They Burn Used Oil In Pickup Trucks

2012 - Volume #36, Issue #2, Page #38

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“Used motor oil works just fine to power my 1998 Chevy 3500 4-door pickup, which has a 6.5 liter turbo diesel engine and 220,000 miles on the odometer,” says Carl Weaver of Lisbon, Ohio.
  Weaver converted his pickup to burn used oil after his friend John Bennetch of Carlisle, Penn., started using a similar system on his truck. Bennetch drove from Pennsylvania to Missouri and back with used oil as the main fuel. He got 14 miles to the gallon and didn’t have any engine problems, so that convinced Weaver to try the same system.
  “My truck starts on straight diesel and when the engine temperature reaches 140 degrees, a relay sensor switches it over to oil. During colder months I run 10 percent diesel fuel with the oil, but during summer the straight oil works just fine,” Weaver says. The switchover can also be done manually. LED lights show if the truck is running on oil or diesel fuel.
  When the truck ignition is turned off, there’s a delay timer that automatically switches the valve back to diesel and keeps the engine running. The timer can be set to run the engine from 30 seconds up to 5 min. to purge oil from the engine and revert back to diesel fuel.
  Weaver’s truck has a high performance fuel pump that can take fuel pressure up to 20 lbs. He says it gives the truck more power and doesn’t starve the engine for fuel.
  John Bennetch is convinced that older diesel engines with mechanical fuel pumps can run on just about any organic petroleum product. He says used automatic transmission fluid or any grade of synthetic or petroleum motor oil from a diesel or gasoline engine will work. The key is to run it through a screen before it goes into the tank and filter it well at the engine. If it’s heavier than 15-40, you should thin it with 10 percent diesel fuel. Both his truck and Weaver’s have aftermarket 12-micron fuel filters. Bennetch says that a centrifuge oil filter can be added between the fuel pump and the engine injector pumps. At a cost of about $600, that would filter at 2-microns and provide extra insurance for the fuel system.
  Bennetch says engine shops have told him a system like his won’t work because injectors will fail because of poor lubrication. His experience is that delaying the switchover to oil until engine temperature is 140 degrees raises the oil viscosity so it moves through the lines. He said his system isn’t anything fancy, basically the same as those that run trucks on vegetable oil. “My line of work gives me access to plenty of old oil, so that’s what I use.” He says vegetable oil would also work, but he wouldn’t mix petroleum and vegetable oil together.
  Although the system is simple, it’s not without a few challenges. He usually gets 30 to 40 hrs. of driving time or a couple thousand miles on fuel filters, and sometimes tries used fuel filters until they’re completely plugged. The oil he uses is filtered every time he moves it from one tank to another.
  Bennetch says most diesel engines will allow you to burn up to 50-50 oil and diesel without modifications. It’s a way to save money and get decent mileage. He recommends that if you try this idea on a Cummins diesel, which has smaller injectors, that a 2 micron filter be installed.
  Contamination is also a concern when using oil. Both Weaver and Bennetch check their oil to be sure there isn’t water or anti freeze in it. Oil stored in a 55 gal. drum should have a tap on the bottom to drain out water or contaminants.
  Weaver is happy with the economical new way to power his truck and says performance is the same as with diesel fuel. “I think the system is really great and practically failsafe. The only difference I’ve noticed is a small amount of smoke when the engine is idling, but on the highway you’d never know you’re running on oil. I shove the foot feed to the floor, a small puff of smoke comes out and after that it’s clear.” Weaver figures he spent less than a thousand dollars on the system, which includes the 100 gal. tank for the back of his truck.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Carl Weaver, 6190 Lisbon Road, Lisbon, Ohio 44432 (ph 330 881-5883).

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They Burn Used Oil In Pickup Trucks ENERGY Waste Oil “Used motor oil works just fine to power my 1998 Chevy 3500 4-door pickup which has a 6 5 liter turbo diesel engine and 220 000 miles on the odometer ” says Carl Weaver of Lisbon Ohio Weaver converted his pickup to burn used oil after his friend John Bennetch of Carlisle Penn started using a similar system on his truck Bennetch drove from Pennsylvania to Missouri and back with used oil as the main fuel He got 14 miles to the gallon and didn’t have any engine problems so that convinced Weaver to try the same system “My truck starts on straight diesel and when the engine temperature reaches 140 degrees a relay sensor switches it over to oil During colder months I run 10 percent diesel fuel with the oil but during summer the straight oil works just fine ” Weaver says The switchover can also be done manually LED lights show if the truck is running on oil or diesel fuel When the truck ignition is turned off there’s a delay timer that automatically switches the valve back to diesel and keeps the engine running The timer can be set to run the engine from 30 seconds up to 5 min to purge oil from the engine and revert back to diesel fuel Weaver’s truck has a high performance fuel pump that can take fuel pressure up to 20 lbs He says it gives the truck more power and doesn’t starve the engine for fuel John Bennetch is convinced that older diesel engines with mechanical fuel pumps can run on just about any organic petroleum product He says used automatic transmission fluid or any grade of synthetic or petroleum motor oil from a diesel or gasoline engine will work The key is to run it through a screen before it goes into the tank and filter it well at the engine If it’s heavier than 15-40 you should thin it with 10 percent diesel fuel Both his truck and Weaver’s have aftermarket 12-micron fuel filters Bennetch says that a centrifuge oil filter can be added between the fuel pump and the engine injector pumps At a cost of about $600 that would filter at 2-microns and provide extra insurance for the fuel system Bennetch says engine shops have told him a system like his won’t work because injectors will fail because of poor lubrication His experience is that delaying the switchover to oil until engine temperature is 140 degrees raises the oil viscosity so it moves through the lines He said his system isn’t anything fancy basically the same as those that run trucks on vegetable oil “My line of work gives me access to plenty of old oil so that’s what I use ” He says vegetable oil would also work but he wouldn’t mix petroleum and vegetable oil together Although the system is simple it’s not without a few challenges He usually gets 30 to 40 hrs of driving time or a couple thousand miles on fuel filters and sometimes tries used fuel filters until they’re completely plugged The oil he uses is filtered every time he moves it from one tank to another Bennetch says most diesel engines will allow you to burn up to 50-50 oil and diesel without modifications It’s a way to save money and get decent mileage He recommends that if you try this idea on a Cummins diesel which has smaller injectors that a 2 micron filter be installed Contamination is also a concern when using oil Both Weaver and Bennetch check their oil to be sure there isn’t water or anti freeze in it Oil stored in a 55 gal drum should have a tap on the bottom to drain out water or contaminants Weaver is happy with the economical new way to power his truck and says performance is the same as with diesel fuel “I think the system is really great and practically failsafe The only difference I’ve noticed is a small amount of smoke when the engine is idling but on the highway you’d never know you’re running on oil I shove the foot feed to the floor a small puff of smoke comes out and after that it’s clear ” Weaver figures he spent less than a thousand dollars on the system which includes the 100 gal tank for the back of his truck Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Carl Weaver 6190 Lisbon Road Lisbon Ohio 44432 ph 330 881-5883

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