Motorists warned over ‘hooch’ homemade biodiesel which could destroy their engines

Drivers of diesel cars are being warned about the dangers of illegal ‘hooch’ biodiesel, which could result in prosecution and damage their engines.

The fuel is reportedly being made by criminal gangs, who steal frying oil from fish and chip or kebab shops before refining it.

The resulting fuel is not safe to use in modern diesel engines, and can clog up vital components such as fuel injectors and emission control devices.

The fuel is also being sold on the black market so the criminals can avoid paying fuel duty tax on it. It’s been christened ‘hooch’ in homage to the illicit alcoholic drinks of Prohibition-era America.

A spokesman for Hertfordshire Police told the Daily Express it was responding to an increasing number of reports of gangs stealing oil from takeaway restaurants.

“The problem is, a lot of places leave their back doors open because it gets hot in the kitchen,” he said.

Fish and chip shops are reportedly the biggest targets.

Though properly-sourced biodiesel is perfectly safe to use, it cannot be used in great quantities in a modern diesel engine as it is not suited to the high-tech fuel injection and emission-control systems they are equipped with.

Older diesel cars are the best candidates, able to run on mostly biodiesel with few ill effects.

Equipment to convert frying oil to biodiesel costs around £1,200 to purchase, and could be seen as an attractive alternative to paying high prices at the pumps.

Under guidelines set out in law, motorists can purchase and refine up to 2,500 litres of oil into biodiesel each year for personal usage. Any amount over this requires the owner to register with HM Revenue and Customs and pay an excise duty.