Would You Use Veggie Oil to Fuel Your Vehicle?

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The conversion hardware can be bought in kit form from a variety of manufacturers. Greasecar Vegetable Fuel Systems of Easthampton, Mass., estimates they’ve sold about 4,000 of their conversion kits over the past few years at prices ranging from $995 to $2,000. Lovecraft Bio-Fuels of Los Angeles, Calif., and Portland, Ore., which sells kits and installs them, estimates it has sold about 1,800 units, starting at $425 for the kit alone and $870 installed. (Lovecraft also sells a one-tank system.)

Some people custom build veggie cars. Martin saw his friend Marcos Markoulatos’ Greasecar kit in operation and decided he could do the conversion himself. He ended up with a used gas tank behind his truck seat and rubber heating hoses running from his truck radiator through the tank — all for $250.

Veggie-capable Vehicles

Finding just the right car to burn vegetable oil can be more challenging. First and foremost, it has to have a diesel engine. The best cars to convert tend to be older models, according to Lovecraft. The exception appears to be the Volkswagen Jetta TDI — even more recent editions can be converted easily. Among the better older models for veggie conversions is the Mercedes 300 SD, particularly model years 1981 to 1985. Greasecar, on the other hand, says the majority of its kits go in newer domestic trucks or Volkswagen cars.

Diesel trucks get plenty of power out of vegetable oil. Martin said his 1990 Dodge Ram pickup made the switch without slowing down. Lovecraft and Greasecar both said the Ford F250 diesel models from 1995 to 2000 are well-suited for conversions. These trucks easily accommodate the necessary plumbing changes for burning vegetable oil.

New or Used Cooking Oil?

Vegetable oil enthusiasts love the idea of free fuel, so they take used cooking oil restaurants would otherwise throw away. To find a veggie-car-friendly eatery near you, click here.

For converts less concerned about saving money, or perhaps skeptical about using waste oil, brand-new vegetable oil is another option. But you’ll pay a premium.  At your local supermarket it can cost $6 a gallon or more. The cheapest oil right now is soybean oil, which can be bought in 250 gallon containers for about $3.40 a gallon. A company called Smarter Fuel, based in Bethlehem, Pa., refines used vegetable oil from restaurants across the mid-Atlantic states and resells it for $1.95 per gallon.

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