now our prius is the family gas guzzler too.

galaxee · 12-02-2007, 03:10 PM

we're the proud new owners of an 85 mercedes-benz diesel that is converted to run on waste vegetable oil.

the previous owner sent us home with enough oil to get us through until DH sets up his own collection system.

it has a 15-gal tank in the spare tire well for the wvo and the ~115 mile trip home took half a tank of oil and just enough diesel to run the car till the oil was running temp. so the prius guzzled more on the way home!

based on the mpg we were getting with the lexus, and the price we paid for everything, it will more than pay for itself in half a year once DH starts school in january. and no more foreign oil! for those of you concerned about emissions, what i've read so far is that they are similar to regular diesel, depending on the source and quality of the oil.

Neicy · 12-02-2007, 04:51 PM

Any sources lined up for used oil yet?

galaxee · 12-02-2007, 05:50 PM

nah, not yet. it needs a little work first, but that's expected for how cheap we got it! we just got a small metal barrel for storage/filtering- DH is going to go out tomorrow and talk to a few local restaurant owners to set something up.

**Tideland Prius** · 12-02-2007, 08:36 PM

sweeet! Just like the one on Fifth Gear haha. Tell us how it goes.

galaxee · 12-02-2007, 09:25 PM

we need to stick a better heater in the wvo tank- the one in it sucks. (we took it to the grocery store tonight and the oil temp didn't register until we parked the car at the store. so we went there on dino, came home on veggie.)

we're gonna do that and maybe an engine block heater too. but if we get a plug-in heater and pre-heat the wvo, it can get hot enough so he can switch over right away. that would be ideal.

of course it needs work but this is an only-fix-as-necessary car

sparkyAZ · 12-02-2007, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by galaxee

for those of you concerned about emissions, what i've read so far is that they are similar to regular diesel, depending on the source and quality of the oil.

So whoever drives this car is going to smell like French fries?

Actually I saw where a local fast food resteraunt is running some of their behemoth Dodge diesel trucks on wvo... not a bad deal when you can get the 'propellant' for 'free'

daniel · 12-04-2007, 06:38 PM

I had a friend who burned virgin soy oil in a Jedda. Even that stuff smelled like french fries. I don't like diesel, but I must admit that with wvo you're carbon-neutral, you're not importing energy, and you're using something that otherwise would get sent to the landfill. So, congratulations on getting cheap transportation for your DH.

DaveinOlyWA · 12-04-2007, 06:42 PM

that is cool that you still have FF to rely on in case of weird weather, bad heaters, etc... but still has exhaust... mine doesnt (*smugness emerges*)...just thought i would point that out...

but all in all, i'd rather breathe exhaust that is home grown than to have to pay someone else to destroy my health

Skwyre7 · 12-05-2007, 07:48 AM

This could go unsaid, but I'm in the posting mood. Keep us posted on how it's working.

galaxee · 12-05-2007, 10:34 AM

i will

he's been at home studying the past few days so not much to say at the moment.

12-02-2007, 03:10 PM	#1
galaxee uphill battling Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central NC/ western WI Posts: 8,808 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 5 Times in 3 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 19	now our prius is the family gas guzzler too. we're the proud new owners of an 85 mercedes-benz diesel that is converted to run on waste vegetable oil. the previous owner sent us home with enough oil to get us through until DH sets up his own collection system. it has a 15-gal tank in the spare tire well for the wvo and the ~115 mile trip home took half a tank of oil and just enough diesel to run the car till the oil was running temp. so the prius guzzled more on the way home! based on the mpg we were getting with the lexus, and the price we paid for everything, it will more than pay for itself in half a year once DH starts school in january. and no more foreign oil! for those of you concerned about emissions, what i've read so far is that they are similar to regular diesel, depending on the source and quality of the oil. __________________ black 2005 prius, tweaked just the way i like it as DH was once told, someone with his capability should be in college, not doing mindless maintenance awaiting the occasional brain teaser. after conquering the entire ASE automotive series, he's busy retooling the diagnostic mindset for other life protecting applications. the prius tech is officially scarce, and his other half is sad without him.

12-02-2007, 04:51 PM	#2
Neicy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wakefield, MA. Posts: 748 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: G Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	Way to go! Any sources lined up for used oil yet?

12-02-2007, 05:50 PM	#3
galaxee uphill battling Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central NC/ western WI Posts: 8,808 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 5 Times in 3 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 19	nah, not yet. it needs a little work first, but that's expected for how cheap we got it! we just got a small metal barrel for storage/filtering- DH is going to go out tomorrow and talk to a few local restaurant owners to set something up.

12-02-2007, 08:36 PM	#4
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,370 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 10	sweeet! Just like the one on Fifth Gear haha. Tell us how it goes.

12-02-2007, 09:25 PM	#5
galaxee uphill battling Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central NC/ western WI Posts: 8,808 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 5 Times in 3 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 19	we need to stick a better heater in the wvo tank- the one in it sucks. (we took it to the grocery store tonight and the oil temp didn't register until we parked the car at the store. so we went there on dino, came home on veggie.) we're gonna do that and maybe an engine block heater too. but if we get a plug-in heater and pre-heat the wvo, it can get hot enough so he can switch over right away. that would be ideal. of course it needs work but this is an only-fix-as-necessary car

12-04-2007, 06:38 PM	#7
daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 8,524 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I had a friend who burned virgin soy oil in a Jedda. Even that stuff smelled like french fries. I don't like diesel, but I must admit that with wvo you're carbon-neutral, you're not importing energy, and you're using something that otherwise would get sent to the landfill. So, congratulations on getting cheap transportation for your DH.

12-04-2007, 06:42 PM	#8
DaveinOlyWA Opps !! I Did it Again!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 9,239 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 4	that is cool that you still have FF to rely on in case of weird weather, bad heaters, etc... but still has exhaust... mine doesnt (smugness emerges)...just thought i would point that out... but all in all, i'd rather breathe exhaust that is home grown than to have to pay someone else to destroy my health

12-05-2007, 07:48 AM	#9
Skwyre7 What's the catch? Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 2,302 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	This could go unsaid, but I'm in the posting mood. Keep us posted on how it's working.

12-05-2007, 10:34 AM	#10
galaxee uphill battling Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central NC/ western WI Posts: 8,808 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 5 Times in 3 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 19	i will he's been at home studying the past few days so not much to say at the moment.