filtering methods

[frank2]

i was testing out some filtering methods this week, comments invited 
we accumulate a fair bit of old engine oil at the track, and i thought i,de try it in my genny
bearing in mind ivans comments on contaminates, i thought about filtering it through sand and then cloth
1/2 full bucket of sand http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f47/TomEA/PICT0016-2.jpg
and a 6ft drainpipe with 2 old trouser legs ramrodded into the bottom
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f47/TomEA/PICT0017-1.jpg

frank

[guydewdney]

nice - but i wouldnt have rated trousers' micron rating.

I have heard of people using bog roll with the inner cardboard removed as a inside to outside filter.

[Ivan]

Jeans seem to be used quite frequently in biodiesel as a poor-man's micron filter, so I guess they do work. Not sure about simply ramming them into the pipe, as some fill find it's way around rather than through the material, but if you're not trying to take every last bit out, I guess that's not critical.

The waste oil recycling companies usually heat the WMO then force it through very fine filters. I've never seen any figures showing how effective it is.

Basically, the black colour of used oil is caused by particles, so I think you could compare colour and/or transparency as a method of comparing pre and post filtered oil. OK, I know it's not going to be transparent, but you could trickle some pre and post filtered oil down a sheet of glass, and see how much colour is in each. If you had some original unused oil too, you estimate how much you'd removed.

Bog roll's an interesting idea - wouldn't it break up though?

[stephen]

Frank,
Did you add the dry sand into the pipe then pour the oil over it and let it filter down through it?

Once the oil is clean you could run it through a fine mesh filter just to remove any sand that got by.
Do you have a pic of the finished product?

Stephen

[frank2]

steven

no, sand first over cloth, then cloth only (fleecy type leggings)
i,ll do what ivan said and post a pic of before and after on glass
the drainpipe seems to create a sort of head of pressure at the filter btw (maybe an alternative to pumping ?)

frank

[Flamethrower_]

How would coffee filters fair to filter the oil ?

[frank2]

my concern is that most filters have a very small surface area, so 1cc of lard debris (for example) when spread out evenly, would choke many inline filters

[stephen]

I use these they are about 32" long and last for ages.  I have filtered about 250ish lts of veg oil before i took them out and washed them. The first oil filtered was a bit rubbish though my supplier now has clean oil and i can use most of it.
The inside layer of fat amounted to 1/4 bucket full, so coffee filters would clog easily.
Washing is easy but has to be timed just right.  First clean out the scum, crud the wash in hot water and detergent.  remove as much as possible and when the wife is not looking or out for 1 hour pop it in the washing machine on a quick wash, they come up a treat!!
stick em on the rad to dry and there you go!

Hope she doesnt look on here now!!

Stephen

[Ivan]

There's enough to incriminate most of us regulars if our other wives/husbands log on and start reading!

[frank2]

list

did a pic of before and after filtering (engine oil)
spot the difference  coz i can,t
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f47/TomEA/PICT0023.jpg
going to try some chipfat tomorrow from our canteen, i love chipfat me 

frank

[billi]

hi


i conveted my pickup  with this company 

they have filter fleece for waste vegetable oil as well good prices ithink

http://www.monopoel.de/catalog/index.php?cPath=45&sort=products_sort_order&language=en&osCsid=0d12d450328da64d67dfe8e80fee5a64

[stephen]

Well I spent a little time a tinkerin tonight.  As per previous post I have cleaned out my veg oil tank but as the weather has been so cold  the veg oil has been almost like pudding.  So I got thinking about adding a pre heater to the veg oil just to get it up to a modest warm temp about 15 - 20C.  I also spend ages pouring out the filtered oil so whilst I was at it I add a coil into the filtered tank again just to keep it a bit warm and help it flow.  What I don’t want is to warm filter the veg so I will have to let it cool again just a bit.

Well here is the result and after 1hour the can on the left was nice and warm to the touch so I can now turn it off and let it will all settle much quicker.





I put a few kinks into the pipe just in the event of a leak it wont end up in my veg tank.

Stephen

[stephen]

Has anyone ever used one of these?
it looks like its mainly from the marine industry but looks useful for final polishing the wvo

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mr-Funnel-F8-8-Fuel-Filter_W0QQitemZ360034011050QQihZ023QQcategoryZ25644QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Stephen

[Chug]

A friend bought the Mr funnel and says it's quite good, he added some water to his wvo as a test and Mr funnel got 99% of it out.

One thing I recommend is settling your wvo for a few weeks before pouring off the clear oil from the top, and I always filter cold as heating the wvo melts any fats and tallow which will pass easily through the filter whilst liquid but can then go solid again in your fuel system when the temps drop.

I'm one of the poor men Ivan mentions above, although I use old sheets or t-shirts now and not jeans any more, but I've been doing it this way for over 3 years and my citroen ZX TD engine (ever even though it's now in my Peugeot 306) starts well and runs as sweet as it did at the start.

peace n grease
Chug

[stephen]

Thanks Chug
I may give Mr Funnel a go.

Stephen