Does anybody here run WVO in their diesel?

[bugeye72]

I bought a diesel vanagon this fall. I put about 1000 mi on it before the snow started falling and I parked it to spare it from the salt. Anyhow, the van is converted to run on WVO, and I'm pretty smitten by it. I found a good source for oil, so that's a no-problem. I make a habit of running regular diesel until the coolant is up to temp, and then for about the last 2-3 miles of my trip in order to clear the lines of wvo, and to decoke, as the PO advised me to do. This van has run WVO for thousands of miles prior to my purchase, so I feel like the PO knew what worked, but I'm interested to know what others experiences have been with WVO. I've have heard some not-so-happy stories about carbon and sludge build up, requiring engine tear downs, but others say that only happens if you're not doing it right. What say you all?

[yiucycle]

I know a guy who run WVO in his rabbit truck and his main concern is the fuel pump. WVO work the fuel pump harder than diesel. I also make a few batch of biodiesel and its not that hard if you have space and a bit of time.
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1980 2.8LV6 Fiero ASI/Riviera Vanagon
"there is no point in being embarrassed of all the stupid shit i done and will continue to do"

Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[Jeff's Old Volks Home]

I stopped working on WVO powered vehicles in my shop. It's like working in a composter. I don't mind if someone makes bio-diesel in their garage at home, but I've not yet seen a properly converted vehicle that they're willing to pay to have fixed. I've sent a pump out to a local rebuilder and it was returned to me in the same package it left in. They wouldn't touch it either.
By the way, I'm a diesel fan, everything I own except my motorcycle is an oil burner. I even converted an Iltis to diesel and ran it on 40% WVO or used motor oil or tranny fluid from my shop (mixed with diesel). It worked great.
My 2c, Jeff

[dr. no]

First, before people get confused: WVO is not the same a biodiesel. WVO is just filtered food grade oil, Biodiesel is non-petrochemical fuel-grade oil.
I have not used WVO, though I have used thousands of gallons of BD. I have read/heard that the pump used in VW diesels, being internally lubricated, is not as robust at handling alternative fuels as others (such as Mercedes, lubricated by engine oil). The other issue is the prechamber design, along with nozzle characteristics, that leads to worse coking.
If anything, I think I would stick to blends or BD, or maybe only use WVO on long highway runs...
_________________
Scott
http://lungehphoto.com

'83.5 Westy s/p 1.6td JX and 4sp DK transplant--wonderful!
'86 MB 300GD
'06 MB Sprinter
'17 BMW X1
'89 Isuzu Trooper


PAST VWs:
'82 NA diesel Vanagon
'86 7-passenger Vanagon
'77 Bay
'71 Bay
'74 Things (2)
'69 Karmann Ghia (the only one I miss--in nice weather, anyway...)
'91 Fox

[the caveman]

I have now run 3 VW's including my 1.9 l diesel transporter for a total amount of 300,000 kms with zero problems other than having to replace both fuel filters every 6-8 months or so. The engine that is my 97 Jetta TDI was in a friends car [body was shot, installed it into a GLX). It had run for 100,000kms before I pulled it, before installing into the new[ish] body I pulled the injection pump apart to see if there was any wear. Other than a light brown film, there was nothing wrong, all I did was reseal it. The key is to have well filtered and de watered WVO before putting it into the vehicle. I even use it down to -20oC as long as I will time to purge it before getting to where I'm going. There are many naysayers-they are wrong;I have years of proof that it works>,oh and change your motor oil often- I change mine every 4000kms with Rotella t6

[BUGSLEE]

I've been around WVO burning cars for a few years now at the shop I work at and we have had a few shop cars that ran on it as well as about a dozen regular customers running on it.

The biggest problem with WVO powered cars is low quality fuel, caused by improper filtration, among other things it can/will cause premature wear on the injection pump/ fuel delivery system.

we collect oil and filter it mostly because we heat our building with it, but also for our shop cars and for sale to customers.

we start by straining the oil multiple times to get rid of any solids in it. Then we run it though our centrifuge to remove the water and anything else that should not be in the oil.

It does work best when best in a vehicle that is set up to pre-heat the oil before running it through the engine. Purging the system with diesel a few minutes before shutting the engine down is a must!

Also like any Diesel engine, WVO is not meant for short trip city driving. the engine must be able to get hot.
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68 Beetle - 1776
89 Vanagon TinTop Syncro - Subi 2.5

[Gizmoman]

I think it comes down to a combination of the individual (him or herself), the resources available to them, and within their budget, and a sincere desire to fiddle with stuff.

If any of the above are lacking it's a no-go. . .

Personally, I'm short on at least two of the above requirements and so have removed the entire bunch of related paraphernalia. My plan is to put diesel into it when required and move on.
_________________
82 Vanagon Westy - AAZ 1.9 TD, HE200 Holset, WAIC, 27.75 dia tires, Electric power steering, 5-speed AAP w/.078 5th
Oversize spare carrier - stock location (no longer for sale).

