Guy (type much?) running an diesel A4 on sunflower oil...
01-09-2002, 06:00 AM
#1
Guy (type much?) running an diesel A4 on sunflower oil...
ECO-ENTHUSIAST RUNS CAR ON RECYCLED CHIP FAT
BYLINE: Charlie Hamilton, PA News
BODY:
An eco-friendly car enthusiast has transformed his vehicle to run on recycled chip fat.
Alan Collins, 47, of Hady Crescent, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, wanted a environmentally-friendly alternative to diesel that would not detract from the car's performance. Since the conversion his £13,000 Audi A4 has notched up more than 1,000 miles of trouble-free motoring by using fuel harvested from a quarter of an acre of sunflowers.
As sunflower oil and fat are not mineral-based fuels, the emissions are less harmful.
Mr Collins said: "It does sound a little unusual but it really makes perfect sense.
"It wasn't complicated to change the engine. Most of the parts I used could be picked up from any Halfords. I had to order a few special valves but nothing expensive.
"I reckon anyone with a bit of mechanical know-how could change their cars too. It's not rocket science."
Mr Collins, a shift supervisor at a wire company, hit upon the scheme while queuing for diesel during the fuel crisis in 2000.
He overhauled his car's diesel engine and made a "duel-fuel" system running on both cooking fat and fossil fuels.
The car runs on diesel for the first few miles while the oil is heated to the correct temperature - 80 degrees Centigrade - and with one flick of a switch on the control panel, he's driving on fat.
The whole operation only took the self-taught motor mechanic one weekend.
Mr Collins said he can get about 45 miles to the gallon on either fuel but pays 45.8p a gallon in tax on the chip fat.
BYLINE: Charlie Hamilton, PA News
BODY:
An eco-friendly car enthusiast has transformed his vehicle to run on recycled chip fat.
Alan Collins, 47, of Hady Crescent, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, wanted a environmentally-friendly alternative to diesel that would not detract from the car's performance. Since the conversion his £13,000 Audi A4 has notched up more than 1,000 miles of trouble-free motoring by using fuel harvested from a quarter of an acre of sunflowers.
As sunflower oil and fat are not mineral-based fuels, the emissions are less harmful.
Mr Collins said: "It does sound a little unusual but it really makes perfect sense.
"It wasn't complicated to change the engine. Most of the parts I used could be picked up from any Halfords. I had to order a few special valves but nothing expensive.
"I reckon anyone with a bit of mechanical know-how could change their cars too. It's not rocket science."
Mr Collins, a shift supervisor at a wire company, hit upon the scheme while queuing for diesel during the fuel crisis in 2000.
He overhauled his car's diesel engine and made a "duel-fuel" system running on both cooking fat and fossil fuels.
The car runs on diesel for the first few miles while the oil is heated to the correct temperature - 80 degrees Centigrade - and with one flick of a switch on the control panel, he's driving on fat.
The whole operation only took the self-taught motor mechanic one weekend.
Mr Collins said he can get about 45 miles to the gallon on either fuel but pays 45.8p a gallon in tax on the chip fat.
01-09-2002, 07:36 AM
#4
Actually, this is a homebrew version of "Biodiesel" --
which is used french-fry or other vegetable cooking oil that can be run in any diesel engine with no modifications. Its on sale now in San Francisco, and rumor is that the car smells like frech fries as it goes by. This was in the news recently.<ul><li><a href="http://www.biodiesel.org/default2.htm">Biodiesel web site</a></li></ul>
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