Greasecar sells complete conversion kits for diesel Volkswagen, Volvo, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Peugeot cars, and Ford, GM, Dodge, and Isuzu vans and trucks. I could not be more pleased with the results of converting my 2004 Jetta TDI Wagon to run on WVO. The kit supplies all necessary components, which upon installation revealed high quality and excellent fit and features. Written instructions and a professional installation CD made the project a complete success for this weekend mechanic.

The neat part about the kit is that it doesn’t compromise the car’s original diesel system. You start the car on diesel and, once up to temperature, you transition to WVO either manually or automatically. Prior to shutdown, a simple button on the onboard controller initiates back-flushing of the WVO lines with diesel fuel so they won’t get clogged with WVO when the car cools.

Once installed, the operation is incredibly simple. The true reward is driving a few hundred miles down the interstate and not seeing your fuel gauge move … wow!

The ad brought back kid-time memories for me, as I had dreamed of one day owning a Whizzer, the classic motorized bicycle. It was the only vehicle you could purchase new during World War II. Now I could make one!

The kit arrived from China in three weeks. I opened the box to find that every nut, bolt, washer, and other sundry parts were not packed in tidy little plastic bags but were loose and had obviously rolled around in the box during its journey to me. I had no idea if parts were missing, as there was no assembly manual either.

I went online and found an assembly manual PDF and an assembly video at Gas Bike (gasbike.net). (They also sell a variety of bike motor kits.) Then I picked up a cheap used mountain bike.

Now for the coup de grace — the engine and control mounting! Actually, the process went quite well. The kit uses a chain-driven sprocket that clamps to the rear wheel’s spokes. I found I was missing a part and readily located a replacement at a scooter shop.

Since the now-motorized bike has no starter, I had to get on, aim it downhill, let out the clutch, and hope it started. It did! A nice pop-pop-pop noise like a baby Harley came from the muffler. I turned it uphill and was amazed at the torque that came from that tiny engine.