It's when manufacturers started using high pressure systems (CDi, HDi etc) where the problems come in. In that case just cut it with diesel, red or kero.

Rudolph Diesel did invent the engine so farmers could run them off peanut oil.

Any bad press is surely just to scare people into using derv. I've even heard scare stories about using red damaging the engine.

[–] addie@feddit.uk 16 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Yeah, my grandad ran his car off of kerosene for about twenty years, no problem at all. The important thing is to live somewhere really cold where you legitimately burn a lot of fuel oil for heating, otherwise the taxman will become suspicious of all your purchases.

The usual problem with running your car off of cooking oil is not that it doesn't work - works just fine. The problem is that your car smells like a chip shop wherever you go, and you will get very stressed waiting at traffic lights in case someone notices. Maybe smoke a lot of weed in your car to cover up the aroma?

[–] Ajen@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

It isn't illegal to run a car off biodiesel, is it? I know (in the US) some diesel is sold for non-highway use and maybe kerosene is similar, but the issue is tax. If you make the fuel yourself the tax man doesn't get involved, just like beer and firearms. I think.

[–] addie@feddit.uk 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Illegal in the UK if you've not paid tax on it for road use. It would appear that you can make your own and then pay the tax on it - you can get a receipt for it if you 'accidentally' fill your car up with red diesel - but that's going to invite a lot of scrutiny, which is what you don't want when you're tax dodging.

[–] Ajen@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago

Interesting. I don't think you need to pay tax on homemade fuel in the US but I'm not entirely sure.

[–] lurch@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 day ago

My dad told me heating oil, you know for radiator ovens in the basement, can also work, but it has different taxation in my region (cheaper) and that's why it's forbidden and you shouldn't do it. I think they also add colors or so, so the cops can easily identify it.

[–] this_1_is_mine@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 day ago

Why would I be stressed about my car smelling like a chip shop all you're smelling is the restaurant a couple of blocks away and even if there isn't one nearby I'm just going to say it's a figment of your imagination you're hungry..... Maybe I'm hungry...