Diesel 2 Bio/Veggie ZTR conversion

[SpartanBill]

Does anybody have any experience or heard of someone converting a diesel powered ZTR mower to run off fryer oil or bio deisel (B20 or higher)? I'm hoping to have 2 in the field next year. Right now I'm planning on starting off with a used older model but it would be nice if it could convert a new one w/o voiding the warranty.
Thanks
Bill

[DeepGreenLawn]

I seriously doubt you can do it without voiding the warranty. But I am curious as to how hard it is to get the old oil to the point of using it for fuel so if it would be great if you could post your progress.

[treegal1]

stop the presses, we are running free fuel, svo in the older trucks and tractors. and a hot water heater bio diesel plant for the rest of the "electric injectors" no problems so far, some filter issues and an old hose dissolved, freakin a , free fuel and a new hose or pay, what is now 8$...... no thats next week. we even grow algae for oil to use, as fuel and fish food.you can grow 30,000 gallons per acre per year!! try that with corn or palm oil!!

[DeepGreenLawn]

now I am definitely coming down to see you, I want to start my own and get my f250 off this fuel before it shuts my business down.

[treegal1]

we also make grass moon shine to run saws on, and have an electric scooter fleet that we run estimates on. walk the walk, if your into the green thing. do it all the way!!!

[treegal1]

oh almost forgot we get paid to remove the WVO, cash and food. it helps to know when they changed grease. its not a clean and neat thing, think ecoli and salmonella brew.

but with 2 trucks and 2 vans, 400$per day savings, we hired a grease man just to get it done, he makes 75$ for every 295 gallons of "good" oil. at 4$ per gallon thats 1100$ in fuel

[DeepGreenLawn]

so your coming out on top by about $1025 in savings? Do you know what your start up cost was?

[treegal1]

used pump; 25$
USED WATER HEATER; 15$
free fuel; priceless

[DeepGreenLawn]

how hard was it to find your fuel maker guy? did you train him or find him on the streets?

[SpartanBill]

I haven't gotten into the heavy mental lifting yet but I took a little peek into it last year. I've seen systems involving chemical treatment(water heater?) and I've also heard of people running it thru a series of filters. The little bit of info I've caught is geared toward cars/trucks, they say late models are easier and you hafta to change out the fuel lines.

Bill

[treegal1]

our fuel maker is on old drunk with one arm. not kidding. he was a homeless vet, we took him in and trained him. in addition to fuel he acts like a nite watch man and a worm water-er. nice fellow and very honest. we just recycled one of society's throw aways.

and most of the trucks and tractors are un modified, we had to change a fuel pump(it had 1.2 million miles on it) some filters. a hose or two on the really old yanmar tractor. but for the most part we are running stock parts, with no mods.

[DeepGreenLawn]

what about your pickup trucks? I am mainly wanting to get my F250, 2000 model running. Any experience with something like that?

Great idea on the homeless guy.

[retrodog]

Does anybody have any experience or heard of someone converting a diesel powered ZTR mower to run off fryer oil or bio deisel (B20 or higher)? I'm hoping to have 2 in the field next year. Right now I'm planning on starting off with a used older model but it would be nice if it could convert a new one w/o voiding the warranty.
Thanks
Bill

Bad Boy Mowers converted a Cat Diesel to Bio Fuel for Willie Nelson, so I know it can be done on a new unit. Ole' Willie has his own Bio Diesel company now here in Texas, so it helps promote his business. They do customization there, and I'm sure it would still be under warranty if they did it for you at the factory.

[DeepGreenLawn]

has anyone heard of this?

http://www.dieselsecret.com/order021507.html

[treegal1]

yes we have and know some one who uses it, but we are happy to make our own bio fuels, or just run the oil strait out of the fryers. Rudolph diesel just used peanut oil.

the diesel at the pumps hit almost 5$ here today. to bad, got my grease at the shop, it cost 60 cents a gallon, after i process it.

[Johnson LCO]

Does that stuff really work?? I would buy a five year supply in a heartbeat if it did. But sadly, "so new, few have heard of it" usually translates to "only a select few are dumb enough to fall for this."

If your friend does use this, PLEASE find out his reaction to it. I was gonna go make a biodiesel converter but this would be so much easier. Thanks for the info Treegal

[treegal1]

save your money, make a water heater bio diesel plant they cost new parts 500$ used or free parts are what we used. and mostly we use SVO. you can also add charcoal lighter fluid and do the same thing that the add in stuff does!!!

[treegal1]

listen, the diesel engine is a simple creature, if you can burn it and get it to pass through an injector, then it will fire, we have even added water to some oil 50/50 and it still ran( a little sluggish) but it ran, we have used old motor oil, Castor oil, used hydraulic oil, waste veg oil, algae oil,coal dust and kerosene,wood pyrolysis oil, animal fat( you are not supposed to be able to use this). the motor we test in is a international 7.3L with no glow plugs!! this motor has 1.5 million miles on it(low compression) and has never had a problem other than a plugged filter( with veg oil you can rinse and re use the filters) this truck pulls a goose neck 34000 gvw trailer with an excavator or a log crib that regularly weighs 30000 gross. we call it old reliable. it has never let us down!!!!

[Johnson LCO]

I am not a chemist, and frankly there are rules governing storage of methanol and I dont want to deal with that or lye. If this stuff worked, I WOULD BUY IT. It is inexpensive, and I could get veggie oil pretty easy so this would solve a lot of problems.
I ask again, does this stuff work?
BTW treegal, I very much appreciate your advice, but I have limited space, (no space if city of newark has its way, but thats for another thread) so if this worked I would rather fork over the few cents per gallon and be done with it.

