I plan to convert my Camry to biofuel (frenchfryoil). Does anyone have advice or experience with this?

Question

conversion to veg. oil - using free oil from restaurants

cheap alternative to money hungry gas companies that are ruining this country

Answer 1

I am pretty sure that Camry's don't come with diesel engines, so this would make your plan impossible unless you plan on doing an engine swap which would be very expensive.  I could be wrong on that, but I don't think so.  You would spend less money just paying for normal gas and running the car till it died.  Engine swaps, especially going from a gas to a diesel engine will cost thousands of dollars, unless you have the technical know how and can do it yourself.  You don't or you would have known this already.  My suggestion is to stop buying into the liberal pushed propaganda which states that big oil companies are nothing more than money grubbers who are interested in sucking every last penny out of us.  The reason the price of gas is so high is because of government interference and environmentalist, not the oil companies.  Because of government regulations which were pushed by the environmentalist we cannot build refineries, which cuts down on supply because only so much gasoline can be processed per day.  If you understand supply and demand, when the demand is high, as it is, and the supply is deliberately kept low, as it is by the restrictions, prices will sky rocket.  Also because of regulations and restrictions, we cannot drill for oil in this country which forces us to pay foreign companies which ever price they dictate.  On top of all of this, the government places a hefty tax on top of the normal price of gas which can be as high as 70 cents per gallon but averages around 50 cents per gallon.  What you need to realize is that record profits are not bad.  That doesn't mean they are making billions and billions.  It only means they made more money than they did last year and that only stands to reason because every year our population increases which means more people buying gas.  If the gas companies only made 10 dollars profit one year and 15 dollars profit the next year, that would be record profit.  Basically record growth is only an indication that our population and economy is growing and that is good.  If you really want to look into how much net profit the oil companies make, look into their profit margin.  When the media talks about big oil record profits being in the billions and billions that is all money made in that year period.  It doesn't take into account all of the money these companies are using to process, refine and ship out this gasoline.  That takes a huge chunk out of their record profits and what is left is their net profit and that isn't nearly as much as what they make it out to be.  From what I have read, our government makes almost as much in gas taxes as what the oil companies do in net profits and that is sickening in my opinion.  If you really want to fight the people who are sticking their hand in your pocket every time you are at the pump, start protesting the environmentalist and big government.  They are the ones hurting you, not the oil companies.

Answer 2

in the US this will not pass smog emission standard...

Answer 3

I'm glad yet sorry, that it's pinching.

Sell your Camry and get a bike...Thanks a ton!!!!

Answer 4

Biofuel is always a good idea, but, you do need a diesel engine to burn it.  Diesel engines, when invented, were run on peanut oil, and all diesel engines can be converted to biofuel.

A good idea is to trade your camry in for a diesel powered car and  have it converted.  You will have an endless supply of fuel from any restaurant you can think of.

There are alot of skeptics out there on any alternative fuel source, only because there mindset is fogged by gas funes.

Keep researching and you'll come up with what you want.

Answer 5

Do not put vegetable oil in to a gasoline engine it will ruin it. The oil will do fine in a diesel.

Answer 6

French fry oil will only work as a fuel if you have a diesel engine.  

Bio fuel for Gasoline powered engines is Ethanol, or plant based alcohol.

So, no, you can not do what you want to do.

If you want to avoid using petroleum in your car you will have to go electric, Plug in hybrid and regular hybrid will cut down on your fuel bill if you drive in urban areas but you can get better mileage with some gasoline or diesel cars on the highway.

Don't get caught up in the hype. Do your research.

Answer 7

I'm going to assume that you have some idea what you're talking about, and have a Camry with a diesel engine.  And for those who didn't bother to Google it before belittling the asker; yes, Camry did have a diesel engine option in the US.  Toyota still sells diesel Camrys in the rest of the world.

Running pure vegetable oil straight up in a diesel engine is a little tricky.  

First, most diesel engines won't start on it.  You need to start on normal diesel, and then switch over to the veg.  However, I have heard of people making 20% veg / 80% diesel mixtures which they can use in a single tank.  I have also heard of people thinning the veg down with ethanol and being able to start on it.

Second, vegetable oil is rather viscous and sticky.  It doesn't move through the engine components all that well, and in a small engine (like those found in cars) may clog feed lines and injectors.  Actually, it can do it in truck engines too.  Of course, it doesn't do this immediately, but over a few weeks to a year, depending on the car.  Not a good thing.  Running normal diesel through helps to clean it out though.

Third, vegetable oil when burnt produces slightly acidic residues which are picked up by the engine oil.  These can attack your engine and weaken piston and valve seals.  It can also accelerate the deterioration of the bearings, leading to the premature death of your engine.

Basically, production engines weren't designed to run on veg.  They *can* operate on it, but not very well, and it shouldn't be done for very long.  This is why vegetable oil is processed into biodiesel.  Biodiesel is like normal diesel in viscosity and tackiness, and it doesn't produce the high levels of acidic compounds when burnt.

You may also want to talk to Toyota about it.  Contrary to common belief, auto makers are not in bed with "Big Oil".  In fact, there have been several occasions when they have been at odds (e.g. MMT, an octane booster which most manufacturers recommend avoiding).  The dealer's mechanics will probably tell you the same thing I have.  Not a good idea.