CRD with WVO conversion on he news

scrambledKJ · **Posted:** Mon Jun 30, 2008 4:58 pm

I was just watching the 4pm local news (since nothing else was on). There was a story about the owner of Wingzone converting his diesel truck to WVO from their fryers. I paid little attention until I saw his Liberty CRD wrapped in vinyl decals sporting a 20 gal tank behind the rear seat. They didnt say whos kit it was, but that it cost 3500 bucks.

Travis

UFO · **Posted:** Mon Jun 30, 2008 6:41 pm

That's nuts.

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Mon Jun 30, 2008 6:47 pm

UFO wrote:

That's nuts.

Not really, It cost me $92 to fill up today :shock:

And one thing a chicken wings store would have lots of is chicken fat and frying oil. Plus he got his picture and store on the evening news, free advertising :wink:

Might not be the best thing for the jeep though :roll:

geordi · **Posted:** Mon Jun 30, 2008 6:59 pm

Hell, with the cost of fuel these days, if I owned a free supply of fuel, HELL YES I'd rock it, and know that a rebuild on the pump would only cost me about 10 fill ups. Any more than that, and I'm driving for free.

But then again, I'd also be converting it to biodiesel, so a pump rebuild would never be needed.

dkenny · **Posted:** Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:51 pm

I make my own BD I don't think I've spent 3500 dollars for the whole setup..

YES.. I convert the oil into fuel, but I don't convert the car for fuel.

-dkenny

KeighJeigh · **Posted:** Tue Jul 01, 2008 12:17 am

Unconverted WVO is very tricky stuff. I would be very, very, very careful.
I am approaching home brewing with the same caution but I am more convinced that, provided I do my titrations properly, I will get a more consistent fuel than with straight WVO. I would rather convert the fuel than the car. Also, SWVO does not get you off the hook for processing the oil. You still have to worry about contamination of water, food particles, dirt, microbes etc... and then there is the issue of inconsistent oil. This is one of the reasons I like the BD option better: Before each batch you check to see specifically how much reactant (methoxide) you need for a full reaction. You also then do a wash sequence, a dry sequence and a fine filtration. If done properly you end up with a consistent, golden colored fuel. I would much rather put that into my car then SWVO that has only been filtered.

For anyone looking to home brew, the costs of the processor can be cheap if you build your own:

The most popular processor out there put together by home brewers is known as the Appleseed processor. There is little difference in function between it and various commercially produced units. In fact, some people just sell the Appleseed processor with all the things listed below and simply charge you a fee for putting it all together for you. (the most honest approach)

Used water heater: Free to $200. I paid $200 for a brand new one.
PE mixing tank for methoxide: $100
Mixing pump from Harbor Freight: $30
Storage barrels: Free
Wiring, filters, plumbing fittings, titration kits, temp guage etc..: $150-$300 depending upon your level of creativity.

Whether doing BD or SWVO, actually obtaining the oil in the first place is the kicker!

What they don't tell you in the news (or classes) is the that because of the news and because of high fuel prices everyone and their brother is approaching every restaurant in town for oil. Some restaurants I found had been asked by 1/2 a dozen people before I got there. There are also BD processing companies that have big barrels out behind restaurants and they are not too keen on you messing with their business. Soooo... Always look for oil sources BEFORE you decide to invest in a processor or conversion kit. I predict many people will abandon their efforts when they realize the realities of all of this. Making BD is a very touchy process and is easy to screw up the fuel. (and thus your car) People should also actually go to a restaurant and smell the rancid restaurant oil with pieces of rotting food floating around first. And then realize that it gets all over everything in their garage and house making it into a skanky mess....and then also realize you have to maintain a good relationship with the restaurant and fight off competing brewers....etc...

It's worth doing...but so was building my own house by myself. I just wouldn't recommend it to any but the most hardy do-it-yourselfers.

dgeist · **Posted:** Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:48 am

scrambledKJ wrote:

I was just watching the 4pm local news (since nothing else was on). There was a story about the owner of Wingzone converting his diesel truck to WVO from their fryers. I paid little attention until I saw his Liberty CRD wrapped in vinyl decals sporting a 20 gal tank behind the rear seat. They didnt say whos kit it was, but that it cost 3500 bucks.

Travis

Did they say which location? I'd like to drive over and look at their setup

...not that I'd use anything other than petro/bio blends, but it'd be interesting nonetheless.

<edit>
Found it: http://www.ajc.com/services/content/business/stories/2008/06/30/wing_zone_vegetable_oil.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=6
Conversion done by: http://www.ecologicalcreations.com/
The conversion company is in the same city (Jasper, about 45 minutes north of Atlantak, 1 hour for me), as the dealership I bought my CRD. It wouldn't surprise me if they helped in the design or integration testing. They're the only dealer (ever, so far) where I'll take my CRD for work, even though I have 3 other Chrysler dealers within 15 minutes of my house.

UFO · **Posted:** Tue Jul 01, 2008 3:36 pm

dkenny wrote:

I make my own BD I don't think I've spent 3500 dollars for the whole setup..

YES.. I convert the oil into fuel, but I don't convert the car for fuel.

-dkenny

ABSOLUTELY! My fillups cost less than $20, and my biodiesel processor cost less than $1000. $3500 for an oil conversion is NUTS!

mrkake · **Posted:** Tue Jul 01, 2008 11:52 pm

I am my own supplier (but I am lucky since I oversee two restaurants). I have had 5 inquiries in the last 4 months about our oil. I actually got rid of the barrels out back and have the cooks put the cooled and strained oil back into the original containers and I pick it up weekly. That way no one sees the barrels in the back and thinks I have waste veg available. The tides are turning and WVO is being viewed as a commodity by restaurateurs. We used to have to pay someone to come and take it away and now people are begging for the opportunity to take it away. It won't be long before they will start selling it to the highest bidder. And with fuel prices the way they are, even if you have to pay a little for your feedstock, you are still money ahead.

CRD with WVO conversion on he news

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