Ideas needed re. Heating coolant before startup

[biobug]

I agree that using veggie is a gamble. From experience would say if it is done right with the proper engine it will work great. The problem is it is a dying novelty. There is no newer cars or trucks past 2005 that will adapt to wvo without the odds of major issues. There is also the problem of securing a constant supply of wvo. There are many people paying a dollar or more a gallon for it and that on top of the mess and cost of building a heated system and filtering makes it very questionable. I still do not pay for the oil but I do
plow the parking lot for nothing when it snows in exchange for it. I also now have to haul the grease trap water-grease and dispose of it for the Restaurant
or it will get mixed into the oil. I do not want to do it for many more years because it is hard work and heavy work. I am having back surgery next week (unrelated to wvo) and hoping to be back at it quickly. The bigger concern for me is actually the commitment of every 2 weeks picking it up. I intend to be at the Q next year and I will not be back quick enough to make them happy. Also if it snows, she will not be happy to pay for plowing if I am gone. As a result, my time for continuing this is slowly running down.
There are a lot of people down south that just dump the wvo in the main tank and go. Maybe temperatures will allow it somewhat but I just can't imagine that they are not damaging their engines. Old Mercedes 240d's
and 300d's may take the abuse for a while but not forever. I guess if they are cheap to start with and classified as a disposable car you may get the money out of them but they are running on borrowed time.
The reality is with federal and state regulations , it you want to do it "legally" as I have -DON"T DO IT !

[1derer]

Have you offered your collection point a barrel that would allow them to dump their grease as often as they liked with you not picking up until it's full? With a strainer on top to avoid the solids? And a lid over that to keep out the rain/snow? Of course then you'd probably tangle with a pump, but 120v works ok for me. (I haven't tried 12v.) (If you're deadset against pumps, you could still scoop out bucket fulls into hand carryable amounts.)

[1derer]

In the name of using vege during boondocking, I'm thinking it still might be worth cooking up some diesel/everything heater that could heat the coolant. Either as part of the bus or outside (If outside, hopefully small enough to haul in and out of the bus as needed).

[biobug]

For collection I do use 55 gallon open barrels with collection lids that strain out the big stuff. I also leave one plastic enclosed drum for the grease trap ****.I used to use a pump but I do have a lift gate on my truck . I have found that using a 5 gallon bucket is faster than a pump. I normally just roll and push the barrels onto the lift gate depending on how my back is doing.