It seems like a lot if interest has been stirred up by Clarence Lee's mention of a product called biodiesel and it's use by a modeler by the name of James Tasman. I've E-mailed this Tasman guy but he won't E-mail me back. I bought 2.5 gallons of the biodiesel and tried it in my PAW .60 diesel engine yesterday without much success. I did get it to kick the prop off once so I know combustion is possible, I want to try it on a warmer day because yesterday it was really cold here. Has anyone tried it or know someone who has? Thanks, Dave

Hi Hobbsy,

What is the mixture (ether,oil, and bio diesel) you were trying? I am very interested in this!

Also, I saw at the Home Depot a clear synthetic kerosene replacement fuel made by Exxon called Clear Light. I wonder if anyone out there has tried it for fuel? It should help with the smell problem as the sulphur content is next to zero.

Have fun!

Ray, Clarence Lee said there was no mention of ether in James Tasman's claims, so I tried it with only a little Lawnboy oil added for lube. It did fire and blow smoke rings then kicked the prop off, by this time I was nearly frozen as it was very cold here in Va. I suspect that because it was so cold I had the engine overcompressed. I'm going to try again on a warmer day, also I'm going to run the PAW, it's a .60, on RedMax diesel fuel to set the engine up again to have a base line. I'll keep you posted. Bob Davis has bought some and is going to see what he can do with it.

Biodiesel is a fuel made from recycled animal fats and oils, old restaurant grease (cooking oils) etc. I'd be very surprised if it would work in a cold model diesel engine though where the ether is needed to get ignition. It may work (and I'm just guessing) if the engine was started on normal fuel, allowed to warm up and then the fuel supply switched to the biodiesel.
This sort of system was once used in petrol tractors (when petrol was rationed) by starting on petrol, warming up the engine then switching over to kerosene.

you can do that with a model diesel today.start on model diesel fuel get it warmed up and switch over to #2 fuel and oil. It will run ratty but it will run and smoke and run and smoke and run......

Hi All,

I am also interested in biodiesel fuel use. There is some information available on the model aircraft use at this site.

http://www.veggievan.org/biodiesel/plane.html

Has anyone had any luck with this fuel since the weather has warmed up a bit?

Ed G.

I just read the info about the "veggieplane" on the abovementioned site. Great experiment. Where can I get some of this stuff? I'd love to try it in my Irvine Diesel 40. 5% Oil - think of the savings on castor costs!. Can anyone post a diesel fuel receipe using bio diesel as a base?

I too checked the website because I was intrigued about not using either. The website mentions ether content and I believe it says to check with your engine manufacturer.

Rex,

Maybe I missed the reference to either,I noted the % oil but not either.

Ed Goolsby

I just went to this site, and would also like to see more data. I find it hard to believe he is not using some sort of ignition starter such as ether in the blend. It looks as though the biodiesel is just a substitute for kerosene in the normal diesel fuel mixture. He is using very little oil which may mean that the biodiesel is "oilier" than kerosene. If so, it may actually be less efficient than a regular kero mix. More data, please.

I sent an email this AM to the web site requesting an update from them or James Tasma.

A previous post leads me to believe that we may not get a reply,but it's worth a shot!

Ed Goolsby

Thanks, GBZRACE4. Please advise when you have more information. Inquiring minds want to know! Dzl

: Sent email below 3-19-02. No response as of this date.

gbzrace4
Ed G


Subj: Veggie Wings Project
Date: 3/19/2002 8:30:51 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: Fly RC VA
To: [email protected]



Dear Sir:

Have there been any new postings for the Veggie Wings Project either by James Tasma or others.

I am interested in more information on this project. In conversation with others who share this interest, it has been stated that emails to James Tasma have produced no responses. Can you be of some assistance?

Sincerely,

Ed Goolsby

Working on a Biodiesel project too!

Similar results with trying to reach James Tasma, I suppose persistence will pay off eventually.

Davis Diesel head, Diesel fuel (to warm up the engine) should arrive in a couple of days.

Biodiesel now in transit from Hiperfuels.

Results should prove to be very interesting.

Hope to move up to much larger engine displacements if successful.

According to my present knowledge on the subject, it sounds like the earlier posts' engine starting problems are probably just due to the cold weather.

Will post again when I have some results of my own tests.

Read somewhere that the exhaust smells like french fries.

Nice to see that others have interest in this!

Good Luck to you all!


Joe B.
[email protected]

Try Dr Diesel for info. You diesel heads must get his book "Dr Diesels Diary". It is fabulous. Look on his website Dr Diesel
Personally I dont believe this fuel will work without Ether.

I attended one of his seminars at the Toledo Show (you have to saee one to believe it, it was great) and he mentioned Biodiesel. He did say the exhaust smelled like fries! I am alsmost sure that he said he still used ether in the mix though. Although the diesels will run without it when warm they require much more compression and run much hotter. I think engine life would suffer badly.