Used Motor Oil As Fuel

[Nick The Great]

My Dad switched the house to burn used oil a few years ago. They have a radiator-hot water type system that used to burn fuel oil, which is diesel.

 

He lets the oil sit for a while and doesn't drain all the way to the bottom of the tank. He does have to clean his burner/nozzles fairly regularly however.

 

[BlackSilver]

If your truck is an old clunker 6.5, have a ball.

 

If it's a modern truck (DuraMax) this is a really bad dump huck idea.

[Z45]

The EPA is proposing that used oil be classified as Hazardous waste so burning it will be regulated.

 

 

Friday, December 17, 2010

EPA Proposal

The EPA has a proposal to list all off-spec used oil as a hazardous waste, which could make burning it for heat/energy or recycling it a much more expensive proposition for lube shops. You can see a copy of the proposal here, but it sounds like something lube operators might want to call their congressmen about.

http://noln.blogspot.com/

[rbodell]

I have heard that some people use there old engine oil as fuel for there diesel engine. I have been doing a lot of research on this and it seems like as long as you filter it and mix it appropriately it should work. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

I run 100%waste motor oil in a generator I use about 6 hours a day and have about 1700 hours on it. I have had no problems with the fuel system or engine or with starting. I have run 100% down to 10 degrees with no additives like you would use with diesel. I get a noticeable amount of extra power from WMO, less smoke and an internal inspection showed less carbon on the piston than with diesel. The engine recommends de-carboning the piston at 700 hours. Both 700 and 1400 hour inspections showed less carbon than with diesel. Unlike diesel fuel and gasoline, wmo can be kept for many years and will still burn better than diesel where Diesel will go stale. I see people have mentioned that proper filtering is the key, well add to that, proper PH. Waste motor oil is acid. You need to bring the PH down to neutral. also moisture in the oil will be a problem. You can process WMO with a bio-diesel processor and pretty much the same method. I have made no changes to the engine or injectors or fuel pump. here is the first 700 hours of running on WMO http://rbodell.com/listeroids.aspx

 

I have also done some test runs on late model engines in a truck. i plan on getting a diesel vehicle and running it on 100% WMO soon.

[Prokopchuk_9]

This is crazy, never in my life would I think about dumping used oil in my fuel system. Injectors are like 3-4 grand, injection pump is like $1000 on a duramax. No way in hel I would dump that shit in my tank.

[00Silverado4x4]

Well as stated you'd want the oil filtered real well prior to use. However I'd use it in a furnace for heat or a generator. My daily driver is not something I'd want to chance it on. So I guess I agreed and disagreed at the same time. Time to get I guess.

[Black02Silverado]

Like others have stated in an older mechanical diesel system no problem. But not in a newer one with the common rail system.

 

I have a 91 Jetta Turbo diesel and have not run waste engine oil but run waste veggy oil mixed in with my diesel all the time. I go up to as high as a 50/50 mix with no problems. My economy goes down some but if you figure I get the WVO for free then it isn't a bad deal.

[MikeNH]

Gentlemen,

 

Cummins used to authorize up to 15% used oil in the fuel tank.

 

Ken

 

 

 

Old Cummins engines with mechanical injection are a different beast than todays common rail diesels.

[Cowpie]

Mike has it right. Cummins may have approved of 15% in the past, but you will not find anything from Cummins authorizing that in anything newer than 2003. Even more so on the 15L ISX engines. Injectors are very touchy devices. They do not like any contaminates.

 

I run a lot of heavy diesels and have for several decades. I am not sure why anyone would want to put that crappy waste used oil in those tanks. There is no appreciable benefit. Lubricity? There are much better ways to go that do not risk anything. And if one has biodiesel at the pump, a simple 2% blend of that will add more lubricity than anything you can buy off the shelf.

 

Oh well. There is always those who just love to experiment. Just use that waste oil to heat a garage, shop, or something similar.

[MikeNH]

Must be a slow night of you're digging up year old threads.

 

Seriously though, good info for the specific years/engines.