Oregon family travels to East Coast on vegetable oil - Washington Times
With the national average cost of diesel hovering around $2. 75, the 7,200-mile journey could have cost them more than $1,600 in fuel alone. “The cost, taking this truck, was roughly the same amount, if not cheaper. That’s because “this truck” runs on waste vegetable oil. Jon bought the 1992 Ford F-350 long-bed truck four years ago, then bought a waste-oil conversion kit online and had a mechanic friend install it. The total conversion, for parts and labor, was under $1,000, Jon says. The conversion process doesn’t require extensive engine work, though you do have to start with a diesel engine. “The oil is thicker than diesel fuel, so you have to preheat it before it gets to the motor,” Jon says. His truck has a two-tank system, one for oil and one for diesel. He uses diesel to start the engine, switching to the veggie oil once it’s warmed up, then uses the diesel to flush the oil out of the engine before shutting it off. Greasecar Vegetable Fuel Systems in Portland introduced the first commercial vegetable oil conversion kit in the North American market in 2000, says Justin Carven, a representative from the company. “We have sold around 10,000 conversion kits during the last 15 years and likely an additional 10,000 conversions. Source: www.washingtontimes.com
