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Messages - danalinscott

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1
Waste Vegetable Oil / Re: Web site with some useful info , DVD's etc.
« on: June 27, 2010, 03:44:10 PM »
Be careful about believing information that comes from a company that sells VO conversions. It is actually advertisement and in my experience often incorrect and always provided with the primary intent of selling you product. At the very least check other info sources to see if any of the info presented is contradictory to more recent research.

In this particular case much of the information IS  very outdated.

For a comprehensive website with out the bias always included in vendor website try looking at:
http://voconversionbasics.websitetoolbox.com/

Lots of tutorials and links to good (vetted) info available from other forums/websites.

At the very least be very skeptical of information which may induce you to buy from a vendor provided only on that vendors website.
There are a lot of very unethical VO kit/component vendors and even more that simply do not have enough experience to be designing and developing components.
Most often they simply do not do adequate testing before selling a product. This means that customers are the actual test program.


2
Waste Vegetable Oil / Re: washing veg oil
« on: February 27, 2008, 06:40:53 PM »
Water settles out to the bottom quickly when wvo is mistwashed.
And it pulls most particulates and water soluble contaminats out of the wvo to settle on the bottom along with it.  This cludes soap. But since soaps are a creation of the process of making biodieel it is fairly rare when you find soaps in wvo. It happens of course. I have found about everything but the kitchen sink in wvo over the past 20 years.

3
Waste Vegetable Oil / Re: washing veg oil
« on: February 22, 2008, 05:33:43 AM »
Soap, acids, salts, sugars and in fact any water soluble contaminant CAN be washed out of wvo.

There is more info on washing and dewatering wvo at: http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/voconversionbasics/vpost?id=1610968 and http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/voconversionbasics/vpost?id=1883553

4
Quote
i will take back half the ugly things i think and say about them.

LOL..
Bob...that is going WAY too far.  ;)

But really..the EPA has been very enevolent on this particular subject.
I don't think it would be smart to explain this in detail on an open forum..but if you are interested email me and I will be happy to. You will be AMAZED!   

5
In the case of VO fuel the EPA is simply enforcing the Clean Air Act. And in fact they are doing it in a very benevolent manner which provides a LOT of wiggle room for those of us who use and experiement with VO fuel.  They have not to this point "gone after" any individuals using VO fuel unlesss it has been a clearly commercial operation.

The semi-official position is that the EPA wants those who may generate useful research on VO fuel to continue to experiement with it.  Single individuals are of no concern to them at all. Commercial operations using VO fuel had better be part of an actual research program designed to generate actual useful VO fuel info however. The attitude is "if you are making additional profit by using VO fuel some of that better be going into research that benefits all Americans."  I do not find that unreasonable.

If you have specific instances of the EPA creating problems for ANYONE please post them. Otherwise you are just repeating rumors or incorrectly attributing the actions of state revenue agencys or city zoning officials to the EPA.

I don't "love" the EPA either. I find their general attitude toward VO fuel use to be extremely benevolent and resonable however. If you want to pick a fight with a govt agency please choose another one. This one is "on our side" as far as VO fuel use goes. Why screw that up?

6
Quote
The only way to change rules like this are to publicly make them look bad.
That won't change anything. Though it may make the EPA a bit  less benevolent regarding the use of VO fuel. The EPA only enforces the rules which the legislature makes. 

The only way to change the rules is to get legislators to change them.

7
Waste Vegetable Oil / Re: Piping Materials for WVO
« on: June 08, 2007, 03:15:18 AM »
Dewatered wvo does not "attack" copper or brass. But frankly regular "rubber" fuel line works great. The outer layer will soften if VO is allowed to sit on it but the inner lining is impervious to it.

8
Straight Vegetable Oil / Re: New to the group,, saying hello~!`
« on: May 08, 2007, 07:37:27 PM »
Quote
I'm not sure what is meant by "extra modifications". Could you expand on this point?

Sure. But the info will be buried here since it is so off topic.

Please post your question at: http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/voconversionbasics/vpost?id=1710537 so others can find the info easier later.

Dana

9
Straight Vegetable Oil / Re: New to the group,, saying hello~!`
« on: May 07, 2007, 08:00:55 PM »
Quote
The claim of 25% performance gain was eyepopping, to say the least. Although my knowledge is limited in this regard, I was hoping for more discussion concerning the chemistry, or lack of. On the face, this doesn't appear possible, but I have yet to consult with a chemist. Trying to enlist Sodbust chemist sources to participate in this discussion, may have been interesting.

