Interview with Mark About his Experience with Diesel Secret - 5/19/06

This is an interview with Mark in Alabama. He has a 2001 Ford F250 Diesel truck which he has traveled 25,000 miles burning recycled cooking oil.  Mark is an Industrial Maintenance Mechanic that works for a local company that burns municipal waste creating energy for a local military base.  Mark is one of the most resourceful gentlemen I have ever met.  What got you started recycling cooking oil to be used as fuel for your truck?  A friend told me about the Diesel Secret additive you could use with cooking oil making a low cost diesel fuel. See for yourself: Try Diesel Secret

How did you learn the art of making home brew fuel? 

It was trial and error I went though 300 gallons before I got the receipe right

What are the best restaurants to approach when obtaining used cooking oil? 

Some people believe asian restaurants are good but I have found they heat the oil up to higher temperatures and flash fry the food which creates a carbon.  I like getting my oil from 100% seafood restaurants near the coast or wings restaurants.  They seem to have the best oil that is not very dirty. 

What are the best types of cooking oil you use for fuel?

100% pure vegetable oil is best as well as peanut and canola oil.  You cannot use shorting or anything that has turned into solid form after cooling down.  If the oil has floating food particles or is really dark I will not use it. 

What restaurants do you stay away from? 

I stay away from fast food restaurants they have a high amount of trash and Trans fat in their oil but many are moving away from Trans fat oils.

How do collect the used oil?

I have mounted a 110Volt inverter in the back of the truck I used with an 110V AC pump which sucks the oil from the tank at the restaurant to the collection tank in the back of my truck.  I tried 12 volt DC pumps but they would overheat so I switched to an 110V AC pump with a inverter.  When I get home I just use the same 110V AC pump in reverse.  I pump the oil out of the collection tank into my top tank for filtering.  The filtering takes a few hours so I may mow the grass while the oil is being filtered into the bottom tank.  The bottom tank is where I mix my additional ingredients for my fuel.  I then use a separate clean pump to remove the fuel mixture to the truck’s fuel tank. 

I have heard when commercial Bio-diesel is made the Glycerin is removed and replaced with alcohol but your process does not remove the Glycerin.  Some people have said the glycerin causes coke build up in the engine. Have you experienced any problems with coke build up? 

I have not had a problem.  I did have a problem with pitting with my Aluminum filters and I change to stainless steel.

When do you know it is time to change or clean the fuel filters in your truck?

I can feel the engine loosing power I then know it time to change out the filter with a clean one.  When I first started using oil I had to take out an in-line filter that is close to the fuel tank and make my own from a water separation fuel filter. 

Have you noticed any changes in performance in your truck? 

It depends on the mix of oil you may loose a little on top end.  I have had my truck’s computer reprogrammed and now I get 80 more horse power. 

How does temperature affect the heavier mixed oil fuel? 

Below 35 degrees I will mix 30% diesel fuel with 60% oil.l At 20 degrees I will mix 50% oil with 50% diesel.  Above 40 degrees I run 100% oil.  This will prevent clouding and thickening of the oil.

What do you think about the Greasel devices that warm the oil before it enters the engine?

I thought about doing that but I love to tinker with mixing the oil.

When making your fuel when do you know it is time to change your filters?

When the pressure gets over 60 psi it will be time to replace or clean my filters.  If I have some good raw oil I will put pure oil in my top tank before filtering it to the bottom tank where I mixing my other ingredients.  If my raw oil is not so good I will mix my kerosene ingredient in the top tank with the raw oil to thin it and help it filter better.  You will loose some of your original kerosene in the process. 

How are your filters set up in your fuel making process? 

I pump the raw oil through three Surflow filters using a 20, 5, and 1 micron filter.  Some people use two filters but I prefer three filters.

How do you use your fuel mix on long trips?

  I remove my oil connection tank and replace it with a clean fuel skid where I fill it with my fuel mixture.  I have when on trips to Nova Scotia burning my fuel mix.

Mark said "I get 15 miles per gallon and I have saved an average of $1.60 per gallon during the 25,000 miles have driven using the fuel mixture".  Mark also says "I love to tinker with making fuel."

See for yourself: Try Diesel Secret

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