How it works

The car is started on diesel fuel.  After the car has warmed up to operating temperature and the vegetable oil has reached 170° Fahrenheit, the vegetable oil is ready to be used.  I switch the car over from diesel to vegetable oil via a switch that I have wired into the ashtray.  The car can run for as long as it wants on vegetable oil.  When it is time to turn the car off, I turn the rocker switch to a purge cycle which uses diesel fuel to flush the vegetable oil out of the fuel lines.  This allows the car to start up after it is turned off.  If the system is not purged for a minute or so before shutdown the vegetable oil can congeal in the fuel lines and prevent the car from starting.

Diesel vs. Vegetable Oil (SVO)

There is no noticeable difference driving on vegetable oil versus driving on diesel fuel.  There is slightly less soot (smoke) emitted from the exhaust pipe on vegetable oil.  The acceleration is exactly the same and both the low and top end power are exactly the same as they are on diesel fuel. 

Conversion

The actual conversion of a diesel car or truck to vegetable oil consists of adding a second fuel tank, rerouting the cooling system, and changing the layout of the cooling system.  In some cases a second fuel pump is required, but not for any Mercedes application.  The most basic systems consist of a coolant heated vegetable fuel tank, a hose-in-hose fuel line, two solenoid valves, and a heated fuel filter.  The solenoids are controlled by a rocker switch in the cabin.  Next to the rocker switch are a vegetable oil level gauge and a vegetable oil temperature gauge.

Above: Oil temperature gauge, three way rocker switch, fuel level gauge

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Last updated on May 20, 2007
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