I just saw this segment on cars that run on used vegetable oil. For probably less than $1000, you can convert a diesel engine car to run on used vegetable oil. This person had like chinese restaraunts she traveled to where she collects their used oil that would have otherwise been discarded in a land fill somewhere. She strains it to get the big lumps(left over sweet and sour batter droppings...lol) out, hauls it back to her garage, runs it through a fine mesh, and she has strained used vegetable oil she then stores in some big drums and regular gas cans. So, she bought this kit that you use to install an oil tank(hers was 15 gallons) in the trunk. A line then runs from the trunk to the front and hooks in feeding some kind of converter. The vegetable oil runs through copper tubing to keep it warm during cold months. When she starts her car(a Mercedes), she has to start it in diesel mode. She then can switch over, via an installed switch, to run off the used vegetable oil. In summer months, she can switch to vegetable oil in a few seconds and run off of that. In winter months, it can take up to 15 minutes before she can switch over to use the oil. So, she ended up having a 20 gallon diesel tank and a 15 gallon vegetable oil tank which gave her Mercedes a pretty good range(900+ miles). I don't know...I just think that is pretty cool. Running on free, used vegetable oil that would have otherwise been thrown out. I had never heard of that before. Believe it or not.
I think I remember seeing something like this as well, but it was a while back. I hardly remember anything about it. I can't remember where I saw it though. Sounds cool though. (there's my useful input for the day.)
Homer: Oh, I can't believe those goons muscled me out of my grease business. I've been muscled out of everything I've ever done. Including my muscle-for-hire business.
If these restaurants are just dumping the grease then they are breaking the law. The grease is supposed to be collected in a trap and a recycling company comes and gets the grease. The company then recycles the grease. Waste oil and grease is tested for pesticides and other contaminants. Material is placed in a settling tank to remove solids, heated in a vacuum to volatize impurities and is then sold to companies for use as animal feed additives, in soap production, oils, cosmetic and skin care products, and in composting. Ya, soap! So gross!
Well, the story specifically mentioned oil being discarded in landfills. Maybe they were wrong or there are just alot of people who aren't obeying the law.
