Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Just thought I'd share a bit of little known info. Diesel engines will run on used engine oil I have been running my Peugeot 405 turbo diesel on a mixture of 50-66% used engine oil and 50-33% kerosene or diesel. 50/50 when it's cold and 66/33% in summer. If the engine seems a bit sluggish a bit of petrol (gasoline) in the mix peps it up. A few percent is all you'll need. You can get used engine oil for free from most mechanics as they normally have to pay to get rid of it. If you let it sit in a container for a bit, any moisture will settle on the bottom, so don't pour in the very last bit. If you change you own oil or automatic transmission fluid, just put it in your tank too!

And no, there's no smoke from the exhaust.

Enjoy!

A fellow I work with does that also but he has duel fuel tanks. One he keeps full of diesel the other he puts whatever he gets his hands on. biodiesel, straight cooking oil, used motor oil, transmission fluid whatever and you are right it doesn't smoke much more than a normal diesel. What I hear is you have to watch the PH.

I believe that if it doesn't harm the internal parts of an engine, it won't harm the internal parts of an injector pump either. Besides, engine oil is a far superior lubricant than diesel.

Might want to filter it also. Used engine oil can contain metal flecks. But if you let it settle most of the heavy stuff will be on the bottom.

We used to get rid of the "waste" Jet A1 fuel that was collected when doing daily fuel checks to people running diesel engines as it was basically kero and mixed 50/50 with regular diesel worked just fine.

If you know any one who uses jet turbine engines ask what they do with the waste from their fuel checks.

Mmmm... I know where there is a drum or two.

Having a diesel engine running on these alternatives maybe fine but what is the long term affect on the fuel pump, injectors and engine.

There are some horror stories about the ph in certain veggi oils that ruined the hi dollar fuel distributors on certain makes of vehicles. had to do with the material they were made out of being ate up. There is a bio diesel thread here where there was some input. I wouldn't just try it with out a little research. But I believe it was just the Bio stuff. Like Duff said, settle and filter the petro stuff, I don't think the ph is a problem there.

Just a word of warning.

Modern high power CRD's will not tolerate any contamination in their fuel. The tolerances in the Piezo injectors are so fine, that they get damaged very easily.

You need to filter your fuel down to at least 5 micron.

Older non-CRD diesels are fine, as long as they are filtered down to around 20 micron.

G'Day Gang,

Jet A1 can be used straight in non common rail diesels. It is not recommended long term without putting some additive for lubrication as the kero has minimal lube quality. I guess Jt A1 would work in common rail diesels but I have not had experience with them.
I have run diesels on
cotton seed oil
Safflower oil
Canola oil
Tallow
and a mixer of all of the above.

I agree that pH needs to be checked.

Cheers
Dennis

Shouldn't this be in the "solids removal" thread

Probably depends on the "depth" of the injectors Chappo...

On using used engine oil in a diesel engine I would seriously recommend against this. In addition to metal particulates there are also a whole complex of other chemicals produced within the engine that enter the oil. Where oils are recycled commercially there are very strict rules about the use and/or their processing before they are allowed to be used. While recycling vegetable oils is unlikely to cause environmental damage the same can not be said of using other oils. I hate to think of the damage that is done to the environment by a number of people that I know who use transformer oil instead of diesel. Yes it is cheap but the health effects on your self, your family, your community and the environment make it an irresponsible choice of fuel.

Transformer Oil!!! Crickey

Any evidence for these claims? Sounds like a bit of knee-jerk nay-saying to me.
Besides, ships run on heavy oils of various types without issue.

Also, as to metal particulates in the oil... if they didn't harm the engine, they won't harm the injector pump.

It's pretty simple. Compounds in fuel when burnt can turn into even nastier ones. Think leaded fuel, and high sulphur diesel - there are very good reasons why they are now banned.

What do PCB's turn into when burnt inside a combustion chamber? I am willing to bet it is not nice stuff.

Ships are different due to being out in the middle of the ocean - I spent 8 years in the Navy, and you get away with a lot of enviro stuff once you 200 miles from shore.

As to the engine wear problem, yes the engine side can handle the solid matter in the fuel, but the injection side definately can not. I'd be running very very good filtration for any waste oil system.