This was established long ago to be physically impossible. There is simply not as many BTUs in VO as in diesel. And adding VO to diesel fuel as a blend lowers the available BTUs.  It woudl fall into the classification of miracle additive if one claims that adding VO somehow increases power/mileage while at the same time the available energy in a gallon is being lowered.

Quote
Regarding use and wear, I believe my own genset application may have more in common with farm equipment then the typical motor vehicle use. Like farm equipment, my genset is running long hours under fairly constant load. I would guess longer distance tractor trailer operation would also be a similar application.

Actually although field tractors and tractor traielrs might seem to be constant duty engines and so very similar to gensets they are not. The load is not nearly as constant as with a genset under most conditions and so the flamefront carachteristics  inside the conbustion chamber are significantly different. Significant enough that the extra modifications often needed on a diese powereing a generator or pump are not required on either usually.

I am usually willing to involve myself in a discussion on a subject that has not already been discussed to death somewhere else. The one exception is when a poster decides to start making personal attacks. I have learned to simply ignore those that do if the moderator is not moderating personal attacks out.  I barely have the time avaialble to participate in fourms when I feel my participation may make a positive difference. Participating in personal attacks...flamefests..is rarely productive and so rarely have a positive outcome.  Generally they simply result in fewer willing to particiapte in the discussion....especially those with significant experience to share.

10
Straight Vegetable Oil / Re: New to the group,, saying hello~!`
« on: May 05, 2007, 06:00:05 AM »
Ok..but I am not sure if this means that those of us with extennsive experience should speak up when we see misinformation presented or not.

Unfortunately misinformation usually comes from those who are relativly new to the field and are simply very excited about the possibilities. I am sure they do not intend to present misinformation...they are just a bit over enthusiastic and have not bothered to thorouly check to see if what they think they are seeing...which is often liittle more than wishful thinking..iis backed up ro contradicted by the body of knowledge established up to this point.

I really do hate to quash enthusiasm..but then again if unrealistic claims and/or misinformation is presented adn not a single person speaks up to question it...it becomes  a "factiod" that then tends to screw up anyone who depends upon it as factual.

So....do you want those with lots of experience to speak up in cases such as this...or remain silent?

11
Straight Vegetable Oil / Re: New to the group,, saying hello~!`
« on: April 28, 2007, 03:33:07 AM »
Oh, for the days when people just went out behind the barn and got it over and done with.



Amen!

Quote
It makes it that much harder for me because now I have to repeat mistakes rather than learn from people


Although I have to devote more and more time to paying customers all the time I try to also support those experimenting with or trying to learn more about VO fuel conversion on the hobbiest level. Please let me know if you post anything and would like me to post what experience I may have had relating to that post.  It is always my hope that others can learn from my experiences and hopefully avoid repeating the exact failures I have had.  I may not notice new posts so an email with a link to any post you want my input on will be helpful.

As to those who just want to pick a fight on any forum....it got old a long time ago. If someone wants to grind an axe they can have at it anytime....I just don't feel any obligation to respond.

12
Straight Vegetable Oil / Re: New to the group,, saying hello~!`
« on: April 17, 2007, 02:09:46 PM »


I said it before and will say it again........
.......you should be able to produce results/pictures/tests backing up your statements........but if you turn tail and run it makes you look bad..............on the other hand if you can backup what you say, then it'll point out who's muddying the water and who's actually paddling

Anyone that wnat to take the trouble to track down this information usually can. Although the archives of the vo conversion forums have become harder and harder to search this has all been presented there before.

If you want links that might help you find this information I can provide a link to a "forum" that is really a place where that info is being gathered in an indexed form and will not be overwhelmed and buried in "chat" and repetitive posts from newbies and those who with to do nothing but argue. Unfortunately most of the forma studies are not public and are copyrighted...so theymust be purchased if one wishes to veiw them.

http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/mb/voconversionbasics
It is indexed so it is easy to search and you will find links to more informationin most of the posts related to this discussion.

I will be gone for 2 weeks moving my father from a short term nursing home to my sisters home 1500 miles away. I t is much more involved than it sounds. So it may be up to 3 weeks before I check back. I hope that you will apply this standard to all who choose to enter the discussion.  It is usually just applied to me in such discussions.

