Veggie Car: Post about my filtering process.

I am just about ready to send off an email to the vegoilfuel yahoo group and I thought it was interesting enough to put on my blog. Veggie cars are getting more news these days, so folks might be interested...

Here is the text of the email...

----------------------------------------------------------------

Hi.

I have been bag filtering to 1 micron for about 15,000 miles now. It has seemed to work pretty well for me. I don't really know how accurate the bag filters are anyway. My filter bags hang down with the only support being at the top, and I am sure they stretch. I think there are some kind of cages that you can buy to support the filter or something, I have never taken the time to check.

Anyway, I have a large Racor "18 Wheeler" filter that is supposed to be changed every 10,000 miles. I can go about 8500 before it starts to get clogged. I have a vacuum gage installed to the veg line, so I can monitor it. You can watch a video of me changing my filter on my vlog at

http://gregsvideoblog.blogspot.com/2006/07/
video-blog-21-replaceing-my-veggie-car.html


The 1 micron Bags do get clogged, but my gathering/settling process is not optimal. I had been living "hand to mouth" with the veggie oil and had not had time to have it settle properly, so I think even 10 micron bags would have clogged in my case.

I have had no problems with the car since the conversion. I have been pretty diligent in my de-watering (Heating the oil and letting it sit and not taking from the bottom, etc).

While I have not monitored the wear of the engine by getting compression tests, the car still starts right up in the morning and runs like a champ. I know that is not scientific, but it is just what is going on with my car.

My Car.

I have a 84 Mercedes 300D non-turbo. It is a two tank system. I have a neoteric six port "switcher thing" (I forgot the proper name right now). I have a veggie therm. I have a large Racor filter for the veggie oil. I also have a small finned heat exchanger. The theory behind this is that is puts lets strain on the veggie therm. Have no idea if this is the case, but that is what I have.

Anyway, I really enjoy the discussions on this list, so I thought I would contribute.

Greg.
----------------------------------------------------------

Tags: Veggie Car WVO Vegetable Oil Car