Just for info, these trucks are one of a fairly small range that can use SVO with no mods, its old diesel technology with a Bosch fuel pump thats the best one for the job....theres a lot of SVO usage history across the site with no issues.
I am aware of this. And I know that a lot of folk use unmodified SVO either as a mix or straight with no probs. I just don't like it and I have good reason not to.
Years ago I used to run old diesel engines (Sims and CAV systems) on recycled oil from transformers mixed with petrol. They ran fine for a while. We where doing high mileage mind. But after a while we started to get trouble with pumps and injectors and eventually had a couple of engines need overhauls and where not impressed with the mess.
One of the biggest problems was the unburnt part of the fuel clogging things up and the extra acid in the fuel causing damage to the pistons liners and valves. We also noticed that the engine oil suffered.
We learned in short order that particulate filters where not doing their job on the rubbish in the oil. Most standard particulate filters are between 5 and 10 microns which is enough to take out solids but even a 2 micron will not take out other impurities. What we didn't realise was that all that gunk was accumulating around valve stems, rings etc. causing even more damage
We are talking 25 - 30 years ago so things have moved on since then but once bitten twice shy etc.
However if you use waste then avoid Chinese take away. There is far too much MSD in the oil and it is hard to remove.
Mixing SVO with kerosene, petrol, diesel or white spirit only improves the viscosity to make it pass through the pump, injectors etc. It does not improve the quality of the fuel nor does it remove the impurities in the oil.
Furthermore, unless the fuel is heated when mixing a complete mix cannot be attained.
If anyone has a diesel Space heater then run it for a while on SVO mix ---- its ok it won’t hurt it.
Drip feed type onto a plate is best for this demo but those 'rocket' shaped ones will do it as well.
At the end of the cold spell take the burner apart and take a look at it. If it is a drip feed heater onto a plate you will find a lot of crystalline substance on the plate and the end of the feed nozzle will look burned and corroded.
If it is a force fed you will see the same but to a lesser degree as it blows most of the waste out right at you. But the injector nozzle and the spark unit will be quite badly burnt and corroded.
This is similar to the damage you could find in your cylinders and around your valves.
On the diesels we used to run we found that things got really bad after about 60k now, as I have already said, more modern engines may be able to handle it better. But I for one would not risk it again
I think a proper plant designed to blend certain chemicals to 'clean' the oil, wash it, dry it etc is much better. The end result is a proper fuel that ANY diesel engine can use efficiently, burns cleaner, gives less wear, etc, etc, At a cost of about 55p per ltr for unused SVO base and anything as low as 22p per ltr if you can get enough used SVO to convert.
And these are real figures including usage of elec to run the pumps, dryers etc
Plants are small enough that you can have one at your house in a shed or the garage and the gov even allows you to make 2000 ltrs AT EACH SITE (2009 but it was up for discus and I haven't checked if it changed) without having to pay tax on the fuel you produce (big of them :kissy)
And before someone says it I don't sell Bio and I don't sell plants either
It is just a subject that is close to my heart, very interesting and I have done a lot of research on as well as had expierience of.
