Common Questions & Answers

What is Biofuel?

What do I do with the glycerine ?

The glycerine can be used to make soap.

Veg-oil or Biodiesel – which is best? 

Biodiesel and Veg-oil are plant based fuels.  They are complementary and both are suitable 
for replacing more expensive and toxic fossil diesel fuels.  (see above)

Can I mix Diesel and Veg-Oil fuel together? 

Yes.  A good mix is 5:1 Veg-oil:diesel fuel.  This will ensure reliable use in the coldest weathers.  
European diesel often has 2% to 5% veg-oil included (all French diesel fuel have this).

What should I Avoid?

• High melt-point oils that can solidify in cold conditions in the tank and fuel lines,

• Unprocessed waste oils can cause corrosion (acid content) in the injector pump and engine coking (impurities)
• Direct Injection diesel engines can be less tolerant of Veg-oil,
• High viscosity oils can effect combustion efficiency, especially with Direct Injection engines that can lead to engine wear.

Use high-lube Veg-oil or mix with regular diesel fuel.

Which Veg-oil Fuels should I use?

• Virgin oil, fresh uncooked.

• Deacidified Pure Oil.

• High-lubricity oils, rapeseed, mustard, canola are among the best.

Corn oil and Sunflower oil are also suitable.

Pre-treating Veg-oil? 

Raw vegetable oil made from crushed seeds must be degummed and deacidified.

Oil must be free from water.

Waste oil must be filtered and deacidified.

What size of filter do I need?

Less than 10 microns, optimally 5 microns is recommended.

Will my engine start on Veg-oil?

Probably, provided the Veg-oil is warm enough.  It is recommended to start with regular diesel fuel and then switch over to Veg-oil fuel when the engine is warm.

Do I need special Glow-Plugs?

Not normally.  However combustion on cold-starting can be improved by using “after glow-plugs” that stay warm after the engine is started. If your engine is already fitted with this type, upgrade kits are now obtainable from Buru or Bosch agents.

Will Veg-oil reduce the life of a diesel engine?

Diesel engines have been using vegetable oil extensively throughout the world for decades.  For any diesel engine there is an appropriate Veg-oil solution.  With some careful choice of conversion kit adapted to your engine plus correct use of fuel, it is possible to improve engine performance.  If these basic facts are not followed there is always a possibility of reducing engine life.