jeff56
04-27-2006, 03:53 AM
http://www.nbc5i.com/news/9016494/detail.html
PLANO, Texas -- From riding public transportation to walking, many North Texas residents are looking for alternative ways to ease the pain at the pump. But how about running your car on cooking oil?
When Brian Maupin starts up his vehicle, it sounds like a pickup truck but smells like french fries.
Maupin's truck no longer runs on diesel fuel, but on the used cooking oil from the restaurant Curly's Hamburgers.
"Diesel and sulphur, it stinks, you know. And at least when it goes in my windows, I'm enjoying the smell now."
"That's the sound of saving money," employee Luan Vraniqi said while pouring out canola-corn oil.
Employees save the used oil for Maupin to pick up every week.
"I thought it would be nice to give back to one of my good customers," employee Luan Vraniqi said.
Maupin said he is saving $200 a month, and will use that savings to pay for the $3,500 top of the line converter kit and 100 gallon fuel tank that he installed himself in December.
The converter filters and heats the oil to the consistency of diesel fuel.
Brian still has to buy diesel fuel to start and stop the engine, but a tank now lasts 2,200 miles.
Copyright 2006 by nbc5i.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
PLANO, Texas -- From riding public transportation to walking, many North Texas residents are looking for alternative ways to ease the pain at the pump. But how about running your car on cooking oil?
When Brian Maupin starts up his vehicle, it sounds like a pickup truck but smells like french fries.
Maupin's truck no longer runs on diesel fuel, but on the used cooking oil from the restaurant Curly's Hamburgers.
"Diesel and sulphur, it stinks, you know. And at least when it goes in my windows, I'm enjoying the smell now."
"That's the sound of saving money," employee Luan Vraniqi said while pouring out canola-corn oil.
Employees save the used oil for Maupin to pick up every week.
"I thought it would be nice to give back to one of my good customers," employee Luan Vraniqi said.
Maupin said he is saving $200 a month, and will use that savings to pay for the $3,500 top of the line converter kit and 100 gallon fuel tank that he installed himself in December.
The converter filters and heats the oil to the consistency of diesel fuel.
Brian still has to buy diesel fuel to start and stop the engine, but a tank now lasts 2,200 miles.
Copyright 2006 by nbc5i.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.