MJ,
What you heard about Rudolph diesel is not true, just as the statement that he made the engine to run on vegetable oil.
the following is and extract from the Foreword (by Rudolph diesel) to
DIESEL ENGINES
FOR
LAND AND MARINE WORK
By A. P. CHALKLEY
B.Sc. (LOND.), A.M. INST.C.E., A.I.E.E.
WITH AN INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER BY
D.R. RUDOLF DIESEL
Quote:
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... it is not yet generally known that it is possible to use animal and vegetable oils direct in Diesel motors. In 1900 a small Diesel engine was exhibited at the Paris exhibition by the Otto Company which, on the suggestion of the French Government, was run on Arachide oil, and operated so well that very few people were aware of the fact. The motor was built for ordinary oils, and without any modification was run on vegetable oil. I have recently repeated these experiments on a large scale with full success and entire confirmation of the results formerly obtained. The French Government had in mind the utilization of the large quantities of arachide or ground nuts available in the African colonies and easy to cultivate, for, by this means, the colonies can be provided with power and industries, without the necessity of importing coal or liquid fuel.
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