Teenager runs his VW Jetta with used canola oil.

July 20, 2000 12:06 PM

Teenager runs his VW Jetta with used canola oil.
posted by Mr. skullhead (5 comments total)

Yeah, they call it BioDesiel, and it's been around for quite a while...
In fact, I was just reading an article about 4 girls who drove a VW Minibus cross-country on used grease... That was about 5 years ago, so I don't know why we haven't heard more about it; It seems like a pretty good idea...

*OT*: I read this in The Happy Mutant Handbook, a very good book. I reccomend you buy it.... it also includes a recipie for BioDiesel.
posted by Bane at 12:52 PM on July 20, 2000

I'm looking forward to the day that alternative feuls become commonplace (I imagine we'll have the oil companies fighting it behind the scenes). Especially with gas prices up and around $2/gallon here in NY.
posted by tomorama at 12:57 PM on July 20, 2000

I remember reading about the VeggieVan that drove across the US a few years back, stopping at fast food restaurants for used french fry oil as fuel. Sounds a lot like what this kid did.
posted by mathowie at 1:59 PM on July 20, 2000

In other news, he's now suing Jiffy Lube. "You put used canola oil in my crankcase!"

Just as long as nobody brings up the claim that somebody made a car that runs on water or there's a Honda Civic that gets 200mpg (without a fuel cell, that is -- now there's a Toyota that gets 160, and a French car that runs on air!).
posted by dhartung at 11:49 PM on July 20, 2000

> In other news, he's now suing Jiffy Lube. "You put used
> canola oil in my crankcase!"

Actually, there's a company making engine oil out of canola oil. http://www.agromgt.com/
More information can be found courtesy the good folks at Purdue University.
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1999/v4-247.html
posted by baylink at 10:05 PM on July 22, 2000