mrwillie wrote:JohnRW1621 wrote: I have subscribed to your newsletter and eagerly await the updates! Looks like you got a good one, congrats!Where is the link for the newsletter? I think I missed it.
My comments were mostly wishful thinking but stay tuned to GRM for frequent updates.
Of course, now that man-love has entered the dialog...
logdog wrote: Needs moar stance!
NOOOOOOOO!!!!! 
DrBoost wrote: Ahh, ok. I wasn't sure when the cut-off is. In reply to MrWillie, I think he means he subscribed to this thread? The little heart at the bottom. I'm leaning to making bio-diesel. I don't feel like playing with the veggie oil any more than I have to, but my wife drives my cars when she drives long distances. Because she doesn't drive it every day, she has forgotten to switch over a few times. My understanding is, no matter how well I filter the oil, running a TDI on cold WVO does damage much quicker than a MB or Cummins. That's an expensive goof, maybe I'll just go the safest rout. Good grief, now I get to learn a whole new process to add to my filtering setupBut I won't complain, I could keep paying $4.30 a gallon.
I like the idea of BioD - especially since my house currently uses oil heat, so my savings potential is even more (although I plan to convert to gas heat within the next year or so). Add the idea of a diesel powered generator fed from the same 250 gal tank, and in theory I could live damn close to "off the grid".
Unfortunately, a lack of time and space to do the refining holds me back. Of course, the "ultimate" would be to have enough land to grow soy beans and press your own oil.
Yes, while the ALH injector pump seems to be fairly hardy under normal use (mine is at 300K and still seems ok), they aren't cheap and replacing one could wipe out years of fuel savings if subjected to a WVO goof.
Ian F wrote:DrBoost wrote: Ahh, ok. I wasn't sure when the cut-off is. In reply to MrWillie, I think he means he subscribed to this thread? The little heart at the bottom. I'm leaning to making bio-diesel. I don't feel like playing with the veggie oil any more than I have to, but my wife drives my cars when she drives long distances. Because she doesn't drive it every day, she has forgotten to switch over a few times. My understanding is, no matter how well I filter the oil, running a TDI on cold WVO does damage much quicker than a MB or Cummins. That's an expensive goof, maybe I'll just go the safest rout. Good grief, now I get to learn a whole new process to add to my filtering setupI like the idea of BioD - especially since my house currently uses oil heat, so my savings potential is even more (although I plan to convert to gas heat within the next year or so). Add the idea of a diesel powered generator fed from the same 250 gal tank, and in theory I could live damn close to "off the grid". Unfortunately, a lack of time and space to do the refining holds me back. Of course, the "ultimate" would be to have enough land to grow soy beans and press your own oil. Yes, while the ALH injector pump seems to be fairly hardy under normal use (mine is at 300K and still seems ok), they aren't cheap and replacing one could wipe out years of fuel savings if subjected to a WVO goof.
You might be surprised how little work filtering the oil is. When I filter a batch oil I think I spend about as much time in the garage as I do at the gas station when I used to fill up.
It's the other part of it that I don't know.
DrBoost wrote: You might be surprised how little work filtering the oil is. When I filter a batch oil I think I spend about as much time in the garage as I do at the gas station when I used to fill up. It's the other part of it that I don't know.
Processing the oil isn't the only thing, though - it's the collecting and storing. Between two houses under renovation (and a 3rd potentially pending), 5 project cars and 3 daily drivers, and the 2+ hours I spend every day commuting, I'm doing well when I can change the oil on time and do maintenance repairs when needed. I don't have time to drive around to restuarants collecting oil - many of whom are now getting paid for thier oil rather than giving it away. Nevermind I have no place to process or store everything.
Even as much as I drive (30K+/year), I average about $220/mo for diesel. While I can appreciate and often envy the effort that goes into making WVO and BioD, the money saved isn't enough to justify the time expense and space required unless I can use it to fuel other needs. Nevermind the fact the TDI could get taken out any day now and would not likely be replaced with another diesel.
DrBoost wrote: In reply to carzan: you asked for it, I'll do it. In reply to CarKid: Yeah, the beetle is cheaper than the golf or jetta, I'm assuming it's the stigma of being a chick car? That being said, the new, new beetle looks great.
Happydance!!
Ian F wrote:DrBoost wrote: You might be surprised how little work filtering the oil is. When I filter a batch oil I think I spend about as much time in the garage as I do at the gas station when I used to fill up. It's the other part of it that I don't know.Processing the oil isn't the only thing, though - it's the collecting and storing. Between two houses under renovation (and a 3rd potentially pending), 5 project cars and 3 daily drivers, and the 2+ hours I spend every day commuting, I'm doing well when I can change the oil on time and do maintenance repairs when needed. I don't have time to drive around to restuarants collecting oil - many of whom are now getting paid for thier oil rather than giving it away. Nevermind I have no place to process or store everything. Even as much as I drive (30K+/year), I average about $220/mo for diesel. While I can appreciate and often envy the effort that goes into making WVO and BioD, the money saved isn't enough to justify the time expense and space required unless I can use it to fuel other needs. Nevermind the fact the TDI could get taken out any day now and would not likely be replaced with another diesel.
I hear ya. To tell the truth, with the economy I get in the TDI, the savings isn't as big but I'm kinda hooked on not paying for fuel.
For anyone else thinking about this, the time investment for collecting is small. I walk into the restaurant, they know who I am. They say "It's over there, in the usual place." I walk over there, grab two 5-gallon jugs and put them in my trunk. When I get home I dump them in my settling barrel. My filtering/settling setup is less than 4'X8'. I can have 55 gallons in my settling tank, and 35 gallons filtered in that space.
It's well worth it to me, but only now. I almost hung it up after my big spill and my first winter. But I got a system, and I'm stubborn.
Thanks for all the interest guys.
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