Using Vegetable cooking oil in a diesel engine??

[ceejay123]

Can I run my Renault Laguna Diesel engine on cooking oil??
I've been told that diesel engines run perfectly OK on this substance. Is this true folks??
Chris

[Ethel]

It's true! Your car will smell like a chip shop as it goes along though.

BUT - you still have to pay duty to HMCE.

http://www.ravenfamily.org/andyg/vegoil.htm

[xud]

I wouldn't recommend using straight vege oil unless you have the two tank conversion fitted. If your car is standard you should blend it with regular diesel. Try it gradually up to a maximum of 50/50.
If you don't and use 100% vege oil you are likely to encounter starting problems in the morning provided your pump has lasted that long.
Vege oil is about 5 times more viscous than diesel so you would need to thin it down. In the past I have used 70% oil and 30% kerosene (paraffin) but only on older, more rugged diesels. I don't think these new generation common rail engines take too kindly to vege oil.
Also, for your information, you can run a diesel on 100% kerosene provided you can find a good supplier, it is about 70-75p/litre However, since kerosene has no lubricating properties whatsoever it's best to put 10% diesel in there just to keep the pump lubed. Hope this helps

[NORMANTHEDOG]

its not a good idea,to use cooking oil,it causes all sorts of problems to the car.

[ceejay123]

What sort of problems, Please,
I am beginning to think that maybe i should run it 50/50 and at least I'll save a bit of brass.
Chris

[Gef]

ceejay, you won't save a penny. Have you read the first (Ethel's) answer?

[david1702198]

you might save a few bob in the short term but i recon in the long term your fuel pump will pack in as it needs the lubricant from the diesel to work properly.

[ceejay123]

All good stuff, and thank you.
So if anyone else has anything to add then please do!!

[burnham]

I would be concerned about using any sort of vegetable oil - they are all acidic. Anyone with memories of Castrol 'R', which had caster oil added will remember the bother of stripping the engine after events. Natural fats are too viscous to be used in internal combustion engines and need to be converted into a Fatty Acid Methyl Ester - a degreasing solvent! Be warned.