Yes, I love the Volkswagen Diesels of yesterday. I have owned many Volkswagens, but the only Diesel I have used was my dad's 1980 rabbit pickup. What a nice sized "truck"- it probably got over 40 mph, but was way underpowered to safely drive on a freeway. I would love to own a nice example today, but newer Volkswagens are too expensive and unreliable, IMHO. This from a die hard VW driver, but I believe the good stuff is still held back from the US drivers- there are so many great cars, many Diesel, that would blow away any of our domestically built vehicles, and get WAY better fuel economy. We have been passed over in the technology of auto manufacturing.
But enough of that. My dad's pickup succumbed to that great equalizer of all old VWs around here- RUST. There are none left anymore....
Keep YOURS running...!

 

Does used motor oil have containments/combustion biproducts in it? Definately

Does used motor oil have metal particles in it? Not unless you have some serious engine problems.

Couple of things to separate myth from fact.

Most diesel engines will run on used motor oil. However used motor oil has metal particles in it from being used.

 

A fuel filter with the proper micron rating wouldn't catch all the harmful particles?

 

Local transportation (buses) company went biodiesel and their biggest problem was the filters getting clogged and they were supposedly using the right ones.

 

My "design" which has yet to be implemented was to run my 1984 Mercedes diesel with diesel to start, filtered, heated veg oil for driving and then switch to diesel again before shutting down to clear out the veg oil. I think I can get this system in place for about $1000. I am currently getting 30 miles per gallon and if diesel costs 3.60 I have to run about 8500 miles to break even on the conversion, assuming I get the oil for free. Thoughts?

 

There's a thread over on tdiforums.com by a guy who got waste oil for about 10 cents/gallon.

So he 'filtered' it to use in his TDi.

Eroded the turbo vanes down to nothing...as he now says "Pay now or pay later"

Best to convert oil (waste or virgin) to biodiesel before using it.

 

Excuse me, maybe I'm naive. How will burning something other than diesel for fuel erode turbo vanes?

I have a turbo charger on my trucks and fuel never comes in contact with anything near it. You will have to explain to me how veggie oil or used motor oil wore down the "turbo vanes".

Thanks

 

I think he meant that the exhaust side of the turbo impeller was eroded by unburnt acids or impurities in the exhaust, post combustion.

 

yea the old diesels are awesome. The main issue i hear for people arguing against diesel (and i used to also before i knew better) was the maint. cost. Thats true for the new DI diesels but the older IDI diesels are just about a cheap and easy to fix and work on as any gas engine. the old vws are cool and get some amazing mpg but for a bov ive been spoiled with the size of a suburban. We get most places we want with all the gear we want, and withe 6.5td we get over 20mpg, not the best mpg in the diesel world but ill take the power and payload over that extra mpg. Just my.02 though.

 

I have a 2002 Jetta TDI, wish I had an older one, but my newer will do too. I have an old diesel generator from the 40's and that thing will last forever I do believe!