Why is it illegal to run a diesel engine on chip oil?

Question

Is this not another example of meddlesome busybody politics? It used to be illegal to make your own electricity. People are being fined for recycling car fuel but also fined for not recycling their bottles and cans is this not a case of double standards?

Refined chip oil has no carbon footprint so my friend tells me and is even more environmentally friendly than diesel you buy in the garage.

I can't see the logic.

Answer 1

There is a  tax to be paid on it ,if u drive it on the roads. That is the source for the money to build roads. If u check it out u will find that if the motor does the same work it will produce the same CO2.

Answer 2

Money my friend, let you do it and everybody will wanna do it, no more £13,000,000,000 profits for Shell and BP! They claim the profits come from oil discovery and exploration and minimal returns from the pumps, but if we weren't buying it, they wouldn't be looking for it, so it stands to reason that all profit stems from us!

Answer 3

because you would not be paying tax to the government - after all we pay the highest duty on fuel in the EU - you don't think they would leave a huge loophole like that do you

Answer 4

It's not illegal, as long as you declare it and pay tax on it you can use cooking oil.

Answer 5

It's not illegal, you have to declare it and pay tax on it .you can use cooking oil.  You can even use spot oil if you wanted

Answer 6

No it isn't illegal but you have to declaire your fuel costs on your tax return so you can be taxed accordingly.

Answer 7

Is it???  I share your confusion and would also like the answer.

Answer 8

it is legal in the UK to run a diesel car on chip oil in the UK.

Low Impact Living Initiative run courses giving you all the tecnical and legal/tax know-how

http://www.lowimpact.org/courseoutlinebi...

Also companies like Sharwoods & Macdonalds are using their oils oil for vehicles.

It has never been illegal in the UK to make your own electric, or gas either. but you should be qualified so as not to be a danger to yourself or others.

Answer 9

cant see it being illegal apart from the emissions that it may give off

Answer 10

its not illegal to use wvo in your diesel engine as long as you dont use more than 2500 ltrs per year.ive used it for over a year with no problems and halved my running costs.and when it came to mot time the carbon emissions were well below the requirements. i,ll keep on running.

Answer 11

It is not illegal unless you use over a certain limit.

This was because it was actually costing more in admin to process the tax than the value of the tax collected. Therefore the treasury set a limit - anything over domestic use (running a taxe for example) would likely put you over the limit, and you will be expected to pay tax. You also need to keep receipts to make sure you register before you are likely to go over limit.

This is somewhat of a break to the green consumer, and the government expect it to catch on - that way they CAN tax it again when it's popular (like they did with diesel fuel) - and is what's happened in Germany.

It actually has better lubricity for engines - so a 5% blend will soon be mandatory in all diesels. Unfortunately for the consumer, it can therefore be labeled "biofuel" because it contains some - thus is a wolf in green sheep clothing.

Higher percentages-over 50% can cause problems with injector pumps, and clouding at low temperatures, therefore needs engine modification.

Look to the US for lots of information - as they are well into the scene now.

Answer 12

in uk you can use up to 2500 litres per year tax free but you have to keep a milage record. thats it. nothing illegal about it.

Answer 13

It is not illegal, but using this fuel could damage your engine. Your engine has been designed crefully and it is designe to run on the normal fuel. it is designed to keep a clean engine with normal fuel and I have heard report of chip oil sooting up the engine, andthe spark plugs. You engine has been designed around the proper fuel. You may save on fuel costs, but you may have to end up paying for a new engine because you don't use the corect fuel.

Answer 14

It's not illegal as long as you pay the taxes, you need to pay both state and federal "road" tax. This tax is supposed to be used to keep up the roads but in most cases it goes to the general fund and very little goes back to the roads.

Answer 15

It is not illegal as far as I know. It was never illegal to make your own electricity. Your information is just wrong. Check your sources. Use real sources, not bad sources. Read a law book, not a blog. Ask a lawyer, don't post a question on Yahoo! Answers.

Answer 16

It took me a while to figure out you're talking about vegetable oil used to cook ... such as to cook "chips" or "fries."

It's do-able and has been done but I'm curious... Why do you say that it leaves no carbon footprint? It still must be burned and thus release carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

Answer 17

the reason is that it is not controlled by the government and therefore they cant tax u.

Answer 18

Its not illegal in the Uk, you just have to declare and pay the taxes to the government!

Answer 19

Ah this is an easy one - TAX. If you put red deisel (for agracultural use) into a non agg vehicle its also against the law. Plus chip oil is not very good for your engine!

Answer 20

its not illegal...in america...sorry u brits have more crazy laws...

Answer 21

ITS ON LONGER ILLEGAL TO RUN YOUR CAR ON COOKING OIL AND YOU DONT HAVE TO DECLARE IT TO THE TAX MAN EITHER AS LONG AS YOU USE LESS THAN 2500 L A YEAR THEN ITS TAX FREE I THINK THEY CHANGED THE LAW BECAUSE THE COULDNT KEEP UP WITH THE PAPER WORK OR POLICE IT PROPERLY

HOPE THIS HELPS

Answer 22

you're looking for logic... look for the money trail, it'll probably tell the whole story.

Answer 23

I have never heard of chip oil. Is there another name for it?  Where (in what country) is it illegal?  And, are you sure it it illegal?  Have you researched this or is it Just hearsay?  I would check government sources in your country.  If it is illogical, it probably isn't happening or you may not have enough information.

Answer 24

It is NOT illegal to run a diesel engine on chip oil... Why do people think it is?

I do it and it's quite legal.  Vegetable oil is classed as a biofuel and as long as you don't use more than 2,500 litres per year, you don't have to pay duty on it.  More than that, you must paythe required duty of 28p per litre to HMRC

FAO Torry_Stiles.. Veg oil is a zero carbon footprint because, by growing crops to produce the oil, CO2 is absorbed by the crop and released by burning it in an engine, therefore there is no net increase in carbon in the atmosphere.

Answer 25

In most places there is a tax on diesel fuel (and petrol/gasoline).  The tax usually pays for roads and/or other government services.  When you buy diesel, the tax is part of the price of the fuel.  It is illegal to avoid paying the tax.

Some jurisdictions have set up a process that allows people to send in a payment for the tax on homemade fuel.  If the correct tax is paid, then it is probably legal to run your diesel vehicle on used chip (french fry) oil.  Just be sure to filter it well so it doesn't clog your fuel lines.

Answer 26

it is not illegal,aslong as you  inform the  customs and excise

  sorry go the website it explains it too you

Answer 27

If the government can't tax it, it is made illegal

Answer 28

It's not illegal since july 30 2007 but you must not go over a certian mileage 24000 in a year I think

Answer 29

It may be the reason that they are advising that your engine could be FRIED if you put this in the tank

Answer 30

the government don't make money if you use chip fat

Answer 31

No but running red diesel is its all to do with taxes