50,000 miles

[Boomer345J]

A couple of years ago I posted a couple of questions about blending WVO on this forum. The responses I got were "experts only on here", "come back when your learn something", "go ahead, blow up your engine", and my favorite "choose wisely or post pictures of the carnage".

I don't have any pictures of carnage so I thought I would post my financial picture as it relates to WVO and Jet A.

Blending, dewatering, filtering, and dispensing unit $250
Filters (I used up a bunch in the beginning) $300
Upgraded primary and secondary lift pumps $400
VP44 injection pump (they all go out at 100,000 or so) $950

50,000 miles / 18 mpg X 3.85 / gal = $10,694 not spent on fuel. Total savings of $8794...

So I guess it is possible to blend 70% WVO and 30% Jet A and make it cost effective.

[LSchulz]

Just curious - where in that 50k did your injection pump crap out?

[Boomer345J]

Around 120,000. 27,000 miles ago. The time frame was just about right for a VP44. My kids went out at the same mileage on straight diesel.

[LSchulz]

I converted my truck at 100k, first pump quit at 102k (it had been run a very long time prior with a dead lift pump, found that out when I first put gauges on it). My 2nd pump had an electrical failure with about 25k on it. If the 3rd one goes, I'm going to be tempted to P-pump it.

[DieselBurps]

Originally Posted by Boomer345J

Around 120,000. 27,000 miles ago. The time frame was just about right for a VP44. My kids went out at the same mileage on straight diesel.

I've heard a lot of different durations for the VP44, they do OK as long as fuel pressure is good. They die quickly when it isn't.

Just out of curiousity, what's your normal EGT range when you are driving? Driving style seems to have a huge effect with diesels, drive them like a granny and they carbon up even on diesel. Run them hard and a lot of folks running blends seem to do pretty well.

[Boomer345J]

Daily driver on the highway 100 miles round trip. 8000lb race trailer on the weekends. 2 tank system (IE start and stop on Jet A only) EGTs don't vary much between Jet A, WVO, and blended fuel. I do lose mpg and a little power on Jet A only. On blended fuel I don't notice a difference. My fuel pressure stays at 22 psi at highway cruise.

[Boomer345J]

EGTs 750 - 800 normal driving. 1000 - 1200 with the trailer in the flat lands.

[pquevill]

Originally Posted by Boomer345J

50,000 miles / 18 mpg X 3.85 / gal = $10,694 not spent on fuel. Total savings of $8794...

So I guess it is possible to blend 70% WVO and 30% Jet A and make it cost effective.

I'm confused, what is your cost of fuel to the 50k miles. Or are you getting JetA for free? Since you have refined your processing system, why not go full bore and heat the system to go 100% VO. Much more savings unless you are getting that JetA for free. Keep pressure on your VP-44 and monitor with fuel guage. DB is correct, many of us found to keep pressure at the 15-16 psi level. There are several reports out of damaged internal seals of psi over 20 on the VP-44. MWFI and Blue Chip reccomend regulators or the newer style of regulated fuel pumps.
Pat

[Boomer345J]

Yes, the Jet A is free! it's waste fuel from my job.

[pquevill]

Can't beat that one