Running on cooking oil in Wales

Ever wondered how the Brits can afford to keep their cars fueled? Here's an amusing tale from the Guardian (hat tip to Mirabilis):

When staff at a Welsh supermarket first noticed dramatic increases in the sale of cooking oil, they thought the locals were doing a lot of frying. They weren't. They were filling up their cars with it - not surprising, as it's only 42p a litre. Trouble is, if you don't pay duty, it's illegal.

Diesel engines have been running on vegetable oils for over a century: in 1900, Dr Rudolph Diesel exhibited an engine running on peanut oil (the French government was then interested in developing peanut oil as an alternative, locally-produced fuel for its African colonies). Here is some more info before you try it in your own vehicle.

Posted by David on January 22, 2003 10:03 AM