2001 VW Jetta Diesel - GreaseCar demo (3 of 3)

[maxl36]

What you could is that you install a heater for the cooling water that heats up the water before the car is actually warm enough.

[smellslikefries]

@maxl36 ZeroStart is a brand that sells such a thing. Problem with heating the coolant, the engine block will still be cold (or cool). The engine must be hot before you use veggie. Think hot oil on a cold pan still heating up. Carbon will build up very quickly.

[johnlashitskey]

MY GOD!!! You have the worst fucking camera man!!!!!

[smellslikefries]

@johnlashitskey Heh. Yeah, he was terrible. Havn't used him since.

[KC10Chief]

Very interesting! I've been looking to get a Jetta that I can turn into a grease car. Your camera man drives me crazy though.  HOLD STILL! AAAAUGH!!

[jamclam1]

good god hold the camera still man....get a new camera man!!

[peestandingup]

Good lord. Fire your camera guy. I think Im gonna throw up :-)

Good greasecar, though.

[Hamish121212]

The camera guy sounds like Kermet the Frog!

[snowboardintahoe]

hi... how big is the bio tank that is in the trunk?

[smellslikefries]

40 litres. Not bad. I cacn drive about 6-8hrs @ 100 km/h with that.

[Buzzybee73]

Oh my god!!, the camera work it awful, is the cameraman blind??

[smellslikefries]

Hehe. Not my usual camera person. I took what I could find.

[ab1784]

why not use electric heating elements instead of relying on the over-efficient cooling system to heat the veg oil?

[smellslikefries]

Electric heating elements put a heavy load on the battery and alternator of the car. I have a standard 12 Volt / 60 Ampare DB alternator in my Jetta. My in-line heater to boost heat is 300 Watts (not a lot), but that's almost 50% of the capability of my alternator. Just to raise the temp of a few 100ml of oil.

To heat the 40,000ml tank that way would be irresponsible - maybe even impossible. Waste heat must remain the real work-horse of veggie oil heating.

[ab1784]

ahh i see. thanks for the info.

[ab1784]

What if a capacitor was used in conjunction with electric heating elements and pulsed? also, how long does it take to heat up the oil using the system you have now?

[smellslikefries]

What would a capacitor do other than add impedance (resistance)?

These days (25C) I drive for about 5min on the highway and engine oil is at 90C according to my dashboard and coolant is over 45C according to my less than accurate temp guage on my flat plate heat exchanger. That's my summer switch-over point.

With the VegTherm electric heater, vegoil temp will be over 70C.

[ab1784]

the capacitor would take the load off of the charging system by acting as a buffer just as it does in power-demanding audio setups.

then, by using a temp sensor and relay, you can regulate the temperature of the veg oil in your tank. (just like the system that operates your radiator fans)

[smellslikefries]

Except there isn't spike load like in an audio system. Heat by electrical resistance is a constent load. A temp guage is something some kits provide for their electrical heaters (PlantDrive). My system is manual - "the future is now" with fully automated systems that backflush and control heat for you.

[rataranian]

I'm interested in possibly doing this with my next car i buy. I noticed you said "spare fuel tank". ..So do you still use the original fuel tank for anything? Just wondering if cars like this use this new fuel system only or if they have to use both.

[Crosisborg]

The camerman seems to have parkinsons

[smellslikefries]

He was shaky. A bit too excited.