• Question: my physics teacher runs his car on chip pan oil, do you think this is a good idea?

    Asked by Rutherfordium to Alan, Ciorsdaidh, Lauren, Leonie, Martin, Neil, Shuo on 6 Mar 2018.
    • Photo: Neil Keddie

      Neil Keddie answered on 6 Mar 2018:

      @Rutherfordium, I’m guessing your physics teacher converts the chip pan oil into biodiesel by a process called hydrolysis, which breaks down the oil into compounds called fatty acids, which are long hydrocarbon molecules, which can burn similarly to diesel. Given that the oil comes from plant sources, its actually quite a green fuel, compared to diesel derived from crude oil.

    • Photo: Martin McCoustra

      Martin McCoustra answered on 7 Mar 2018:

      I agree with Neil… this is a good idea. Biodiesel is an environmentally friendly fuel is some respects but it still suffers from the problem of all diesel fuel that it produces lots of soot. Diesel soot contains some of the most carcinogenic compounds known to man!

      I guess it’s also good for you since you can smell if his car has been around!

    • Photo: Alan McCue

      Alan McCue answered on 9 Mar 2018:

      It works, but its unlikely the car is designed to solely run on this fuel so he will need to keep cleaning certain engine parts to make sure it works well

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