Hi ,Greetings to all
I have just bought a ex Trans Perth Hino RC520 41 seat bus to transport our family's gear to Hobart.

The bus has a 11 litre, 6 cylinder , normally aspirated , pre-chamber diesel engine. (DK-20) It is basically a big lazy simple diesel laying on its side. It was reconditioned (fully, inc injector pump ) buy the MTT just before it was sold in 1988 , and has done about 50,000 Km since . It is smooth and runs very well. It produces 195 kw at 2200rpm (governed ) and delivers 5km per litre --- loaded or empty no difference The bus weighs 9 ton

I have a main tank of 300 litres capacity.

I want to run it on WVO , via a purge 2 tank system system. The main tank for SVO or WVO and a small 100 litre diesel secondary tank. I was also going to use a 1000 litre IBC for oil storage in the bus

Has anyone done or heard of a similar project ???


The basis of this idea is that though the cost of shipping containers to Tassie is not too bad , but it is the cost of the side lifters thats the killer . 3 40' containers at $4000 each pus GST plus docs plus four lifts at a minimum of $400 each per container.

The cost of the bus plus 3 and half retun trips of 8000km at the full cost of regular diesel ---- the bus option is still cheaper of the two , and more fun !!! PLUS the bus is registered as a campervan and has a couple of bunks and a fridge so I can get it across Bass Strait on a discount . About $220 for it 12 meter length , nearly half the cost of our 4WD and trailer. Cheap !!


I would like to get some advice on the conversion , locating fuel filters , fuel heaters etc ----- the bus is 24 volt , though I do have 12 volt via a reducer at the dashboard for some instruments and radios.

I have done a fair bit of research before setting out on this track, but NOTHING beats talking to people who have had practical experience with it .

many thanks in anticipation

Mike

Perth ( at the moment )_ Hobart

PS Will send a couple of pics of the diesel engine later

mikeydee,
Your project is do-able and you sound like a practical person who should be able to deal with minor issues on the road.
I know of a person in WA, who set up a Merc Bus as a motor home and drove it around Australia on used cooking oil. He preferred solid oils due to the higher specific energy of them with respect to petroleum diesel and the greater availability of them at roadhouses.

While he has since sold the bus, he still operates 2 Mercedes 300TD cars on solid cooking oils.
Contact me by PM and I will pass on his contact details.

While a bus may seem to be a better option, there is the ease of loading and unloading to consider. For example, wardrobes would need to be manhandled up the bus steps, turned and moved along to the storage location. This may not be practical for larger items. Unloading would also have some extra difficulties. not trying to put you off, but you may not have considered these aspects.

Have Fun,

Tony