[Gllug] VOT: Family Cars

[John Hearns]

Chris Bell wrote:
> 
>    The old heavy diesel oils may give more power, but were difficult to
> start in cold weather (we used ether for cold starting), and would part
> freeze and separate, blocking the pipes. Used vegetable oil that is no
> longer suitable for frying may need drying, but would probably be OK, and

Sorry to pour cold water on this one.
This was covered in the BBC London 'Inside Out' programme last week, 
with the feature on the family who are going green.
Shot of the father with jerry can of vegetable oil - finds that the 
warranty on his VW Golf would be voided.
Also covered in Honest John in the Telegraph - simple vegetable oil 
doesn't have the lubricants for a modern diesel injector pump.
I don't claim any expertise whatsoever - yes vegetable oil for an old 
diesel Landy or a normal diesel engine.
But I wouldn't put it anywhere near a modern turbodiesel.


And permit me a small rant about biodiesel. As I've said before, I have 
a turbodiesel Zafira. I've seen features in the Guardian about Southwark 
council vehicles all running on biodiesel.
Let's just stop and think - too early in the morning for me to do the 
sums, but imagine if even 50 percent of the UKs current cars, lorries 
and vans switched to biodiesel. There are millions of cars on the road
(yes, I could Google). Just think of how many petrol stations you see 
every day. We as a nation would have to plough up every inch of land 
just to produce diesel. Or as earlier in the thread, import if from 
countries where they are ruining mangrove swamps to produce it.













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