Can I still run my car on Diesel after converting with your system?
Yes, once converted you will still be able to operate on Petroleum Diesel, Biodiesel, Vegetable Oil, Waste Vegetable Oil, or any blends of those fuels.
Can VegieCars install the conversion kits for me?
VegieCars don't do installations as our customer base is all over the world, but can point you in the direction of mechanics or VegieCars Agents in your area who would be able to assist you, and we are happy to offer advice and support to your current mechanic.
Our Kits are designed for the DIY installer, with most components not requiring any specialist Mechanical or Electrical ability, although you may need some assistance when fitting a Fuel Processor , Fuel Tank or Fuel Tank Selector Valve.
There is nothing highly unusual about the installation of any of these conversion products, so your favored local mechanic should be able to install all of the components that you will require for your conversion.
I'm sick of filling my van up at the pump so I want to get a basic system together as soon as possible but don't have a lot of money. Can I tweak my system and add things like a Fuel Processor once I'm already running on vegie oil and saving some much needed cash?
Yes, your vehicle in your climate will be able to operate using your existing fuel tank. You will need to purchase a 12 volt fuel heater and our "cold start " fuel injector line heating kit. This will allow you to run on any blend of diesel and vegetable oil, and start on Waste Vegetable Oil in mild weather. You may need to blend the Vegetable Oil with petroleum in colder weather conditions.
The cold start kit will pre-heat your injector lines for a couple of minutes before you start your car, warming the fuel up just before the injectors so that the vehicle will start. It will continue to keep the injector lines hot while your ignition is on.
It is important to filter out the hard fats from your fuel before putting the oil in the fuel tank if operating on a single tank system. You can easily do this by cold filtering the fuel through our pre-filter kit with a 5 micron filter bag. If you don't do this, the hard fats can solidify in your injector pump on a cold night, causing damage when you start it in the morning.
The single tank system for your vehicle is only $450 which you should be able to pay off within 5000km of driving. After a further 5000km you will be able to afford to install a second fuel line with an Agglomerating Filter and basic fuel tank, making your conversion more resilient.
By installing the cold start kit, you will be able to use both your diesel tank and your vegetable oil tank for Waste Vegetable Oil in mild weather conditions.
I'm planning to travel with some mates for 2 months around Australia running on Waste Vegetable Oil and I'm trying to plan a conversion which would be best for this. I want to be able to access any 44 gallon drums at Take-a-Ways along the way no matter how cruddy the oil might be and know that my system will be able to handle it. I will be using a 2 tank system.
It is best to set yourself up with a system that allows you to heat the oil up prior to filtering which might just be putting it in some black plastic containers and leaving it in the sun until it's warm. I can supply you with a kit for under $100 that includes a 30 litre filter housing, a 50 micron filter that will take out the larger particles, and two 5 micron filters. If you don't filter it down to at least 10 microns, the filter in your vehicle will block up in no time.
I have a customer who has just completed his conversion on the same vehicle as yours. He has used a 30 litre white plastic square carboy with a modified cap. This is placed in a milk crate and fixed where convenient with octo-straps to maintain a versatile payload space. To refill, he changes over the empty carboy to a full one, eliminating spills inside the cabin. This allows him to carry a series of carboys of oil with quick changeovers/refills and not have to buy or fit an expensive fuel tank. As the carboy is white, he can see how much fuel is left in the tank.
He has fitted the Davco 234 Fuel Processor which will remove any fine food or water particles that might be left in the fuel, and uses coolant heat to make it fluid enough for the filter to process it. The major advantage of this unit is that the clear bowl allows you to see when the filter needs to be replaced, which if your using fuel of unknown quality, it may block your filter quickly causing fuel starvation.
I read a book once that said I would have to install a heating coil in the fuel tank with radiator water running through it. Do I need to do this?
In areas of the world where the mean winter temperatures are not below freezing it is largely not necessary, certainly not in most of Australia. In areas of the world where the weather gets really cold like Europe and Canada, your vegetable oil will go solid in the tank, requiring you to heat it before you can use it at all.
Relying on the coolant to heat a large body of oil takes quite a while before its warm enough to use. A much easier solution is a mains powered heating pad, which keeps the tank warm when the vehicle is stationary, allowing for a fast switch over in the morning.
Animal Fat has a much higher set point than vegetable oil and would require a tank heating system for its use in most climates.
Is there a problem with having hot oil go through my existing spin on particle filter?
I can't guarantee that there won't be a problem because they are made for standard diesel fuel at ambient temperatures, and may contain components that can't handle high temperatures. It is recommended that you install one of our Agglomerators or Fuel Processors in place of your existing spin on filter because these filters can handle the higher temperature range.
