Convert my SHO to run on bio diesel?

[86si]

This has probably already been done but could someone point me in the right direction for some info on converting an SHO over to run on bio diesel? With gas prices being high I would like to get my SHO up in to the 35 mpg range in town and I think if I converted it over to run on bio diesel I could probably get around that. Plus I work at BK so I could make the fuel really cheap myself.

Second do you think it would be worth the trouble adding a turbo or just leaving it NA?

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[SeanMc]

Bone stock well maintained SHOs can and do see over 30mpg on the highway. If you aren't getting this, fix your car.

But other than that? Welcome to the forum. I'm not sure the SHO motor is the best platform to start with, you might want to go with something that started out as a diesel in the first place. A Mercedes 300D would be a good choice .

 

[Exitwound]

First you would need to find a diesel engine to install in the car. Preferably one with a turbo. Then all you would need is a S*#t ton of other stuff to complete the conversion. By the time it was all said and done you will have spent double what the car is worth and could buy a used jetta TDI.

 

[Exitwound]

Gas engines cannot be converted to diesel engine and last. Remember what happened with GM and the detroit engines in the 70's and 80'.

 

[Phoenix]

Bio diesel is only good for diesel engines.

Some people get 30's+ MPG with top shape SHOs on highway.

Turbo or N/A that depends on whats the application , how much HP you want , and how deep your wallet is. At that point , getting 10 MPG is supposed to be the least of your concerns.

 

[86si]

The best I've seen on the highway is 27 mpg driving the 75 mph speed limit. As far as seeing over 30 mpg I might see that on a down hill trip going 55 mph with the AC off and the windows up and then calculating a full tank the first time the nozzle clicks off at the gas pump when I had another 2-3 gallons in it when I started the trip. It's hard to believe the car isn't maintained when they were rated at 26 mpg bone stock from the factory.

I would like to see mid to upper 30's in town and mid 40's on the interstate.

Are the stock internals forged (rods, crank?)

Pistons probably won't matter since I'll need to go with a higher compression piston anyways. What is the stock compression ratio?

Another benefit would be not having to buy anymore plugs or wire$.

I believe the GM diesel setups from the late 70's-80's era just being high compression small blocks fitted with glow plugs was a myth. I think they actually did design a diesel motor, they just sucked.

 

[Exitwound]

They design a diesel motor around a gm small block for cost and time reduction as far as tooling in the manufacturing aspect. You would have to get different pistons, different heads, some way to inject fuel at 20,000 psi (cp3,HPOP) and then a turbo, if you do not have a turbo there is no way in **** the motor will be effecient enough to get the mileage you are looking for. The SHO motor runs at about 10:1 compression,, a diesel run from 18:1 compression and up, now you need a new stronger starter. It would be such a huge undertaking to try and convert a SHO motor to a diesel engine. You could find a donor diesel engine and make it work or buy a diesel jetta and save a TON of time, money, and frustration.

I'm not trying to discourage you but I honestly don't think you have really thought about everything needed to undertake that sort of job, money being the biggest factor. If you decide to go ahead and go fo it keep us all informed on how the conversion goes.

 

[86si]

I'll do some more research. Thanks

 

[Mad Celt]

I will say it can not be done.

Want a diesel? Buy one.

You'd need so much stuff it's insurmountable by anyone who would consider it. Anyone who "could" do it, wouldn't.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

Ive seen a solid 30mpg on every long road trip. One particular time was traveling thru southern Arizona in the summer. Cruise set at 85-90mph, and saw 32mpg


As for converting the SHO to run on diesel...... buy a diesel.

 

[shobote]

Think about it ; Even if it could be done, it is a simple matter of economics. You will be much further ahead financially by leaving it as it, is versus spending hundreds much less thousands of dollars trying to modify it to "save money". If you up the gas mileage by 5 mpg, that equates to an extra 80 miles per tankful; approximately 2.2 gallons or around 10 bucks per tankful saved at todays price. IF you drive 1000 miles per month, that would be around 2 tankfuls. So you would be saving $240 over the course of a year on fuel at todays price. Any expensive modifications you make come out of your pocket right now so you are in the hole. I do believe oil prices will fall and we have seen the last of the huge profits by the ripoff Oil companies; (particlularly when we get a new commander in chief and vp in place who do not have all their $ tied up in oil.)
I also get 30+ mpg on my '89

 

[Kens1992mtxSHO]

It would be more economical to sell the SHO and buy a diesel VW.

You'll never see 40mpg on the hwy in an SHO

 

[Troywakeling]

It would be cheaper to strip the SHO down to a rolling gas can you would probly get close to 40mpg.

If you converted it to diesel it would cost you thousands of dollars for what 5 more mpg? You can buy alot of gas for that even at $4 a gallon. I dont know about bio diesel but regular diesel is 80 cents more than gas so whats the point. Its like buying a hybrid over a conventional small car, theres like a 5k premium on them so it takes like 8-10 yrs to see any savings on gas

 

[zblackbeast]

I agree... I don't think it can be done... BTW, welcome to the forum.. Come check out the NE SHO forum under the SHO clubs category!! Were having a tech meet in august right outside Lincoln. You should come with some tune up parts.. Well be working on SHO's all day, all weekend. Well get you up to 30 MPG.. Plus, a CAI and a cat-back exhaust wouldn't hurt!!

 

[1995SHO9]

Man, by the time you convert it, you will have spent enought money to buy a newer used diesal car. Just save yourself the hassle and be happy with what you have or sell the sho and buy a diesal.

 

[jthod]

Yes, Welcome! Another Lincolnite!

http://www.shoforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=95

You could try and find a Chevy LUV or Izuzu Pup. NebraskaSHO just sold his.

 

[HotRodKid]

buy a tweecer

remove the cats

replace maf w/ something that doesnt max out

tune car for 16:1 under light load

enjoy your new mileage

and if u want cheaper fuel for your sho, make ethanol at home

 

[SHODOGG]

lol you can't convert a regular gas engine to biodiesel. This is about the dumbest thread I've ever seen. There's a reason its called bioDIESEL and not bioGAS.

 

[SHO GoDz 89]

the SHo motor just wasn't designed to handle the stresses that come with diesel engines. For one, you would need to get the heads made out of a stronger material, not aluminum. Get forged internals, injectors, tune, etc.

Besides all that, you don't even know if the bottom end can handle the stresses of diesel. The crank could snap in half, or you could find a problem in the already weak bearings.

I've worked on plenty of diesels to know...they are built completely different.

 

[NebraskaSHO]

Get an old Jetta TDI or a small pickup like what I just had. My truck got at best about 32mpg highway, but it was painfully slow.

No throttle starts was nice though as it had enough torque to get moving.