veggie oil conversion

[Rosie]

Has anyone here converted their diesel series to use veggie oil?
What are the fuel conversion possibilities with either a diesel or petrol in the series LR?
Also, how do you all justify using a low miles per gallon vehicle, if you use the series on a daily basis?

[graniterover]

Also, how do you all justify using a low miles per gallon vehicle, if you use the series on a daily basis?

Justify what, to whom?

[greenmeanie]

Simply really,
Given an designed lifeaspan of about 10 years my IIA has outlasted 3.5 normal vehicles with the resulting reduction in polution from manufacturing those vehicles.

Fuel consumption is only one aspect of the environmental impact of a vehicle. On the cradle to grave scale of environmental impact the Prius, for instance, only comes in about 46th of current production cars IIRC. Those battery packs are nasty to manucature and dispose of.

Gregor

[JayGoss]

Also, how do you all justify using a low miles per gallon vehicle, if you use the series on a daily basis?

Ok I'll bite. Inexpensive (relatively), reliable but easy to fix/diagnose problems when they do occur, cool as hell and above all fun to drive! Some people may not have the $ to spring for a new hybrid- but they can afford the extra $10/week in gas and some people may not be as concerned for the environment as others...who knows? It's a complex issue you bring up- and I'm sure people are going to have their opinions. I'm glad you mention the new vehicle manufacturing pollution vs. old vehicle recycling argument as it's one that doesn't get as much press as mpg's. I don't have a lot to offer with regard to experience with veg oil conversions- but keep searching as it has been done; I've heard of more than one Series running on veg. In the meantime if you can afford it fill your xfer case and diffs with synthetic oil, fit fwh's and an OD- that should give you a few more mpg's if it's an issue of concern and the veggie oil conversion doesn't pan out.

[Rosie]

Justify what, to whom?

well... justify to self.....spending more dollars from your own pocket, enriching the oil companies, supporting terrorism by buying Arab gasoline.....

[Rosie]

In the meantime if you can afford it fill your xfer case and diffs with synthetic oil, fit fwh's and an OD- that should give you a few more mpg's if it's an issue of concern.

I'll ask you more about this when I get my series!
Until then, I have been talking with a guy who is selling a 1960, and says he did something with the differentials instead of using an overdrive....don't remember what he said, but wondering if that makes sense...is there something you can do with the drive shaft to give the vehicle more power, rather than using overdrive, and if so, is it preferable?
Thanks!

[JayGoss]

Well there are a few things you can do to get better road speed and lower rpm's...but with a diesel LR (I'm assuming yours is diesel as you're talking about a veg oil conversion) I'm afraid that your Rover wouldn't be able to get out of its' own way! Here's what you may have heard of:

-fitting Range Rover diffs (converts from 4.7:1 to 3.54:1 ratio- I think)
-fitting High ratio xfer case (RN sells it- I think it's made by Ashcroft)
-OD (but you knew about this one)
-FWH's (make front wheels "freewheel", decreasing friction in driveline, saving gas and increasing power)

The diff swapout and xfer case change would make a diesel LR such a slug that I would imagine you'd have to flog the gas pedal to get her moving...so much so that you may even waste fuel and your mpg's might go down! The OD is a nice option because you'll have more options for the appropriate gear- once you're on the highway or a nice stretch of backroads you can snick in the OD and lower your rpms.

[greenmeanie]

Says he did something with the differentials instead of using an overdrive....don't remember what he said, but wondering if that makes sense...is there something you can do with the drive shaft to give the vehicle more power, rather than using overdrive, and if so, is it preferable?
Thanks!

You can swap differnetial ratios. The common one would be to replace the 4.70 series diff with a 3.54 from a RR or Dicso. There are a lot of drawbacks to this:
1. The diff ratio affects high and low ration making your off road gearing less effective.
2. A series engine and especially a diesel just doesn't have enough poke to push around 3.54s on anything other than very flat land. 4.70 diffs and overdrive are considered to give the best set up.