A more indepth tutorial on conversion is at: http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/voconversionbasics/vpost?id=1717671
A discussion on the differences between single tank and two tank conversions is at: http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/voconversionbasics/vpost?id=1561329
 
An indexed discussion on individual conversion components with links to vendors is at: http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/mb/voconversionbasics?forum=55421   

13
Straight Vegetable Oil / Re: New to the group,, saying hello~!`
« on: April 17, 2007, 12:06:56 AM »
Quote
i see no reason that this fuel issue should not be as thoroughly discussed, and i see no reason why you two guys should not be the
primary combatants if you will.

I just don't have the time to waste at that type of activity Bob.
fatty inevitably makes it personal veryquickly by making unsupportable claims about me. he will not debate the facts. And the facts have already been posted many times in several forums. Repeating the arguments serves no good purpose. And considering the current demands on my time..both professional and that of family I simply cannot devote time to responding to personal attacks.

14
Straight Vegetable Oil / Re: New to the group,, saying hello~!`
« on: April 16, 2007, 11:35:59 PM »
Quote
So Fatty and Dana put your differences aside and get along, you are after all both adults right?

From prior experience I had best just ignore the personal jabs that Fatty makes.
And since I will be unable to devote any time posting for several weeks any way the animosity may just die on its own by the time I return.

15
Straight Vegetable Oil / Re: New to the group,, saying hello~!`
« on: April 16, 2007, 10:54:38 PM »
Fattys axe grinding has led him to post more an mroe disinformation..especially about me. I do not make or sell injector line heater. I do buy and use them in large quantities though. The injector line heaters that Fatty developed were primitive and much less effective and safe than those being devolped by another person. He tested and changed his designe for optimal performace over a period of 1 1/2 years. He began with something very similar to Fattys basic design but chose to deveop it into a better product over that period. They were released about the same time and I chose and reccomended the better (IMO) injector line heaters. Fatty felt slighted and has been grinding his ax ever since.

Fatty does not put a high value on research and development and testing. I do.
Therefore when Fatty says "it works" it means something very different than when I do. My main goal in converting is to not shorten engine life AND use VO fuel. I take into consideration the great varaition  climate and WVO charactheristics that are common in North America. Fatty does not.  I make a living advising large consumers of diesel fuel on how to most effectively and safely convert to VO fuel.  They expect me to not take unneccesary chances with their trucks engines. They appreciate my caution. Aned that cation is the result of becoming as familiar with VO fuel use as possible. I have done this not only by aquiring and studdying all of the research avaialbe on the subject (which in itself cost several thousand dollars) but also by experimenting and helping others to experiment with VO fuel and VO fuel conversions.

In other words I have approached this in a scientific and professional manner. 
You will find that most professionals in any industry tend to be a bit more cuatious than those who do it on the hobbiest level. If you prefer information that does not incude any cautions ask a hobbiest.

And if you want only information from hobbiests then simply make it unpleasant for those who maek a living in the profession being discussed. 

Bob...I think you misunderstand my position.

Quote
on the one hand we seem to have those who think running veggie oil is just fine, and will cause no problems

on the other we have the camp that reports test results done with veggie oil as a fuel, and advising caution

I think that running veggie is "just fine" but you cannot expect it to work as an exact substitute for diesel. In other words if you just pour it in the fuel tank (assuming you live in a warm climate) it will act as a fuel for a diesel engine. But there will be short and long term consequences to ignoring the fact it is not diesel fuel. Those of us that have studied these consequences developed ways to combat them one by one. The short term consequence fixes were first and long term one of course took longer.  15 years ago there was a very small body of knowledge and all of the "pioneers" in VO fuel were essentially pouring in VO and once something bad happened trying researching who to avoid it ..adn trying again. Many..including Fattywagon seem to be at the point that we were at when we first began experimenting. And for some reason they resent when those of us that have been doing this for along time urge caution and then try to expalin why.  We do this so they do not have to take 5 or ten years to "discover" what we did 5 or 10 years ago.

But Fatty..and a few others do not appreciate any advice..especially that urging them to do more research before declaring quick success...and later discovering ..as we did that it was not as successful as originally thought. It is very hard to do long term research on diesel engines. One may invet hundreds of hours and thousands of $ in a test that takes years to cuminate. And often they are only successful in that they demonstrate one needs to try a different approach.

So...here is the deal. If you do not want me to provide ANYadvice just tell me..I will be happy to stop posting here. But if you do want me to present advice you must accept that it will be cautious advice that respects the fact that it is not your intent to ruin your engine...only run it on VO fuel.  You will also have to accept that I will challenge what I believe to be inaccurate information.




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