiesel America, recommends against running vehicles on straight vegetable oil because of the presence of glycerin in unprocessed vegetable oil which can cause excessive buildup in the combustion chambers. Do you think he's just selling out to "the man" by discouraging SVO, or do you think his point is valid?  

If it is stressed that during the manufacturing of biodiesel it is very important to ensure a thorough wash is done to remove all glycerin, I would think that over time with SVO you might, and I repeat might have a problem with your fuel system, and or combustion chambers due to buildup.

Does anyone know if the chemical reaction while making biodiesel makes the glycerin, or is it there and the reaction separates it?  
2000, F-350, 4X4, 7.3L CrewCab: SuperChips Gold Series, Wicked Wheel, K&N intake, 4" turbo back Exhaust, Gauges, 5" lift W/ 35" Pro Comp's, Heavy Duty Billet Trans.

I believe glycerin is a naturally-present compound in vegetable oil that is chemically removed during the biodiesel production process. It's actually a very widely-used by-product. It's used in soaps, coolant, even in some food products! Check out this story on diesel power about a professor in Missouri that has learned to  turn it into propylene glycol, a non-toxic relative to glycerin.

http://www.dieselpowermag.com/news/0509dp_biodiesel_technology/  

Check out actual real time results on BIO-BREW at the John Deere and Caterpillar websites. These boys run their new Tier #?? engines harder then hell in hot and cold climates with various synthetic oils and fuel mixes. They torture engines and systems to know when they fail. You have to use that BIO-Brew to keep it from contaminating the system's and components damage. Our local Bio Brew Boy had 12 thousand gallons slowly going out of spec and all the customers filled up and the Duramaxes and Strokers were coughing and buckin. The Cummins just ran. They caught it before they ruined some very expensive motors. This was in the summer and the heat was on above 90 for weeks on end. That did make it go unstable the mix makers said. So they doctored and put a recirculation pump on it to keep the Bio Brew from turning to poop! Frequent testing is now done they say to make it safe, alot of learning still being done in our region. If an engine ever over-oils from the Bio Brew not burning off and just going into the crankcase oil your new diesel motor will self destruct instantly and you will have the same result as if you ran it through a deep river and filled your motor with water thru your air intake not having a snorkel on to keep fluid out. OverOILing is discussed in the John Deere website and is explained very well as they had farmers ruin very expensive tractor motors from that problem. John Deere is telling you what can go wrong if you just read it they learned the hard way. They weren't a few guys drinking a case of beer making Bio Brew For a 1983 Buick diesel wonder wagon in a garage. The Cat and John Deere research is monitored ever so close to learn the true results of this new science as we are discovering we aren't sure what we really discovered here at times...  

There are a lot of big issues that many people complain about when using WVO or SVO or bio.  I bet there were alot of problems when gasoline first started up.  I personally frequent many veggie oil and biodiesel forums.  I also make my own bio and run currently on WVO.  I have around 2500 miles on WVO alone.  I find that my car doesn't mind the alternatives and my wallet doesn't mind them either!!  If you are carful, any fuel will work just fine.  

Woops...btw:  I have a 1983 300sd mercedes benz turbo diesel.  I would love to get a truck but I dont have the funds as I am going to college.

DK  

"The Cat and John Deere research is monitored ever so close to learn the true results of this new science as we are discovering we aren't sure what we really discovered here at times..."  what are you rambling on about?you sound like crawford texas's village idiot. compression ignition engines were designed to run on any organic oil.any other evolution of this engine has been to go backwards against rudolphs intentions of farmers being self sufficiant.what should really happen is bosch should start working on injectors and pumps that are durable enough to handle oil without heating it or  transesterification  

There are some people i know that make biodiesel from WVO and the way they do it is: First they filter it to remove larger particles, then kerosene, gasoline, cetane, and octane boost are added. Its put in a tank then filtered again when pumped. Any opinions on this method?  

Fornic8 do your wome work to brew home made bio diesel only requires heat, methyl alcohol, and a dry type corrosive lye like NaOH or KOH, and and a good sorce of used oil, and in some states you may be required to get a million dollar bond and other fees just to collect the used oil.
Ratski  

