convert my car to run on vegetable oil

For some reason, I don’t think my starter’s turning over fast enough. Even with a jump, it wasn’t turning as expected. After cranking and cranking, it was getting super hot and the cables were making a horrible burning smell. If pinche VW hadn’t decided to put the clutch slave cylinder bracket where they did, I might have it out and fixed by now. But as it is, I got to that point and said “Ohhhhh yeah. I remember this from last time. How did I get it out?” and then went inside and cleaned up. :)

For some reason, the old reliable Vanagon wouldn’t start last time I tried to fire it up (when my diesel Jeep popped both of its turbo hoses on Valtentine’s day). I don’t know if it’s because it was cold or what. I was getting fuel and the motor was turning over just fine. In a diesel engine, that only leaves one two possible things. It was either too cold (glow plugs not working) or compression was too low. I’m hoping it was the former, because the latter is much more of a pain in the ass to fix.

Even if the motor’s toast, I’d say that I got a decent value out of it. I paid $450 for the motor back in 2003, and it’s been pretty reliable until now. It even made it out to Florida and back a couple of times.

When I bought my 1982 Vanagon Westfalia with the 1.6l diesel engine back in 2003, this was my original intent. But I got lazy, because I was able to buy biodiesel from the pump with a credit card. But now I’m trying to overcome that lazyness and convert to WVO. I have most of the parts I need. I just need a nice custom tank to fit under the rear seat.