Ameer Randolph
Waste Motor Oil (WMO) is an excellent fuel source with more chemical potential energy than diesel. To filter WMO for diesel fuel, you can use a variety of methods, including bag filters, centrifuges, and water-absorbing materials. The process typically involves filtering out chunks and impurities, adding gasoline to thin the oil, and settling or centrifuging to separate the usable oil from sludge. The clean WMO can then be mixed with diesel fuel in varying ratios, with some users reporting success with blends ranging from 33% to 100% WMO. It is important to experiment and find the right ratio for your vehicle, as well as to ensure proper filtration to avoid clogging fuel filters and other issues.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Filtering methods | Bag filters, centrifuges, water-absorbing socks, water separators |
| Filter size | 1-10 microns |
| Settling time | 1-3 days |
| Settling method | Add gasoline at 15-20% to waste oil |
| Mixing | Mix for two hours to ensure it is completely mixed |
| Water removal | Heat treatment, water-absorbing socks, water separators |
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What You'll Learn
Using a centrifuge
To use a centrifuge for filtering WMO, you will need a few key components:
- Centrifuge: This is the main device that will separate the solid contaminants from the WMO. Centrifuges come in different sizes and capacities, so choose one that suits your needs.
- Gear Pump: A gear pump is necessary to operate the centrifuge. It helps circulate the oil through the system.
- Drum: An open-top steel drum, typically with a capacity of 55 or 30 gallons, is used to hold the WMO during the filtration process.
- Drum Heater: A drum heater is required to thin the oil before filtration. Thinning the oil makes it easier to process and improves the overall efficiency of the centrifuge.
- Motor: A motor is needed to power the gear pump and centrifuge. The size of the motor will depend on the specific requirements of your setup.
Once you have assembled these components, the process of filtering WMO using a centrifuge can begin:
- Prepare the WMO: Before filtration, it is recommended to warm up the WMO or add a thinning agent such as rug or fuel oil to improve its flow characteristics. This step is especially important if you are working with cold or viscous WMO.
- Initial Filtration: Although not mandatory, many users recommend an initial filtration step before centrifugation. This can be done using a coarse filter or a sock filter to remove larger particles and "chunkies."
- Centrifugation: Feed the WMO into the centrifuge using the gear pump. The centrifuge will generate high centrifugal forces, causing the solid contaminants to separate from the oil. Multiple passes through the centrifuge may be necessary to completely remove all fine sediments.
- Dewatering (Optional): Centrifuges can also be used to dewater your oil, separating water through evaporation.
- Clean the Centrifuge: After processing, clean out the rotor in the centrifuge when it is full. Simply remove the solids that have accumulated inside.
By following these steps, you can effectively filter WMO using a centrifuge, creating a valuable fuel source for diesel engines while also reducing waste.
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Adding gasoline to waste oil
Firstly, it is important to understand the properties of the waste oil being used. Waste Motor Oil (WMO) has more chemical potential energy than diesel, and no modifications are required for use in certain engines. However, it is essential to properly process WMO to ensure it is suitable for fuel use. This can be done through filtering and separating processes, such as using a centrifuge to remove water, antifreeze, or other impurities.
When adding gasoline to waste oil, the ratio of gasoline to waste oil is crucial. A blend of 50% gasoline to waste oil is often mentioned as having similar properties to diesel fuel in terms of energy content, lubricity, specific gravity, and viscosity. However, some people have experimented with blends containing up to 90% gasoline, while others suggest lower percentages of gasoline, such as 15-20%, to thin out the mixture. It is important to note that the specific waste oil used and its properties will impact the ideal ratio.
Additionally, the quality of the gasoline being added is a factor to consider. Stale gasoline, which can be sourced for free or at a low cost, can be used, but it may require additional steps to remove water or emulsifiers. Blending stale gasoline with fresh gasoline, acetone, and waste vegetable oil (WVO) is a common practice to create WOBDF. However, it is important to ensure that the mixture does not contain lacquers or free carbon that can precipitate out when blending with WMO.
Overall, creating WOBDF by adding gasoline to waste oil requires careful experimentation and consideration of various factors. It is essential to understand the properties of the waste oil, the quality of gasoline, and the desired ratio of the blend. While WOBDF can provide cost savings and an alternative fuel source, it is important to approach the process with caution and refer to expert sources for specific guidance.
