As the price of fuel increases and people become more concerned about the environmental impact of using fossil fuels, diesel to vegetable oil conversions are becoming a viable and attractive option for many. As biofuels go, used vegetable oil is probably the most sustainable from a production point of view, and produces lower greenhouse gas emissions than diesel from a pollution standpoint. Diesel to vegetable oil conversions are therefore an excellent proposition.
As the name suggests, diesel to vegetable oil conversions are for diesel vehicles only, as vegetable oil is not suitable for use in petrol vehicles. All diesel engines should be suitable for diesel to vegetable oil conversions, although newer vehicles can be more complicated due to modern engine technology. There are two ways of undertaking diesel to vegetable oil conversions; either with a one tank or two tank system. As vegetable oil needs to be warm before use, a one tank system pre-warms the vegetable oil and it can also be mixed with diesel. A two tank system uses diesel at the start of a journey, switching to vegetable oil when the engine is warm.
Vegetable oil to be used in a vehicle needs to be treated but fuel consumption and power are similar to when the vehicle runs on diesel. The duty to be paid on vegetable oil may be the same as for sulphur-free diesel or may be at the lower biodiesel rate (20 pence per litre lower). Check HM Revenue & Customs website for more information.
More and more garages are starting to offer diesel to vegetable oil conversions, so it is worth asking around or searching online for a business near you to take a look at your car and confirm the modifications required and costs involved. For more tips and information on converting your vehicle to a more environmentally friendly fuel, visit our Alternative Fuel Conversion page.
Source: www.hmrc.gov.uk 2009
