vegetable oil as fuel

[oakranger]

I just read a article about vegetable oil as fuel and how back this has been used.  Turn out the Erwin Rommel used vegetable oil as fuel when his tank ran out.  Dose anybody know anything about this?

[Masherbrum]

It is true, he used it.   

[Angus]

Didn't hear this before, but bear in mind that the diesel engine is designed for vegetable oil. Actually the first diesel ran on peanut oil if I recall right.
I have a thread going on this, since I am using used frying oil for one of my tractors.
His tank(s) would have to have been running on diesel engines though, and it should really not have been a problem especially in N-Africa...

[Blooz]

German tanks had gasoline engines.

Russian tanks had diesel engines.

[Tango]

I believe the Germans used diesel.

[Lusche]

I believe the Germans used diesel.

Neg, Blooz is right.

[Tango]

Are you certain? I remember reading somewhere about the Panther using a diesel engine. Can't understand why they would use 2 different types of fuel.

 

[Masherbrum]

Germans used diesel as well and Rommel did use vegetable oil as a substitute in a pinch.

[Lusche]

Are you certain? I remember reading somewhere about the Panther using a diesel engine. Can't understand why they would use 2 different types of fuel.

 

Panther: Maybach HL230 P30 gasoline engine. The Tiger I used the same engine, different version, the P45. More info about this engine: http://www.alanhamby.com/maybach.shtml

Pz III and IV used the Maybach HL 120. Also a gasoline engine, and the most used German tank engine.

[Masherbrum]

Panzer IV - Maybach HL120 TRM V-12 diesel

Carro Armato M 13/40 - SPA 8 TMO40 diesel

These above two were utilized by Rommel, as previously stated.   I've looked at no less than 10 books that verify this post (even went downstairs to my "archive in rubbermaid bins").

[Lusche]

Could you maybe name those books claiming the 120 was a diesel?

[oakranger]

I am guessing that Rommel used veg oil in Afirca. 

[Angus]

If he was using veg oil, he was running a diesel engine. Dead simple. A gasoline engine will not run on diesel, not to mention veg oil which is very much tougher.

[Blooz]

You guys watch too many movies.

All German Maybach tank engines are PETROL (that's gasoline folks)

The only diesel engine the Germans used was an air cooled Tatra 103 V12 used in one type of armored car (SdKfz 234) later in the war. A few hundred were produced. Too late for Africa. Too late, period.

[Angus]

So the story is a myth.