How It All Works

At first glance, it looks like something you'd find in a drug-smuggler's car, but maybe a little too obvious. Actually, it's part of greasecar's 2-tank system and it works something like this (this is a lay-person's explanation):

Veggie oil is stored in a separate tank, much like the one in the picture. Inside the tank is a heating element. Inside the engine compartment is a filter, much like a standard diesel filter. The engine is started on standard diesel fuel. Once the engine reaches an ideal operating temperature (i think about 180 degrees F), you flip a switch which tells the fuel pump to stop pulling fuel from the diesel tank and start pulling from veggie tank. I think during the period of time that you are waiting for the engine operating temperature to increase, the veggie oil in the tank is also heating up (there is a heating element in the tank) so it will flow more freely. Once you cut over, you are driving for free, essentially. You are supposed to switch back over to diesel a few minutes before you turn off the ignition to purge any remaining veggie oil out of the fuel lines. Apparently, if you leave veggie oil in there, it may cause some blockage. It seems complicated but it's not really. Greasecar sells a computer that monitors all of this stuff and will tell you when it's time to switch or can switch for you automagically.

There are other systems out there...there is a single-tank system (see Elsbett.com) which does not require a separate tank for veggie oil. It can be mixed in any ratio in the regular tank. This system does, however, require some modification to the engine (glow plugs, injectors, etc.) to function. Probably more expensive to convert, but easier to manage.

You could always make your own bio-diesel, too. It requires no conversion at all. The catch is that you use potentially toxic chemicals (methanol, i think) to convert veggie oil to bio-diesel that can then be filled into your regular tank and run on a standard diesel engine. It's a fairly involved process to convert the oil into bio-diesel.

As of right now, I am weighing the alternatives and reading online forums to try to make the best decision. Whichever way I go, my goals are the same...

Next week, I will introduce my new car!