Mileage on SVO?

[powerstroke73L]

Just curious how various folks are doing in terms of fuel mileage on SVO. My commute to work is 42 miles each way and is a mix of stop and go/65 mph highway driving. I'd say I average 15-16 MPG. Between just driving to work and wherever I go on the weekends I guess I drive about 500 miles a week give or take. Of that, I expect to be burning SVO 85% of the time, which comes out to 425 miles a week. If all that holds and I'm getting 15 MPG on veggie I should be burning about 28 gallons a week or 112 gallons a month. I'm trying to get a solid idea so I know how much I need to be collecting from month to month.

How fast are most of you burning through your SVO? I ordered the 60 gallon tank, so I'm expecting to fill it one and a half times a month-does that sound realistic given my commute? Also, my fiancee and I were thinking about taking a trip visit her relatives in Lantana, Florida (from New Jersey) which is about 1200 miles. I was thinking that if I'm really getting 15 MPG (or even a little lower) we could fill the SVO tank, carry two 55 gallon drums of SVO in the bed, and fill the diesel tank, and get there and back on less than a full tank of diesel!

[kamaleon]

I burn about 30 - 40 gals per week on my f350 dwr.

As for mpg, it should be close as stock if not the same..

[skyskijason]

I definitely get worse mileage on VO. But its because my right foot is no longer connected to my wallet!

Seriously, it has been a looooong time since I was able to check my mpg's because I do not have the technology to measure the amount of VO or B100 I put in my truck. I'd love to know how much single-shot injectors and some of my other mods have helped.

FWIW, I hear folks say they get either the same or slightly less mpg's on VO. I do know a very built 12v Cummins that just dynoed a few ponies higher on VO than #2.

For the record, the standard response to 'Whats yer MPG's?' is 'WHO CARES, my fuel is (nearly) free!'.

[powerstroke73L]

For the record, the standard response to 'Whats yer MPG's?' is 'WHO CARES, my fuel is (nearly) free!'.

I hear ya. Again, I'm just curious solely because I need to know how much I'm going to need to feed this beast! Right now I've only got enough sources for about 60 gallons a month so I'm thinking I need to double that.

[Elvia]

on my 2000 f350 dually utility/service truck, I get about 12 mpg. plus.

[tanya]

On my 2001 F250 it is the same as running diesel. And on my last few trips it has been right at 15 but out here in never land we do not drive slow it is too far between towns. If I drove 60 it might just get better mileage.

Tanya

[icymudpuppy]

I get a little worse. I'm getting about 19mpg on VO, and 24 on diesel.

[powerg]

Veggie oil does not burn as hot as diesel so you should expect to get around 10% worse mileage on veggie. You shouldn't see any difference in power though. You will just get a little worse mileage.

[Clay]

I get a little worse. I'm getting about 19mpg on VO, and 24 on diesel.

Wow, thats a huge differnce... i have a tuner and open exhaust and i am getting 22-23 consistantly on vegi.
I don't know what i get on diesel now cause i refuse to burn it long enough to calculate it...lol.

[Clay]

If you have a 60 gallon source right now, thats a great start...270 bucks worth everytime you pick it up.

[powerstroke73L]

If you have a 60 gallon source right now, thats a great start...270 bucks worth everytime you pick it up.

I've actually got a bunch of little sources which I think is the best way to survive these days. In my area any restaurant that puts out a large amount of oil a week (more than 10-15 gallons) has a contract and doesn't want to switch. However, there are lots of pizza places, bars, delis, etc...that have one fryer that may only get changed every two weeks. I find that many of these guys either find creative ways to get rid of oil (giving it to local farms to mix with feed, dumping it in the town's waste motor oil tank, etc...), or call someone once they have a couple of cubees sitting around for a one time pickup. They tend to be the most receptive when you show up with 5 gallon buckets and the promise that you'll pick up the same time week after week. It's a little more legwork but its worth it I think.

[Clay]

I've actually got a bunch of little sources which I think is the best way to survive these days. In my area any restaurant that puts out a large amount of oil a week (more than 10-15 gallons) has a contract and doesn't want to switch. However, there are lots of pizza places, bars, delis, etc...that have one fryer that may only get changed every two weeks. I find that many of these guys either find creative ways to get rid of oil (giving it to local farms to mix with feed, dumping it in the town's waste motor oil tank, etc...), or call someone once they have a couple of cubees sitting around for a one time pickup. They tend to be the most receptive when you show up with 5 gallon buckets and the promise that you'll pick up the same time week after week. It's a little more legwork but its worth it I think.

i agree...

[greasyX]

svo-wvo-uco MPG

17-18.5 around town,19-21.5ish highway, o mpg idling at mall so my boy can watch TV,while mama shops.As for snake oil additives I only use lucas,and stanadyne fuel and oil treatments.If you keep these trucks under 2000 rpms will give you better results even if you have a tuner,trust me I know its hard to do,nothing sounds better then a spooled up turbo...........grease out

[skyskijason]

o mpg idling at mall so my boy can watch TV,while mama shops.

Beware of extended idling ESPECIALLY on VO. Alot of folks notice their exhaust smoking or blowing out a big puff of smoke on take-off after idling for abit. My theory is the combustion temps get real low at idle (I see pre-turbo EGT's as low as 250*) and you don't get a good burn on VO. Also, in slow driving and stop and go city traffic I used to see VO temps drop as much as 50*.

If I'm gonna idle, I use high-idle (1100 rpm's). I also added an aux. coolant pump and now my VO temps barely drop at all, even in cooold weather.

[powerstroke73L]

I also added an aux. coolant pump and now my VO temps barely drop at all, even in cooold weather.

Care to share how you did that?