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FAQ - Conversion

PPO is by nature a good fuel. However, it is more viscous and has a higher flash point than diesel fuel. This is great for frying but makes ignition more difficult; a pure liquid in its natural form, not typically in all its standard product usages.

We know of many diesel car owners that use (or have used) PPO without converting their car. Sooner or later this will cause problems, often suddenly. It can damage the injection pump, clog up injector nozzles, cause valve failure and destroy the inside of the engine when PPO and motor oil mix. With more than 30 years of research and development experience in this field ELSBETT strongly advices against PPO use without conversion.

The ELSBETT conversion system takes care of these (potential) problems with the following measures:

1. Temperature management,

2. Fuel line improvement,

3. Integration of additional fuel filtering,

4. Adjustment of electronic control functions,

5. Adjustment of injection technology,

6. Control and management functions.

Of course, in addition to this attention needs to be paid to oil quality (see DIN 51605 Quality Standard for rapeseed oil).

In principle there are “indirect injection” (D and TD) and “direct injection” engines (TDI, CDI). In the indirect systems fuel is injected into a “pre-chamber”, in direct systems fuel is injected directly into the cylinders. Direct injection systems have higher power output and efficiency with lower fuel consumption. Turbo chargers can be used in all types of engines to increase performance and efficiency.

Injection systems can be categorised as follows:

• Inline injection pumps; injection elements for each cylinder are lined up in a row. These pumps can be fully mechanically or electronically driven.
• Rotary injection pumps; one single injection element delivers fuel to all cylinders through a revolving system. Both mechanical and electronic versions exist.
• Unit Injector or Pump/Nozzle; each cylinder has its own injection pump, directly on the injection nozzle or connected to it with a short injection line, driven by the cam shaft. These systems also can be strictly mechanical or electronically managed.
• Common-Rail; fuel is put under high pressure with a pump in a (common) fuel line that connects all injection nozzles. Each nozzle has its own electronically driven fuel delivery system. These systems are strictly electronically managed.

All PPO conversion systems can be categorised into two basic principles; single-tank and two-tank systems. Both systems have been developed at ELSBETT and both offer the option to use, PPO, standard diesel fuel or a mixture of these. Both systems are constantly updated to match the latest diesel engine technology.

With single-tank systems fuel is delivered to the engine from one tank only. PPO can be used as the only fuel, “diesel start” nor “diesel flush” are needed. Key components of these conversions are injection nozzle and glow plug modifications. ELSBETT offers single-tank conversions for all pre-chamber diesel engines as well as for Volkswagen TDI engines. The development of single-tank systems is more expensive; these systems will therefore usually cost more.

Two-tank systems use diesel fuel from a second tank to power the vehicle while the engine is warming up. Once operation temperature has been reached the system will automatically switch to PPO from the main tank. Before the engine is turned off for long enough to cool off one switches back to diesel to flush the PPO out of the injection system. This system is used in trucks and vans as well as in the cars that cannot be converted with a single-tank system.

Only the diesel tank with the ELSBETT two-tank-system has to be mentioned.

ELSBETT single-tank systems are available (and recommended) for:

• Pre-Chamber diesel engines of all makes, except those with inline injection pumps or rotary injection pumps made by Lucas, CAV, Stanadyne, RotoDiesel and Delphi.
• TDI or Direct Injection diesel engines made by Volkswagen, some Volvo and European Ford with Bosch rotary injection pumps.

ELSBETT two-tank systems are available for:

• All other diesel engines, except those with inline injection pumps or rotary injection pumps made by Lucas, CAV, Stanadyne, RotoDiesel and Delphi.
• Newer engines, like those with Common-Rail and Unit Injector (”Pumpe/Düse”) systems.

Our two-tank systems are designed in such a way that they can be easily upgraded to a single-tank system, if so desired, once they become available for these particular vehicles.

In theory all diesel engines can be outfitted to run on vegetable oil. ELSBETT has the most experience and test mileage with Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, simply because these are the most popular diesel cars and the most frequently converted ones. But cars, vans and trucks of many other makes have been successfully converted, at this point at least 400 different vehicles.

With our standardised conversion sets we can cover just about any diesel vehicle; cars, vans, trucks and buses (both 12V and 24V power). We have also converted stationary generators and rail road diesel equipment. Our truck conversions can be used for conversion of Thermal Power Generators (CHP).

Two options: Buy the conversion set and do it yourself (instructions are included), or order the set and make an appointment with a service partner near to your location to have him install it for you.