Diesel distilled from used motor oil.

[TDI Ranger]

Since fuel prices are going crazy at the moment I decided to try an experiment. I did the Biodiesel thing years ago with great success, but when fuel prices went down I stopped. Now that is $5 a gallon again it's worth my time. I have a nearly unlimited supply of used motor oil. I cobbled a still together out of some junk I had around, just to see if I could break the gas and diesel from the oil.

The results are that it works. I was able to turn black used 25w40 into a mostly clear light oil with mostly the same viscosity and flammability as diesel. Out of 500ml in the reactor vessel I pulled roughly 200ml of diesel.
However.... The smell is so bad. I don't even know how to discribe it. It almost has the strength of skunk. It literally almost makes me sick. It is maybe like a sulfur, burning plastic, I don't even know what that lingers.
I just thought some of you would find this interesting. It's really too bad since I have so much of this oil. I just can't make the skunk diesel. It looks like I'll be going back to the Biodiesel route.

 

[DILLARD000]

Guess you're learning why Oil+Chemical Refineries stink so badly.
Refineries also tend to catch fire & blow up; so be careful.

 

[sgtsandman]

It might be better to go back to bio fuel. It's a known process and quantity of production for you. Save the used oil for some sort of oil burning device like a furnace.

 

[4x4prepper]

Are you infusing the oil with butane (the blue canister)?

 

[Fast Eddie]

Why does Foggy Mountain Breakdown come to mind here?

 

[09fx4guy]

Good lord, please go back to biofuel. I bet that a shop that has a waste oil furnace would pay you a nominal sum for the used motor oil. The damage you could do to yourself from a fire or explosion would greatly outweigh the benefits of cheaper diesel.

 

[JohnnyO]

@bobbywalter runs his diesel Ranger on all sorts of junk. I tagged him, he may be able to help.