Re: GBlist: Re: environmentally-sound diesel fuel/office tower

Alex Wilson (alex@ebuild.com)
Wed, 26 Mar 1997 08:35:10 -0500 (EST)

Regarding whether diesel engines can burn cleaner, more biodegradable
fuels, a good friend of mine, Dan MacArthur (dmacarthur@igc.apc.org) in
Marlboro, Vermont, has been operating his fleet of diesel VW rabbits on a
50-50 mixture of diesel fuel and used vegetable oil for five or six years.
He gets the used cooking oil from a nearby college, which is only too glad
to get rid of the stuff without having to pay for disposal, and he filters
it through an old T-shirt. His primary limitation is that he can't use the
mixture during Vermont's winters, as it congeals in cold weather. I should
also add that Dan works on all his cars himself; I don't want to take the
blame if you try this--or try a 100% mix--and it gums up the engine. I'm
sure Dan will be glad to answer any detailed questions.

Alex Wilson
Environmental Building News

> I have a "recollection" ( an old phrase :-) ) that one or more past
>issues of "Mother Earth News" ran an article or two on using veg. oil in
>diesel engines. Maybe one of our contributors or " Lurkers" can find
>it for you. If I run across it i will let you know.
>
>"For what it's worth" Len Walde, P.E.
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>This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by Oikos (www.oikos.com)
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__________________________________________________________________
This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by Oikos (www.oikos.com)
and Environmental Building News (www.ebuild.com). For instructions
send e-mail to greenbuilding-request@crest.org.
__________________________________________________________________