This list is not a complete, but should give
you some idea of vehicles.
TDI models are
from the '90's and newer, anything not TDI is
typically pre '1990. Many from the '80's and older are still serving
people well for this conversion. Diesels last a very long time if taken care
of. It is not uncommon to have a well cared for diesel run well way into
the 300,000 mile range! Mercedes Benz has an Awsome reputation for well
built vehicles to include a rock solid Diesel Engine. Several models have made some changes over the years
to increase or decrease their desirability. Some diesel vehicles are better
than others, as are all vehicles. Any weakness in the vehicle will mirror
itself as a WVO vehicle. Typically, folks like to test the Grease 4 Fuel
concept and tend to "dabble" in
it. Rather than purchasing a New or nearly New vehicle they will look for
an older used vehicle for cheap that they can "experiment"
with. Hence, the most desirable cars currently tend to be older, less expensive
diesels that have been converted successfully over and over again. The older
Mercedes Benz is one of the most common choices to start with. They are very
nice cars, inexpensive very well built and take to Grease like a duck takes
to water. Older VW's are also very high on the desirable list - but not
nearly as well built as the Mercedes. The newer
diesel engines perform better in every aspect of motivation but are much
more expensive. Here is a link to a database
of vehicles that have been converted
and notes about them. (I don't think it gets updated very often, and
relies on YOU and ME to do the updating):
If the "Environmental Impact" of using Grease4Fuel
is of value to you, then further consider the thoughts that if you buy a new vehicle
the environmental energy cost to build that new vehicle is extremely high and adds to
the carbon energy required throughout that process.
However, if you buy an older used vehicle you
are extending the initial carbon energy consumption it took long ago. (think of all the energy & resources that goes
into building that new car - the whole process.) By using an older vehicle, and WVO you are aiding
the environment 4 fold. - 1. you are "recycling
waste vegetable oil - 2 you are removing a polluting petrochemical
from the roadways - 3 you are on the roadway but burning a non-evasive
fuel source - 4 you
are extending the value of an existing vehicle (recycling that vehicle),
making the energy it took to create it even more efficient.
Even if you purchased an older Diesel that you have to put
$2,-$4,000. dollars of repairs into you are getting much more value
for your dollars. Compare the cost of repairing a vehicle to that of a
new purchase and you will see huge dollar differences. (old car est cost
$2-4,000 repairs est. $2,500. // Newer car 1/2 as old est cost.
$4-10,000 and you hope there are no repairs to deal with. // New car est. cost
$12,000 (Trucks are even more expensive).
I bet nearly all diesel models
have been made to run on WVO at one time or another successfully. Every conversion
will have it's "unique" quirk
to work out, but that is the nature of the adventure. Nothing here should
have you hesitating at all. Simply, you just need to purchase the type of
vehicle you feel most comfortable with in regards to appearance, comfort,
and price. For some it will be a PickUP Truck, others a nice ole Benz will be very
satisfying.