| Author | Message | ||
| Mark Karlsson (Flying_fishbowl)
Registered Member Username: Flying_fishbowl Post Number: 18 Registered: 2-2006 Posted From: 76.103.148.236 Rating: N/A |
I was looking at a post by Dale Waller back in 2006 about using waste oil from oil changes. He had posted that he was using 80% waste oil and 20% diesel and having good luck. Here's the original post: http://www.busnut.com/bbs/messages/233/12754.html Dale, if you're still around, I'd like to know if you've had any injector or engine problems with using this alternative fuel. And if anyone else has had actual EXPERIENCE using waste oil as fuel in a Detroit diesel, I'd be very interested in your comments! Thanks, Mark | ||
| Bob Wies (Ncbob)
Registered Member Username: Ncbob Post Number: 259 Registered: 2-2006 Posted From: 70.220.78.178 Rating: N/A |
Mark, I've examined the use of drain oil in fuel since the mid '80s and am convinced it doesn't pay. Do the numbers yourself and you'll understand. Assume you get 8 MPG. for each gallon of waste oil you add you might save $5 and travel 8 miles. The average Detroit uses 7-8 Gallons of oil per oil change. Assuming that you use only your waste oil, I wouldn't think of using anyone else's, you might gain 64 miles per oil change saving $35.00 and enjoy the prospect of spending hundreds to thousands of dollars for new injectors or worse. It's your engine guy...mine will be burning only $5.00 per gallon Diesel. Bob | ||
| David Evans (Dmd)
Registered Member Username: Dmd Post Number: 245 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 71.183.242.250  Rating: N/A |
Dont forget that Detroit is using the fuel to cool and runs more than it burns thru the heads. The chance of something screwing up seems kinda high and no way 80 percent waste oil! Use that stuff for chain oiling,garage heating and maybe weed killin (not really everybody we know its a no no.) | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 1315 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 76.68.120.49  Rating: N/A |
If you can't afford fuel today, you weren't affording to properly maintain a bus yesterday. Quit fooling around, put diesel in it and go. happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 1193 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.110.9  Rating: N/A |
A better idea would to use the oil mixed with home heating oil to heat the house or garage, although you may have to adjust the air mix. Of course, some will claim it will burn the house down. Be careful using used diesel oil in your fuel. That black stuff in the oil is carbon particles and soot blowby from combustion and can cause accelerated wear in precision components. Your filters aren't going to get all the carbon out. Carbon is very hard- diamonds come from it. This is why you have to be careful in extending oil change intervals in especially diesels as oil can carry only so much of this in suspension before it starts to wear components at a rapid rate. One of the quickest to wear out piston rings is to severely extend oil change intervals. Although with the new oils and low sulpher fuels, extending oil change intervals some should be considered. Oil sampling checks should be done to verify this first. Using oil in the fuel will probably cause an increase of build up of ash on the pistons and accelerated wear on the top ring. Around here, the city busses use 50 series engines modified to run on natural gas or propane. Maybe that would be something to consider. | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 1317 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 76.68.122.25 Rating: N/A |
The new motors are using a fair bit of exhaust gas recirculation to keep the emissions under control, so the soot build-up in the oil is still a problem for the long drainers. Rats, no free lunch anywhere in this gig... happy coaching! buswarrior |