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jdemaris
02-10-2006 06:40:34
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Good thing getting ruined in reply to ggjjon, 02-09-2006 19:53:46
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Some injection pumps require more lubricant than others, and some fuel has less lubricosity than others. In-line pumps can take much more punishment than distributor pumps - so when you're fooling around with different fuels, you are much better off with an engine that uses and in-line pump. GM and Ford use distributor pumps - at least the older ones, so with them the fuel is critical. In fact, even standard pump diesel fuel can ruin them in extreme cold conditions, so Stanadyne offeres special "Artic rated" repair parts for such environments. Now, with injectors - I'm not up on what is used now with the newer "common rail" systems. The older pintle injectors work fine with bio-fuel. You mentioned scewing around with a Japanese diesel powered Chevy (Duramax). My neighbor put farm fuel (dyed diesel) in his and it would barely run. Had to drain the tank and flush the system to get it going again. I don't know if a fuel-color sensor did it, or perhaps a sulfur detector? So, how cooking grease will work in it, I don't know. Diesel weighs more than gasoline, thus there is more mileage potential. Home-made fuel from grease weighs more than pump diesel, so it offers more mileage potential than pump diesel. But, with the cost of the newer fuel-injection components used now to meet emmission standards, it seems to be a much more reasonable approach to use an older diesel with nice, straight-forward mechanical fuel injection. Pre 94 Ford or Chevy, not sure what year for the Dodge-Cummins. And to be even more reliable, find something with an in-line pump. None of the Chevy or Ford diesel trucks have in-lines. My Chevy Chevette diesel does though (I think). Same with the Isuzu troopers and little trucks with diesels and maybe Mercedes? Somewhere I'm sure you can find lubricosity ratings for different fuels at different temperatures. The key issue is probably what happens to bio-fuel when it gets cold and thick. A company that is giving warranties on its parts has no way of knowing how reliable a homemade preheating system will be for a bio-fuel setup (i.e. not factory made). So, if you get one cold morning and your used Mcdonalds cooking grease gels up and screws up your injectors, it seems reasonable that the warranty is voided. It also seems counter-productive to me that many people are adverstising the fact that they are using bio-fuel. All that will do is make "free grease" harder to get, and also get the government involved. In Europe, it is now illegal to use bio-fuel unless you pay tax on it, just as if it was regular pump diesel. In my area, there are grease-uses putting ads in the newspaper, trying to get attention, and form clubs. Makes no sense to me. If you can get free grease somewhere, keep your mouth shut or you're apt to lose your source. Years ago I was gettting free spoiled food from local supermarkets, and spoiled dairy products from a local creamery, and I used it to raise pigs. Then, the local newspaper did a "special interest" story on it. That was the end of a good thing. Shortly thereafter, people were calling in trying to get their share of "free food" and the markets started charging for it at first. Then, a few people started eating it themselves, got sick, and sued the supermarkets! Now they destroy the food since it all got too complicated. Probably won't be too long before someone's engine quits because their "free grease" gels up, and they'll sue Mcdonalds for giving away "dangerous fuel." Then, nobody will be able to get it.
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