Cheers
Gregor

[greenmeanie]

well... justify to self.....spending more dollars from your own pocket, enriching the oil companies, supporting terrorism by buying Arab gasoline.....

Oh brother. If that's what concerns you buy a bicycle instead. It's zero emissions and your dollars won't be going to the evil bogeyman.

Several things you can do to help:
- Plan your trips to achieve as much as possible in the minimum distance. i.e. do the shopping on the way to work etc.
- Don't drive anywhere unless you have to. No frivolous trips to enjoy driving for the hell of it.
- Use public transport or ride your bike as much as possible.
- Overall reduce your consumption of goods be it groceries, home projects or heating your home. All that stuff has to travel and that consumes oil.

I don't like paying $4 a gallon for fuel either but I have very little sympathy for that arguement.

Cheers
Gregor

[Rosie]

the differential thing vs. the overdrive was for a petrol engine.

[scott]

well... justify to self.....spending more dollars from your own pocket, enriching the oil companies, supporting terrorism by buying Arab gasoline.....

my commutes is only 15 miles round trip. i've no monthly car payment. my insurance isn't very high, no expensive mechanic's bills, and if where i have to go is less than a couple of miles i walk. the weekend drives are fun and i don't mind paying for fun. and working on my series is theraputic so no costly therapist.

as for supporting terrorist and oil rich middle eastern kindoms, well i mess with them in other ways.

[greenmeanie]

the differential thing vs. the overdrive was for a petrol engine.

It still won't push it. A stock series petrol has between 70 and 80hp IIRC and the peak torque is down around 1900rpm. There is stuff you can do to help the engine but it is never going to be a powerhouse.

Ask about the engine and see if it is still original. If not you'll have opened a whole new can of worms to consider.

Cheers
Gregor

[Rineheitzgabot]

Enriching oil companies?

You better stop buying Coke and Pepsi, because they made much, much more money last year than the Eeevill oil companies.

I apologize. But I cannot tolerate the bashing of an industry, anymore, that: 1) If you have a 401k, odds are, you probably have been benefitting from the gains of this industry for years (because you have invested and don't know it), and 2) Many, many other industries make much higher margins, and pay much less in taxes than the oil industry. These guys get the hell beat out of them, and the media STILL hates them.

Rosie, I am not picking on you (and believe it or not, I don't work for an oil company), and I apologize for using this forum as a veritable soap box (if you researched, you would note than any other forum I have ever visited, has never seen me be this way), and for seeming offensive (the truth be it--DEFENSIVE). Maybe you don't have a 401k, or any investments; if this is the case, then more power to ya'. I just get so sick of the class-envy, global warming thing, used to better a cause (which usually ends up being someone's pocketbook, i.e., Mister Carbon-Footprint, himself, Al Gore, and his... Nevermind.

The terrorism thing? I agree. However, if you just hang tight, with all the hybrids out there, the demand for fossil fuels will eventually drop, thus, causing the price of fossil fuels to follow suit. Then, you can deliver that delicious milk you produce, and keep your costs, down, you wonderful capitalist, you!!

[Rosie]

Enriching oil companies?

Coke and Pepsi

never!!
just wish we could get to the air cars as soon as possible. Until then, an old land rover will do! I'd love to get an car that runs on air!!

[Eric W S]

well... justify to self.....spending more dollars from your own pocket, enriching the oil companies, supporting terrorism by buying Arab gasoline.....

How about we keep it to series rovers?

We import only approx. 10-12% of our oil from the Middle East (based on current imports from known global reserves as reported Q2 2008). We import far more Canadian oil (approx. 25%).

Oil isn't refined before transportation. Oil in imported as crude and then refined to gasoline at the destination. Ergo there is no such thing as "Arab" gas that is used to support terror.

I am all for enriching companies. I believe in the free market and the laws of economics and have invested accordingly.

If you want to talk about big oil, your decreasing discretionary income, and terrorism, find a more appropriate bbs to post on.