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Settling and draining
Settling
Settling is the process of allowing the WMO to separate into distinct layers. This is achieved by adding gasoline to the WMO, which reduces the settling time. The amount of gasoline added can vary, but a common ratio is 1 gallon of gasoline to every 10 gallons of WMO. It's important to note that in colder climates, you may need to increase the amount of gasoline, using a ratio of 1 gallon of gasoline to every 5 gallons of WMO. After adding the gasoline, the mixture should be allowed to settle for several days. Some sources recommend settling times ranging from 1 to 3 days, while others suggest longer periods of a few weeks or even a month. During this settling period, the usable oil will separate from the sludge, with the sludge settling at the bottom.
Draining
Once the settling process is complete, it's time to drain the mixture. There are two main approaches to draining:
- Draining off the sludge: This method involves removing the sludge that has settled at the bottom of the container. By pouring off the top layer, you collect the thin waste-oil-blend-diesel fuel, leaving the sludge behind.
- Pouring off the top layer: In this method, you carefully pour off the top layer of the mixture, which is the thin waste-oil-blend-diesel fuel. This leaves the sludge behind in the container.
It's important to note that the draining process should be done carefully to ensure that the layers do not mix back together. Additionally, some sources recommend filtering the drained mixture through bag filters or cloth to further refine the fuel before it is added to a vehicle's fuel tank.
Overall, settling and draining are essential steps in filtering WMO for diesel fuel. By following these steps, you can effectively separate the usable oil from the sludge and prepare the WMO for further processing or use in diesel engines.
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Filtering with bag filters
Firstly, add gasoline to any waste oil at a ratio of 15-20%. This step helps to decrease the settling time of the mixture. Allow this mixture to settle for 1-3 days. During this time, the sludge will separate and settle at the bottom, while the thin waste-oil-blend-diesel fuel will form at the top.
Next, drain off the sludge or pour off the top layer of the thin waste-oil-blend-diesel fuel. At this stage, you can filter the fuel through a 5-micron bag. However, some people opt for a more frugal approach, using bed sheets or rags as filters. It is important to note that seams in the cloth can have larger pores than the cloth itself, which may allow particles to pass through during the filtering process.
After filtering, you can pump the fuel through a 1-micron bag and into clean cans for trial runs in your vehicle. It is recommended to give the fuel a few days to run on each blend to observe any potential issues.
Some users have reported that using bag filters can lead to harder cold starts and increased smoke during startup and idling. These issues can be mitigated by switching to a different tank before shutting down the vehicle.
Overall, filtering with bag filters is a viable option for filtering WMO for diesel fuel. It is a simple and cost-effective method that can be carried out with primitive materials. However, it is important to be mindful of potential issues and adjust your process accordingly.
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Using a water separator
Water separators are an important component of filtering WMO for diesel fuel. Water separators are necessary because condensation in your diesel engine can contaminate your fuel. This is less of an issue for petrol cars, as diesel engines, unlike petrol engines, do not have vapour pressure to displace air. As the fuel tank heats up, the air expands and is forced out. When the tank cools down, humid air is sucked back in, and water condenses on the cooler tank walls. Water in your diesel fuel can cause several problems, including rust, microbial growth, and damage to the injection system.
Water separators work by using a filter with hydrophobic characteristics, meaning water cannot pass through. As water is denser than fuel, it collects at the bottom of the filter, making it easy to remove. To drain water from your diesel filter water separator, release the vent valve positioned at the top of the filter housing. If there isn't a valve, loosen the uppermost fuel pipe from the filter housing. Hold a jar under the drain plug or tap and loosen the plug or tap. Let the filter drain until clean diesel fuel flows out, then close the plug or tap and the vent valve.
Water-separating spin-on filters are fairly easy to obtain and make for a simple addition to help separate any residual water. It is recommended to run some additives every few months to kill algae. Water-separating spin-on filters can be used in conjunction with other filters, such as sock filters and household water filters, to ensure the cleanest possible fuel.
It is important to note that, even with a water separator, it is still necessary to drain and rinse the entire system yearly. Additionally, creating a recirculating pump filtering system using a pump, fuel filter heads, ball valves, and dual oil filters can further ensure the cleanliness of your fuel.
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Frequently asked questions
WMO stands for Waste Motor Oil.
There are several ways to filter WMO. One way is to use a centrifuge, which separates the usable oil from the sludge. The longer the oil sits in the centrifuge, the cleaner it will be. Another way is to add gasoline to the WMO to thin it out, and then let it settle for a few days before draining off the sludge.
The recommended ratio is 1 gallon of gasoline to 10 gallons of WMO. However, if you live in a colder climate, you may need to add up to 2 gallons of gasoline to the mix.
