Veggie oil as fuel

**the_wave_rider** · 4th February 2010, 23:37

There are a couple of threads on here but just wondering if anyone has run a DTI on veg oil?

I have run various cars on it
Escort Van for 10k miles no probs
Pug 306 approx 20k miles no probs
Audi A4 tdi Approx 15k miles no probs

I always ran the mix 80% oil and 20% diesel every tank in the months of May-October with a fresh tank of diesel every 5th fill up

Nov - Feb only diesel as the cars never had preheater installed for the oil

March - April 50% oil and 50% diesel

The oil used was always clean bought from a wholesaler and I have never had a problem and noticed no loss in power or fuel economy or failed parts or blocked filters...only the smell

Thinking of giving it a go in the veccy

**mucklestone** · 4th February 2010, 23:46

The difference is that the cars you describe were mechanical (except audi i tink!) If your car is common rail don't bother you will have problems.. They will run for probably 15-20k but then bits start to fail. First will be the injectors...... Good Luck!

Btw in the winter you don't have to stop using it just don't put much in. Maybe 20% veggy and 80% diesel....

**Waterboy** · 4th February 2010, 23:47

Suppose it depends on what fuel pump you have in a Vectra Diesel, I don't know what they have.

Heard that Bosch pumps are good with Veg Oil, but Lucas arn't. There was a really good link on Retro rides about which pumps could handle it but can't seem to find it at the moment

**mublin** · 4th February 2010, 23:47

is it not illegal? I thought it carried the same penalty as using red deisel.

**Cruize** · 4th February 2010, 23:53

It's not "illegal" but it's not as simple as just putting it in your tank and laughing... If you put it in your tank then you are legally obliged to pay the duty on it. This is where the illegal part comes in as 99.9% don't. Which means a Nice government fine of £500 and a impounded car.

Here is the Customs and Excise page on it
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsP...yType=document

**mublin** · 5th February 2010, 00:11

yea thought it was sumat like that, u need to contact them and tell um and pay the tax, so in theory ur paying tax twice, once on buying the oil second telling the big wigs, how much could u potentialy save?

but like u said most ppl don't pay the tax which is why my mate got caught, the cops can smell it behind you, must be trained like sniffer dogs

he lost his car and got 3 points.

**the_wave_rider** · 5th February 2010, 07:48

Originally Posted by mublin

yea thought it was sumat like that, u need to contact them and tell um and pay the tax, so in theory ur paying tax twice, once on buying the oil second telling the big wigs, how much could u potentialy save?

but like u said most ppl don't pay the tax which is why my mate got caught, the cops can smell it behind you, must be trained like sniffer dogs

he lost his car and got 3 points.

Sorry mate but the police can not fine you or impound your car it is customs and excise. They are the only ones who can legally do anything about you using red diesel or veggie oil.

Customs asks you to tell them how much you are using you can be honest or you can fabricate the figures to suit you, they will never check up and unless customs are behind you using your exhaust as a bong inhaling the fumes you are about as likely to get stopped as I am of winning the lottery

**the_wave_rider** · 5th February 2010, 07:52

Originally Posted by mucklestone

The difference is that the cars you describe were mechanical (except audi i tink!) If your car is common rail don't bother you will have problems.. They will run for probably 15-20k but then bits start to fail. First will be the injectors...... Good Luck!

Btw in the winter you don't have to stop using it just don't put much in. Maybe 20% veggy and 80% diesel....

The only reasons things fail is because people do not keep the system clean, have you ever seen veggie oil congeal into a solid lump? The answer is no it does not solidify, the viscosity may change but the diesel mix helps to prevent this and descale as it goes through the pipes.

Bosch fuel pumps are the safest bet lucas do not fair well

**mublin** · 5th February 2010, 08:59

the police go to glastonbury and reading and all other major hippie festivals and check 1 out of 10 cars to see of they are using oil or red deisel, I no this cus they checked mine and I asked why, they told me there aloud to check and impound and fine anyone with red deisel, and it also depends on the % of the mixture.

**marktaylor** · 5th February 2010, 11:07

cant see the point of using veg oil to be honest as it doesnt really work out that much cheaper unless you know someone who uses a lot and lets you have there used stuff cheap

The tax or fuel duty you have to pay on Vegetable Oil when burnt in your car varies from country to country. In the UK the law has changed several times in the last few years. Prior to 2005 you had to register the fuel and pay 28.35p per litre of vegetable oil used, then in 2005 it was changed to 48.35p/litre which is the standard fuel duty to pay on Diesel. Then in 2006 it was changed again so that there was an exemptio on using less than 2500litres per year, anything after that and you have to pay the 48.35p/litre. To put this in context that is around 40 tanks of fuel for an average car of 60 litres. For average driving this would take you around 8000miles. Given that if you use over 2500 litres of vegetable oil a year you need to register and pay full duty on the fuel you may be better off diluting the oil down with Diesel or simply only using the Vegetable Oil in the summer months.