Is Vegetable Oil Diesel A Viable Fuel Option?

Rudolph Diesel in known for the engine that bears his name. The diesel engine had no spark plugs, used less fuel than petrol engines and was designed to run on vegetable oil diesel. However, petroleum was cheaper than oil made from plants, and so the diesel engine was developed to run on diesel fuel.

Interestingly, in 1912, Diesel was quoted as saying “The fact that fat oils from vegetable sources can be used may seem insignificant today, but such oils may perhaps become, in the course of time, of the same importance as some natural mineral oils and tar products are now.”

Vehicle enthusiasts played around with using vegetable oil to fuel a diesel engine throughout the 20th century, but serious research into it’s use was largely prompted by shortages in petroleum, from time to time, in that same period. Biodiesel often proved to be a preferrable option because it didn’t rquire modifications to the vehicle.

Both new and used oil can be utilized as a diesel fuel. Waste or used vegetable oil (WVO) comes from restaurants and food processors, after it has been used for frying food. Unused oils are called straight vegetable oil (SVO) or pure plant oil (PPO) to avoid any confusion with the blended fuel called biodiesel.

The most commonly used plant for vegetable oil diesel is the rapeseed, also called canola. There is research into using sunflower oil because of its lower freezing point. There are island nations in the South Pacific that use coconut oil diesel fuel, because of the ready availability of coconuts and the desire to be independent of the oil-rich countries. Coconut oil only works in warmer temperatures; above 17 degrees Celsius.

The main problem with using vegetable oil as a diesel fuel is its viscosity or thickness. It needs to be thinned by heating it prior to use, otherwise it could damage the engine. This is a particular problem in cold climates. It is possible to convert the engine to ensure the safe use of vegetable oil diesel. Some exponents also blend the two fuels to avoid the viscosity problem.

The response from government, on the subject, varies from country to country. Some governements allow the fuel to be used, other have legislated against it, some have formal trials operating but there seems to be more concern over lost revenue in fuel taxes than in the fuel itself.

There continue to be many issues to be resolved before vegetable oil diesel becomes a common fuel, including availability of supply and a united approach to making the oil more suitable for diesel engines.

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