Just saved £15 filling up with fuel at Tesco's

[Lazy-Ferret]

I decided that now we have a second car, and it is summer, to try using some Veg oil in the tank... See how she behaves. Last week, with the tank just under half full, I stuck 12 litres of Tesco veg oil in, just to see how she behaved, as I knew I was also doing a service later in the week, so would be changing the fuel filter.

As it all went fine, and it may be psychological, but I am sure she seemed to run smoother with the oil in there, we decided to try it out properly.

We got 20litres of veg oil from Costco at £16.79, and had also had a 5p/litre coupon from Tescos. Since we also needed to fill up the 20litre petrol can for the generator, we decided to see if we could fill up both, and pay for it together, and get the 5p off of the whole lot..

So today I pulled into Mr Tesco's car park with a nearly empty tank, emptied the 20litres of veg oil in the tank, then pulled into the petrol station and filled the car with diesel, another 48 Litres. I also put 20 Litres of petrol in the Jerry can.

Mr Tesco kindly gave me the 5p off both the diesel and petrol, so we saved £3.40 on the fuel and £11.59 compared to diesel, on the 20 litres of Veg oil.

Sooo... thanks Mr Tesco... Every little helps :lol

 

[solarman216]

My experience with veg is only in the off roader which came with 3/4 tank of the stuff and as I do not use much on a day out it was some meeting before I needed add some derv, only added a couple of gallons and the starting was much better and it had more power as well, now further down the line although others can still smell chip shop fumes (I cannot) I must be running on almost neat derv and it is much better, all this before fitting Rays maff booster which really made a difference low down but have not bee to many meets since fitting and will not be going tomorrow either as starter playing up again, left it too long , need to start it every few days to keep it free but been over two weeks:doh Rick

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

I don't think I will do a higher percentage than I am doing, as it is only about 30% veg. and will stop when the weather starts to get cold, I like having the truck 100% reliable, but savings on a Tank of fuel like that are too good to sniff at if I can get away with it.

Shame about the Starter motor, not even a nice job to fix. Can't you get someone to bump you to start it, then the vibration may even free up the starter motor. We are off down to Margate tomorrow, to see Kevin and pick some bits up for the T1, and have a good look at his trucks.

 

[rayf3262]

Just been to Lidl,.. oil on offer (-43%) at £3.99 for a 5L tub.

 

[AD Ent]

In this weather i run it neat 100% veg. But abit cooler add 10% unleaded to thin it down.truck Loves it

 

[Banshee]

Just been to Lidl,.. oil on offer (-43%) at £3.99 for a 5L tub.

That's cracking!!!! I'll be fetching me some of that for when it gets a bit colder as I don't like to run WVO when it drops below 5-6 degrees as I find it waxes up so I prefer to run SVO

In this weather i run it neat 100% veg. But abit cooler add 10% unleaded to thin it down.truck Loves it

My truck is fantastic on it too, I thought it was psychological at first but it def pulls better and seems to be harder to stall on oil too

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

Glad others think it seems to run better, and it's not just my imagination.

In this weather i run it neat 100% veg. But abit cooler add 10% unleaded to thin it down.truck Loves it

Not sure I am that brave, it's taken a year to get the wife to allow me to put that much in.:lol Why do you use Unleaded, rather than diesel?

 

[Banshee]

Glad others think it seems to run better, and it's not just my imagination.



Not sure I am that brave, it's taken a year to get the wife to allow me to put that much in.:lol Why do you use Unleaded, rather than diesel?

Cheaper and also seems to thin it out nicer :thumb2
I've also read that it helps dissipate the water better in WVO and should be added to the oil in a drum before adding to a tank

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

I see...

I won't be using WVO, but from what you are saying, you run neat SVO all winter without the petrol? is that even when the temp is in the minus figures?

We go to the Great Dorset Steam Fair every year, and it is amazing how much old cooking oil the snack vans leave laying around at the end. Having said that, the last couple of years, I have seen less and less, so I guess people are picking it up now.

 

[solarman216]

yes they will seem to run smoother, this is due to slower combustion so less diesel knock, not a good sign as means less power, Rick

 

[briggie]

anything above 2500 litres per year ( 48 litres per week ) and you are supposed to declare it and pay fuel duty on all of it

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

yes they will seem to run smoother, this is due to slower combustion so less diesel knock, not a good sign as means less power, Rick

Not noticed less power, but will be interesting to see how she pulls the caravan in a couple of weeks time, that will be a test for her.

anything above 2500 litres per year ( 48 litres per week ) and you are supposed to declare it and pay fuel duty on all of it

Cheers, I read that when having a search around on here about it (having said that, it is such a hard thing to search on, with so many ways to reference it. Veg, vegetable, SVO, cooking, rape, soya. etc) . Luckily there is no fear of getting to 2500 litres, we get 2 to 3 weeks out of a 72 litre tank, and we are only putting 20litres in at a time, so even allowing for more use when on holiday etc, we will probably stay less than 1000 litres, and probably won't use it on holiday anyway, as we won't be able to get it so easily.

 

[briggie]

of course hmrc have to prove you use above 2500 litres per year .... but in a battle never underestimate your enemy :augie

 

[AD Ent]

I see...

I won't be using WVO, but from what you are saying, you run neat SVO all winter without the petrol? is that even when the temp is in the minus figures?.

Nearly. Its the other way round. I only use new veg (SVO) 100% in the warmer weather. Even then start ups first thing can be a little lumpy. In - C temps add petrol or diesel - whichever you are comfortable with - to a higher ratio 15-20% petrol 50/50 diesel. First reason is for the anti freeze properties. Second reason is for viscosity. Veg oil is thicker when it gets colder, so it is necessary to thin it down. Petrol is better at lowering the viscosity than diesel as it is already thinner. and is also cheaper.

 

[arcascomp]

You need to keep a log - simple excel sheet will do - to 'prove' you are under 2,500L per rolling 12 months.

 

[revolvor]

Just been to Lidl,.. oil on offer (-43%) at £3.99 for a 5L tub.

Nice one :thumb2 will stock up on Salami at the same time.

 

[arcascomp]

Nice one :thumb2 will stock up on Salami at the same time.

Not sure if they'll get through the fuel filters!

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

Had a look in our lidls and they are not doing it, shame

You need to keep a log - simple excel sheet will do - to 'prove' you are under 2,500L per rolling 12 months.

I have always kept a diary in the car and keep a log of daily mileage, any fuel and any work I have done to the car, so no problem there.