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Used Motor Oil As Fuel

merlin5577

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merlin5577 Senior Enthusiast

merlin5577

Posted
Posted

I have heard that some people use there old engine oil as fuel for there diesel engine. I have been doing a lot of research on this and it seems like as long as you filter it and mix it appropriately it should work. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

ZZ327 Senior Enthusiast

ZZ327

Posted
Posted

i suppose its a possibilty for diesels

 

I found these

 

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5885444.html

 

 

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qi...fZN8&show=7

 

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

D8888.... is the only response here I agree with.

 

Yes, you can run motor oil is a diesel car. It is a hydrocarbon and if brought to the right viscosity, will burn just like diesel fuel.

 

No, you can't just pour it in.

 

In fact a small amount of oil burns in both gasoline and diesel cars everytime the 4 stroke engine goes through the power stroke. There is motor oil on the cylinder walls that was pushed up on the compression stroke by the top piston ring, and yes some of it burns. (Notice how your engine oil gets very black over time?)

 

Although your oil filter should have stopped any metal particles, re filter it to 10 microns, then mix about 6 ounces in 5 gallons of diesel and stir for 20 seconds. This is about a 100:1 ratio, and is the highest I recommend.

 

After 10,000 miles or so, you'll be ready for you're next oil change and can start mixing again.

 

However, mixing it everytime you need fuel can be a pain, might I recommend you save the used oil in containers and use it in winter to heat your house or garage?

 

http://www.wasteoilburners.us/

 

Good Luck!

1 year ago

merlin5577 Senior Enthusiast

merlin5577

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for the Info ZZ327! I actually saw that add on yahoo when doing my research. I found a website put up by a Chief Warrant Officer in the Army about a system his maintenance division had that pumped diesel out of the tanks of the hummers, mixed it with filtered used motor oil and put it back in the tank. I have copied the link below.

 

http://www.almc.army.mil/alog/issues/NovDe...Oil_Vehicle.htm

 

A lot of people have also had concerns about the legality of burning used motor oil. I found the following bit on the EPA's website. It doesnt mention anything about road taxes but; Mixtures with fuel (except diesel). Used oil mixed with a fuel other than diesel is considered used oil, regardless of whether the resulting mixture is to be used as a fuel or recycled.

 

Mixtures with diesel fuel. Used oil mixed with diesel fuel is not considered used oil if the resulting mixture is used as fuel in engines owned by the persons who generated the original used oil. If the mixture is used as fuel by someone other than the generator of the used oil, the mixture is considered used oil, and the persons producing the original used oil are considered "processors" and are subject to stricter storage and handling requirements.

 

Anyone have any experience or anything else to add?

merlin5577 Senior Enthusiast

merlin5577

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Alright, confession time. Ever since I heard about diesel engines being able to run on other fuels I have been experimenting. I have run all different kinds of oils through my trucks for the last 20,000 miles and have had no problems at all. I must note though that filtering and proper mixture are key! It even passed the emissions test on the first go. Anyone else have any other experiences?

  • 1 month later...
minibike132 Senior Enthusiast

minibike132

Posted
Posted

I don't know if I have anything INTELLIGENT to add but I'll throw in my two cents. This is not to discourage anyone that wants to experiment, it's your truck do what you want. I have zero concerns about running oil through a diesel engine. I do however have concerns about running it through my fuel system. At something like two grand for a set of injectors I would hate to think how many tanks of fuel would make it worth it if I dammaged them. That is the experimental side but on a fact side I will say do not do this in anything new with a DPF. When these go into a regen cycle they are burning off the soot but you can never burn off the ash. Ash is the byproduct of oil and that is the reason that anything with a DPF is supposed to use low ash oil. If you are dumping oil directly into the cylinders you are going to kill the DPF and I think that is something like a three grand fix and gauranteed to happen rather quickly.

  • 1 year later...
jro909 Senior Enthusiast

jro909

Posted
Posted

i would not, if it was a solid alternative with low problems, gm would of came out and said, hey you can run so much oil in your fuel...theres a 6.5 and a newer powerjoke around here that tryed running grease(vegi oil) and it ended up making the crappy motors even crappier...i just want a car that runs on piss and garbage, thats it

Diesail Enthusiast

Diesail

Posted
Posted

It is used in cargo ships, but my understanding is they wait to get a certain distance offshore due to the emissions it creates. That said what is your source? How pure of an oil is it? Any gas or brake cleaner or antifreeze or…. mixed in. How much do you have access too? Seems to me given the cost of injectors, pump and other parts it wouldn’t be worth the risk for the return on investment (or lack there of in this case)

ken1mod Senior Enthusiast

ken1mod

Posted
Posted

Gentlemen,

 

A diesel will run on anything combustible, except gasoline which is engineered not to ignite from compression. Union Pacific had some in the 60s that ran on pulverized coal. Failed due to abrasive exhause but it did run fine.

 

Any liquid oil must be very clean for long life of injectors. I suppose if I had a large amount of motor oil, I would experiment. Make sure the risks are worth the rewards.

 

I believe cummins withdrew their authorization to burn used oil was for emission reasons. I once threw a spoonful of baking flour into the air intake of a diesel, engine accelerated fine.

 

Ken

TRCM Enthusiast

TRCM

Posted
Posted

You can do it, but if you do, make sure the old oil is filtered very well.

 

Also, the people I know who do it, only add like 10-15% oil to their fuel.

 

check some of the diesel sites to read up on it

  • 2 weeks later...
FarmerDave Enthusiast

FarmerDave

Posted
Posted

I would not put used oil in a newer common rail diesel, the pump and injectors run around 30000 psi, those are extremely tight tolerances. I wouldn't be worried about particles getting in, the fuel filter is probably 5 micron. But all of the contaminants in the used oil, just seems like a bad idea for the money it would save.

 

On an older mechanical diesel... sure go for it.

  • 1 month later...
ken1mod Senior Enthusiast

ken1mod

Posted
Posted

Gentlemen,

 

The real point is, How much used oil do you have access to. If it is 30 gallons a week, then experimenting is in order, maybe building a filtering rig. The savings would be real. If it is an oil change worth every 6 months, don't waste your time for 4 bucks worth of oil.

 

Ken

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