converted my duramax to WVO..... FREE veggie oil!

cblfhs · 09-13-2007, 11:26 AM

Hey all,
About 5 months ago I converted my 03 duramax diesel to run on used veggie oil. I am very happy with it, and I suggest it to others. If you have questions on it don't hesitate to ask... here are some pictures of the conversion... http://www.cardomain.com/id/cblfhs
click on the information about my truck and check it out!

Chris

**Tow Master** · 09-13-2007, 02:46 PM

Hey, Thats pretty cool!! Did you make the kit yourself or buy it? How much did it run ya? (If you dont mind me asking)

The only thing that scares me is Im already a little big and I hear running veggie oil makes you hungry

JackH · 09-15-2007, 08:24 AM

ive thought pretty seriously about doing this but i heard that you have to spend a ton of time filtering the used oil and theres a lot of work to do instead of just pumpin and goin, is thiss true? i dont have much spare time on my hands and that would be a problem if it was time consuming.

jobob307 · 09-15-2007, 03:38 PM

WVO is a great way to go if you follow the rules. Like making sure it's up to temp and purging before shut down. Alot of TDI guys are starting to shy away from it do to very bad tings happening to their motors. I personally think a lot of their problems are coming from water in the oil. So make sure you filter.

cblfhs · 09-16-2007, 06:22 PM

WELL
the filtering thing doesn't take much time. I just put it first through a 5 micron filter, and then through a 1 micron filter bag, and I have an inline 2 micron filter as well. I always pump off the top to prevent using oil w\ fuel, and I try to let the oil settle out as well. sometimes though, on road trips, I don't have time to let the oil settle out. I find taco bell to be a pretty good source... some of their locations have clean, clear oil.

-chris

cblfhs · 09-16-2007, 06:25 PM

o and I bought a kit from golden fuel systems, the full kit w\ a 100 gallon tank ran me around 2500 shipped to my house. im happy w\ it. If you do decide to get a kit from them, please tell them Chris Block referred you (It doesn't hurt you and it means I get like 50 bucks store credit, and you get a free DVD)

let me know if you have any questions about it
Chris
block@vt.edu

I definitely suggest converting yours and sticking it to foreign oil companies... plus you save $$s

mltj74 · 11-10-2007, 08:25 AM

be very careful with veggie oil things can turn bad very fast i have a 02 chevy duramax in my shop right now the guy also had a golden fuel systems kit 120 gallon tank the pollock valve failed he didnt notice it... so now hes already bent his valves due to the cold veggie all stock fuel system has to be cleaned also and of the looks of it a new fuel tank he flooded the diesel tank with veggie for about a month... who knows what his rings and injectors look like something tells me not good... just make sure u keep a check on them valves u got (run on diesel disconnect the veggie sending line youll leak air if the valve is bad) i would get a new valve like a hydraforce and add a heat exchanger before the valves.

o yea man i have found if u bypass the stock fuel filter on veggie (put the valves after the diesel filter) youll help yourself out in the long run sorter purge times and the kit doesnt send all that veggie back to the veggie tank it goes to your diesel tank which on a low tank and cause problems bypassing the filter means that much less veggie in your diesel tank each purge..but the real way to fix that is add a return to the veggie tank and get 2 3 way valves and do a real purge cycle

steveesp52 · 12-03-2007, 12:38 PM

OK. I don't know how the valves bent. I don't see this happening unless the engine is trashed with Vegie oil in the engine oil resulting in loss of oil flow but taking out a timing chain. I don't see how this is possible. I would expect to spin a rod bearing long before taking out a timing chain or causing low engine compression resulting in a hard start.

It does sound like you know something about Vegie oil and running it in the truck. I have a lift pump to keep cool diesel flowing over the FICM module so I don't run into the FICM being a sponge and causing cold start issues or taking out a FICM module with hot oil. Never share filters is what I was told. Try washing out a paint roller with a water gun. Doesn't work and basically, that is what you are trying to do if you share a fuel filter.

I also agree with two valves and heat exchangers. I'm actually in the process of adding another heat exchanger and third valve to heat my diesel which I am hoping will heat my high pressure pump and injectors before switching in the cold this winter. So far, no issues but it does take a couple miles of driving to bring the fuel temp up to 125F+ after switching to VO once it reaches 130F or so. This has me nervous every time but so far, it is still running.

Good luck all who are trying the VO thing. I am not sure I will ever pay off my investment but it is pretty cool to do. Last mileage between Diesel fill ups was 950 miles. Best has been just under 1400 miles. I'm hoping for 2300 or more miles over Christmas during a long road trip. I'm hoping I can leave with a full tank of Diesel and come back with over 1/2 tank running the rest on VO. Of course I will have to fill the VO tank but heck, if I don't have to pay for Diesel. What a plus.

kuntry_kid · 12-12-2007, 07:37 PM

I am new to this, actually just started researching before I go buy a diesel truck.

I know a guy that has a veg system in his truck from what I understand his has the filtering built in. He drives up to the business he is getting his oil from and sucks it right into his truck and it filters in the tank in the back of his truck. Has anyone seen a system like this?

I will try to contact him to see which system he has and exactly how it works.

steveesp52 · 12-13-2007, 04:34 AM

A persons filtering and dewatering process all depends on what they expect out of the vehicle and how long they want it to last. If they have little $ in their car and don't expect it to last very long, that is one way to drive on VO. He will kill the engine in a short time.

This individual may not be telling his entire process. Maybe he filters as he pumps into his transport container then when he gets it home, he processes it a lot further before actually burning it in his truck.

I have WAY to much $$$ in my truck and system to treat it like that. I presonally take a lot of steps to make sure I am putting the best fuel in the truck that I can make. I have heard people saying they get 1000 miles out of a filter. I've gone 6200 miles now on the original truck filter with zerio signs of problems. I believe that my experience is due to the steps I take to ensure the fuel is clean. It takes more time and money to begin with but that is what I am doing.

I would caution you in thinking running on VO is easy and no different than going to the gas station and filling up. If that is the way anyone looks at it, they better have some good walking shoes and some really good friends that will come bail them out when it comes time to tow the vehicle home after it is dead.

Please before you jump into this, read everything you can find to understand what it takes to make this work. It is a wonderful project and experience. Almost never ending as you will always think of a "better" way to make the mouse trap.

It really is fun. I do find there are a lot of people out there that jump into this a little unprepared in the amount of work it can require.

Let me know if I can help.
Steve