Guys,

Vegetable oil is only transesterfied (Chemical Reaction to Produce a Methyl Ester) to remove the majority of its impurities. Transesterification is a common process used today by many biodiesel producers, including the company I work for, Green Earth Fuels, L.L.C. We are currently building the largest biodiesel plant in Texas. There are others like Galveston Biodiesel that are building a 100mmgy plant, but thats over 5 years I believe. We are building an 86mmgy plant, and train 1 has been completed and commissioned a little more than 1 week ago. There will be 2 trains.
The main byproduct of the process is glycerin. Our plant is putting out approximately 88% biodiesel, and the remaining 12% glycerin. This glycerin that we get is then sold to other companies who purchase and refine it for pharmaceutical uses.
Straight Veg Oil in your engine would cause your fuel system to fail, and possibly get damaged. Veg oil would not produce as much power as biodiesel or petrodiesel, and the water content in it is unknown. A high water content in your fuel can reduce power, create unwanted emissions and may cause internal engine deterioration. Some veg oils are currently used in Europe for some kind of tree hugger cab company, but I am not so sure how they adapted the engines to that. Also, biodiesel is not considered a toxic fuel, with a rather low flash point so its not considered highly flammable. CO2 emissions are reduced by more than 70% and CO is also reduced substantially.
Interesting Fact: A SMALL BLEND OF BIODIESEL IN YOUR PETRODIESEL CAN INCREASE LUBRICITY BY UPWARDS OF 65%!!!!! THIS REDUCES ENGINE WEAR.

If you have any questions about the company, or just the process please feel free to e-mail me.

Thank You  

i think wvo is fine in your diesel. havent started using it yet thow
wat ive herd just filter it good put and extra tank in (one diesel one wvo) start on diesel than switch to wvo before u shut her of switch back to diesel and a heat source for the wvo tank helps.  
'81 VW caddy diesel 3.5 inch exhaust,, smokes reel good and sounds like a big truck now. and still gits 46 mpg!

'93 F250 cold air intake , straight pipe w/ 5" stack

If you haven't already seen it, here's the video clip of Josh Tickell talking about using SVO.  

I currently run wvo in my 2002 f250 powerstroke. It has about 30,000 miles on wvo and the engine run like a dream. yeah i loose a little power, but its not noticeable. Josh Tickell wants you to buy his Bio, hence the bad rep wvo gets from him duh. and my 100,000 mile warrantee is not void even with the wvo system on it. I use my truck to pick up wvo from restaurants and pull a 21 ft 5th wheel and i have no problems at all. But, i do have a friend that clogs a filter about every 5000 miles with his home made system on an 83 dodge power wagon. But he also uses an 80 gallon tank that palomizes fast due to the fact that the fuel heats up and cools off frequently before it is burned off. I also have friends that have their ford in the shop every week. If you ask me, diesel engines where originally designed to run on alternative fuels, and its luck of the draw and proper care of oil and filters that keep your truck in good shape. I highly encourage wvo systems, but only for the people that are willing to keep a closer eye on your engine filters and quality of oil. McDonalds oil would not be a good place to get your oil, but the Chinese fine dinning restaurant would be a great source.  

i also recently heard of using hydraulic oil. i got 3 gallons of used but pretty clean looking hydraulic oil from work. I have put the stuff in containers wondering if i should try to run it, i know it will run but i am wondering if it would be harmful to the fuel system.  
02 Dodge Cummins. w/ Banks Six Gun w/Speed Loader,K&N Intake,4" exhaust, FASS 150gph,150hsp injectors,

The glycerin is a byproduct of the chemical reaction, and i know this because not only do i work on my girfirends dad's farm, i also work in a chemical plant that they own, where we make agriculture products, mostly chicken house cleaners/disinfectants, but we recently began to make some cattle feed additives using byproducts of the biodiesel/ethanol process. We take the glycerin and add some other things (i cant give away all our secrets) and its makes the cattle digest more of the nutrients that they eat, so their bodies waste less, they put on more wieght faster, and eat less fedd to do eat. THe good news for all of us is that if this product takes off it will provide a market for the byproducts of the biodiesel process and make it cheaper for everyone. Cheap Fuel..WOOHOO!  
2005 Dodge Ram 3500 4 Door 4Wd Longbed 6SPD manual, Silverline 4 inch exhaust,ATS Performance Exhaust Manifold, K&N Intake,CFM Intake Manifold, Edge Juice w/Attitude, Recon Smoked Roof and Fender Lights, 285/70/17 Firestone M/Ts,  MUCH MUCH MORE to come, one day...when im not so BROKE.....


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has anyone tried or heard about these sites diesesecret.com or biofuelbasics.com.  the one claims that there additive thins the waste oil.  U would collect the oil, filter it while pumping, then use an untraviolet light to prevent mirobial fungus from growing, and the light would circulate the oil to help keep it stable for alomost 2 months.  They claim the additive is similar to the what they use in Europe and that it requires no conversion because its thined and does something with the glycerin so it can be burned.  has anyone tried this or no of anyone. let me know i have a 2000 Sterling Semi Tractor with a C15 cat but dont want to get screwed and blow my *** up cause no go=no pay.