Vegetable oil as fuel, is it real? The answer is Yes! Way back in 1900 at the World’s Fair the Otto Company exhibited an engine that they had built to run on pure peanut oil. Even Rudolph Diesel himself researched the usage of vegetable oil as an alternative fuel in engines of his design. But wait! Before you go running down to the local store and purchase gallons upon gallons and go pouring into your car think twice because it doesn’t work quite that simply. Vegetable oil is thicker than standard oil or gasoline so it must be mixed or diluted with something so that is flows through properly.

The atomization process causes engine reliability which results in combustion and can lead to engine failure which does several things such as ends up costing you hundreds of dollars to fix the engine or a new car due to the ruining of an engine. There are numerous companies on the market that have tried to fix the problem by mixing it with diesel or kerosene. There are also companies that will gladly sell you an organic solvent to users if you are planning on mixing the oil with diesel.

The new and easiest way to use the two tank system is by placing diesel fuel in one side and the other with vegetable oil with the proper heating elements and proper combinations the two can be mixed together and therefore run your vehicle just like putting gas into your vehicle now.

The new engines are made to be able to use vegetable oil and a single tank which uses fuel injectors, glow plugs and other engine modifications to provide for burning a thicker fuel. Special made pre-heaters bring the fuel to the right temperature before it goes into the fuel system. These new single tank systems work as an “on the go” system and stop automatically when the conditions are right. » Read more: Vegetable Oil As Fuel

These simple science demonstrations use items commonly found in most kitchens. Kids can follow these directions to make a lava lamp, create a glitter globe or make their own rainbow in a jar. Each demonstration will show a different property of how how vegetable oil interacts with other substances such as salt and rubbing alcohol.

Lava Lamp

Many adults remember the Lava Lamps that were popular in the 60′s and 70′s. This demonstration does not require any heat, as the original lamps did, to create the movement of colored blobs. Use a flashlight to shine through the experiment to make it glow.

Items Needed:

Clear glass jar
Vegetable oil
Salt
Water
Food coloring
Measuring cup

Step 1: Pour three inches of water into the glass jar.

Step 2: Pour 1/3 cup of oil into the glass jar.

Step 3: Add a few drops of food coloring

Step 4: Shake salt onto the top of the oil for 5 seconds.

The oil will fall to the bottom in little blobs as the salt particles fall. When the salt dissolves the oil returns to the top of the glass. Add more salt to get the oil to keep falling. » Read more: Vegetable Oil Experiments for Kids