Veg Oil Conversion Diary

[mikeonb4c]

Fantastic TGP - I envy you. If insurance / type approval issues could be solved I'd be tempted by your installment - it looks very neat. Just need a suitable location for the diesel tank (I'd want a largish one I think in case of high % of short/cold runs) that doesn't invade the car interior. have you had any more thoughts on that one for yours?

Well done again - fantastic bit of work.

Mike

[The Great Pretender]

Mike the diesel tank is where it always was. I have fitted two 25lt tanks in the Bongo for veg oil. I have removed the rear seat and intend making a kitchen unit for the rear that the tanks will fit in.

This is how I converted a plastic container (£9.00 in a builders merchant).



A step drill was used to cut a hole for a tank connector.



The connector was threaded into position using welding wire.

This is the connector fitted.

[The Great Pretender]

Contacted insurance company today, told them I was an engineer doing a prototype veg conversion. Reply, no problem.

[bigdaddycain]

I'm liking a LOT...You really have thought this through, it's as simple an installation as possible,with the minimum of fussy gadgets to maximize the reliability, and longevity of the system.

You have certainly convinced me that the way forward is to keep the diesel tank as a diesel tank,that's what the tank was originally designed for, and the associated fuel lines too,its safer to have the "real fuel" outside the bongo (as it were),with the veg oil in the boot area. I would imagine its gonna be a damn sight easier to tip a couple of 20 litre drums of veg into the boot tanks,than in the diesel tank too.... Great effort...thumbs up here!

[The Great Pretender]

Thanks BDC producing a system that is simple is what engineering is (should be) all about.
I think that a problem I have is in not realising some people struggle to understand what I think is simple. And by that I mean everyone has an area that they understand and maybe fail to comunicate well to others.

One area that im struggling with is where and how I design my camper unit. And I blame that on the Bongo, why is it so bloody versatile and I have seen so many good conversions it is getting to be yes but no but yes.
My brain hurts.

[bigdaddycain]

One area that im struggling with is where and how I design my camper unit. And I blame that on the Bongo, why is it so bloody versatile and I have seen so many good conversions it is getting to be yes but no but yes.
My brain hurts.

Yep, i know exactly what you mean,the problem there lies with just TOO much choice in options,my brain was aching when it actually came down to deciding the why's and wherefore's on the little home-made conversion i had done...I'd be really worried if i'd saved 5k or so, to have my bongo properly converted...just too many options! (i'd end up buying 6 or 7 bongo's, and have a conversion of each type! )

[ULRICH]

Anyone tried one of these? Selling on Ebay UK for £95.00 but on Ebay Germany they can be had for around 60 Euro plus carraige. Plus the guy has sold over 3000 units with 100% feedback.

Eintanksystem VECAR Umrüstanlage 12 V PÖL Pflanzenöl

Log on to Ebay and go to German section, then enter the above.

[The Great Pretender]

Time for an update. System works great, if I go to the motorway the Bongo hasn't got to 3rd gear but switching to veg is ok. Low temp is not a problem for veg oil as long as the Bongo is reving. Even when hot if left standing in traffic for a short while there is an unevenness in the tickover. This could be down to the atomisation of my injectors the need to advance the timing or both or a need to switch back to diesel. If im standing in traffic I switch back to diesel if im going to be stationary longer than a minute or so.