[treegal1]

go for it get some product and use it, it works ok, and the cost is not an issue, you do have to have at least a barrel size space, to let the oil settle or you will have a filter nightmare. you always dump the bottom few inches and take only from the middle.

[treegal1]

there is also ways of making bio diesel with an acid base method.

[Johnson LCO]

I have heard of the different ways of making it, attended meetings about it, all that. But I always get mixed reviews on everything, and I dont want to risk something in my truck unless I am sure it will work. I guess I will give this stuff a shot. Any ideas on how to test if this stuff is the real deal before risking it in my vehicle?

[treegal1]

what kind of damage can it do to a motor??? yeah some seals are at risk, older models need some new hoses, there are some growing pains, we had to replace and old fuel pump and some other 20$ parts. new O rings in one motor( at the injectors) with all the pain in the arse, we are still ahead in the long run$.

and veg oil if it drips in an eye is better than diesel any day

[treegal1]

the way i see it I will be ahead of every one when the spit hits the spam, whats the out look for 8$ fuel, i don't care, f them and there terror juice to. I got mine!!!!!

[ICT Bill]

It is amazing that everyone is standing by waiting for somene to do something. there is no action just "why haven't these guys done something"

In a good way we need to try to assimilate each other to teach and learn

[ABeautifulCutAboveInc.]

TreeGal, how do you get your used veg oil? I live in central FL close to Orlando. I can't get in to these restaurants around here. These two large corporations have them on contracted out? I'm trying to do the same thing. My F250 cost me $120 to fill now! If I can get a steady oil source, I'm getting rid of my gas mower. Any info would be greatly appriciated, thanks.

[treegal1]

we have the same thing and the same co's? the one co is based here. for now we have several Friends that are helping, mostly Italian and Chinese restaurants that are not the contract types. we are also growing and harvesting pond scum for oil, 2 hours work in a scummy lake can yield almost 100 gallons of finished fuel. and our photo bio reactor is making 30-40 gallons per month. we are also trying some wood pyrolysis oil, that's going to be hard and messy though. and we have a wood gas generator on tap next.

If your not the lead dog the scenery never changes!!!!

and you have to be a freind to have a freind

[DeepGreenLawn]

I haven't been able to post lately so I am glad Johnson took the topic and ran, basically asked all the questions I would have and got the right answers, Thanks Treegal, your a HUGE help.

My plan for right now is to go ahead and use the stuff from the website. I have a friend that owns a restaurant down the street but he said he JUST signed a 5 year contract with a company down the street from me. So, I am just going to go to EVERY restaurant and ask about their oil. Even if I have to travel a little to get it, once I get the trucks up and running it won't really cost me anything but time and the money I will save will be more than worth it. Then when I get time, maybe not till winter, I can start working on my "still." By the way, how many restaurants will you need typically to keep a constant supply running?

I LOVE THIS! The fact that it is actually attainable to get this up and going is blowing my mind. And my wife is all for it mainly because of the money we will be saving. The more I get into my business and it grows the more I love the concept itself. You have to admit, on the traditional posts they keep talking about how things really aren't hurting anything. Whether it is or not seems to be a HUGE debate. But, the way I look at it, I am doing both people and the environment a good thing either way. That makes me feel good alone at the end of the day, let alone all the great looking yards and customers I get to be around all day.

Treegal, this may be a lot to ask, but do you know of any websites that walk you through the process? Or maybe, if you have time..., make a new thread. I don't know what all is involved or anything, make sure to get a disclaimer, just curious.

Thanks,
Adam

[Johnson LCO]

On the website, it says all orders come with step by step instructions, shouldnt be too difficult. I am gonna order some tonight and go get some veggie oil to test it with.
How often should I clean my fuel filter after changing my f350 w/ 95,000 miles to veggie oil? I hear that the sludge buildup on your tank comes off since the oil is a solvent. Thanks again for all of the info treegal.

[treegal1]

the f 350 should have a fuel filter light in the right corner of the instrument panel, my advise is to get a spare filter first!!!

you should also be familiar with priming the fuel system.

[jtkplc]

I am going to be ordering from Diesel Secret this week. I will let everyone know how it works for me once I get it and start putting it in my truck. A diesel mower is the plan for next year if it works!...SCREW BIG OIL!

[DeepGreenLawn]

hey treegal, how does the old motor oil do for you? what kind of mods do you have to make to it? Would you recommend this as the product of choice? I'm sure it will be messy but that would be a whole lot easier to come by, just run down to the nearest auto shop.

And your saying that this "additive" that they have is basically the same as charcoal lighter fluid? I take it that the main thing is to raise the ingnition point of the substance? How soluable are the two together? It would seem to me that the fluid would just stay on top if it wasn't mixed in well or if it sat for a while.

[DGM]

Thanks treegal for the input by your input you will be helping a great cause. Please start another thread and post how to's & links to sites for us that would love to get started with the process you have already tested. Also what is SVO, etc. I would like to get my whole fleet of equipment & trucks using bio fuels. Also I believe there is tax credits for using & producing bio fules. So theres another plus.

[DeepGreenLawn]

this guy explains the process in a video in a really good way. check it out,

http://utahbiodieselsupply.com/tutorialvideos.php#intro