How to Make a Diesel Truck Run on Biofuel
The diesel engine in a truck can run on several alternative fuels, including biodiesel, vegetable oil and waste cooking grease. Converting a truck to run on these fuels is incredibly simple, and should take the average backyard mechanic about an hour to complete.
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Instructions
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Decide on a biofuel. Any fluid that has a similar viscosity and octane level as petroleum diesel fuel will burn in a diesel engine, and the most popular are biodiesel, waste fryer oils, vegetable oils and soy oil. Depending on the availability, the easiest to use would be biodiesel, as it has already been prepared for direct diesel fuel replacement. The others require preparation, usually by heating and filtering the raw oils, which can be done at home or with portable equipment.
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Add or convert a secondary tank. Many trucks will have a second tank already in place, and it can be used to store the biofuel without conversion. Adding a tank and lines will require a switch in place that will pump fuel from the selected tank, and this switch can be placed anywhere that is convenient.
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Add a fuel line heater directly before the intake manifold on the engine. These devices draw a few amps to heat the fuel as it reaches the fuel system, which makes the viscosity of many oils the same as diesel fuel. It should be switched and fused, but can be wired so that it comes on when the secondary tank is selected. Heating the fuel is not required when using biodiesel, just the oils, as biodiesel is already similar to regular diesel.
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Pump a biofuel into the secondary tank.
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Start and stop the engine on regular diesel. Many types of oil-based biofuels can clog or "coke" the lines and fuel injectors when the heat is removed. To prevent this, starting and stopping the diesel motor on petroleum diesel is an easy alternative to adding detergents or anti-coking fluids to the fuel.
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Tips & Warnings
Waste oil can be obtained for free from local restaurants.
Use protective equipment when working with engines or fuels.
References
Resources
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