By Tresa Erickson

Gas prices have risen dramatically in recent years, and it looks like the situation won’t be improving any time soon. To ease the pain, many consumers are looking at alternatives like hybrids and vehicles that run on vegetable oil. While the latter may not conjure up a pleasant image, it most certainly has helped drivers keep more money in their pocket.

Almost any vehicle that runs on diesel fuel can be converted to vegetable oil for about $1,000 to $3,000. Known affectionately as grease cars, these vehicles have two tanks, one for diesel fuel and one for vegetable oil. The vehicles must start and stop on diesel fuel and will run on vegetable oil after it has heated up.

Restaurants generally donate the vegetable oil required, but in order for drivers to use it, they must take great pain to filter it. Any old food particles and water must be eliminated from the oil. Generally, this involves letting the oil sit for several weeks, enabling the food particles and water to settle to the bottom. The oil is then heated and filtered. Filtering systems can be purchased or made from scratch.

In some places around the country, drivers can find vegetable oil at the pump. There are companies that actually manufacture the oil and sell it. The price per gallon can be high, but not nearly as high as regular gas. Drivers also don’t have to fill up their tanks as frequently. Depending upon the size of the vehicle, drivers can get as much as 200 miles per gallon on vegetable oil.

Although beneficial, the alternative technology does present some problems. Conversion systems are not readily available for vehicles that run on traditional fuel, and purchasing a diesel vehicle can be difficult in some areas of the country due to emissions laws. The odor put off by vegetable oil can be offensive, and collecting, hauling and storing it can be difficult. Because vehicles cannot switch over to vegetable oil until it has heated up, drivers who go short distances may find the system ineffective.

Vehicles that run on vegetable oil are not for everyone. Do your homework before you make the switch and ensure it will be worth your money. In most cases, the money saved in fuel costs over the years will more than make up for the money spent on conversion. Moreover, the emissions will be far less, helping the environment.