[bugeye72]

[yiucycle]

Since you already have a good WVO setup but why not just mix biodiesel w/ WVO for short drives? Most of my commute is less than 30min drive. It takes really 10-15min to warm up, then couple mins to purge the system, so I would be using 10-15 min of straight WVO if i had a diesel motor. But i do wish i had a diesel vanagon.
_________________
1980 2.8LV6 Fiero ASI/Riviera Vanagon
"there is no point in being embarrassed of all the stupid shit i done and will continue to do"

Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[Dampcamper]

[bugeye72]

[rsvp]

I have two vans, an 82 Westy 1.6 NA (called the PHOENIX) and an 83 GL 7-pass with a 1.6TD out of a quantum. I've been running WVO in the GL for about 7 years... it's a handbuilt kit, like yours, and it's worked fine for roughly 30K miles. In the PHOENIX, I installed a used Greasecar kit last year, with the round tank in place of the spare tire clamshell (gets the heat and "aroma" out of the van!) about 10K miles so far... once to Acadia NP, and once to Dear Island/Stonington area

I've never had ANY serious engine trouble with either of these although I will get caught once in a while forgetting to purge, and leaving me a lot of cranking to get the WVO out of the system berfore it'll start.

I tore down the 1.6TD motor a bit ago, due to a rod knock... there was NO WVO residue on pistons or rings... it was as clean or cleaner than any decent running diesel motor on petrodiesel I've torn down.

I also have a TDI passat wagon that has a Greasecar kit in it... and it's not been so easygoing... I'm having issues with it, that may or may not be caused by using WVO... (remains to be seen when I get a chance to work on it)

The main thing, as stated in an above reply, is to have perfectly clean and dry WVO and use only 10 micron or smaller filters. I can tell you where to eat in the DC area, based on the oil I collect. I'll drive an 80 mile round trip once a month to get my best oil... which I could use in my kitchen if I choose to, as it comes to me that clean to start with... it's medium golden brown, and has no animal fats in it... (vegetarian restaurant)...

Feel free to PM me, as I have a friend in ME that does WVO in his Westy... He may have some further ideas for you. regards, Steve

[?Waldo?]

I have worked on several injection pumps that had WVO run through them and all of them had a significant layer of buildup on all of the internal parts.

[rsvp]

hey Andrew,

How's life?

I've never had to take my pumps apart (yet)... they seen to keep working... I do have a spare NA and TD pump on hand... just in case in do some day

(BTW, I still haven't had a chance to upgrade the PHOENIX to that 5 speed and JX motor I got out of that orange hitop... The motor's almost done, it made a good winter project...it was good chatting that day a year ago this past weekend!)

Regards,
Steve

[big swifty]

I was running wvo in my suburban for quite a while. I filtered and heated like crazy. It was a fun project, ran fine and smelled great but was a PITA. I found it very time consuming. Sure, I felt great flipping the bird to big oil but you're left with oily, sludgy, filter medium (bags, socks, paint strainers, whatever) which I found difficult to clean and/or dispose of properly. I had planned to convert my 1.6TD to wvo but when my Suburban died a non-wvo-related death, I just couldn't justify the time commitment. Again, the biggest drag for me was the sludgy filtrate. Oh, and that time suck. I'm way too busy now to think about wvo. I also have a rebuilt ALH in my Syncro and wouldn't let wvo near that type or my common-rail engine. Those who do... more power to you! Not for me. I'll sometimes treat my van to some pump-purchased BioD from reputable dealers.

I read, years ago, of making biofuel out of algae. If there is someone doing this commercially THAT would be way cool!
_________________
Evan
1987 Vanagon Syncro // Westfalia pop-top graft // Factory new ALH. 11mm IP. AFN 110 RC 2,3,4 // S7 turbo// Titan P502's
2013 Golf 4d TDI. No mods. Yet.
[1991 Jetta coupe TD. Giles Superpump. Custom tall 5 speed. SOLD

[mattlamb]

I have a 1.9 T from a jetta running in my van, 6 months so far all is good. with a veggie kit (Plant Drive system).

I let raw wvo sit for at least 1 month before adding to wvo 40 gallon drum.
I filter all my wvo through a coarse window mesh screen and then a "one micron" sock as its added to the 1st oil drum.
I then let gravity settle water out in the joined separate oil drums, oil overflows from one to the other. (1 micron filter between each tank also!.

I had a fresh rebuilt injection pump put in at same time, I plan to pull and inspect at 12 months.

I always warm up about 10 mins or when engine temp is at normal high.
I turn off wvo in the city as I do see the engine cool down at lights etc.
I live on Vancouver Island and going surfing 50km each way is so much more enjoyable for me and the planet..

I need a new tranny! Dk or from an 1980-83 air cooled vanagon fits best!

cheers
all

[beach_creature]

I run wvo in my AAZ. Been doing it for years. No problems noticed yet. Heated tank, separate heated fuel filter and inline filter before injection pump. Two tank system.
Usually only a few minutes of driving is enough heat to switch over to wvo from diesel. Electric solenoids. Built my own system.

Downside is it’s a lot of work not getting everything greasy! And carrying wvo on long trips takes up a lot of space in the van.
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84 Westy
1.9TD AAZ
5spd manual with Locking Peloquin TBD

[mattlamb]

I am running wvo and I am coming down in October from Canada through WA, OR, CA. maybe Arizona, Ut

do any of you guys/girls have clean wvo I could buy on the road?

thanks

Matt

[DanHoug]

i ran over 140K miles on WVO on a 1990 Jetta with the 1.6L NA. nary an issue, pulled the heads off after about 100K for a head gasket issue and there was just a light coating of soot on the piston tops. but i ran it right, warming up the engine fully before switching over and fully purging before stopping.

heated tank, heated fuel lines, heated filter, heated injector lines. could run on WVO at -30F!
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-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.

'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd

Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com