Nissan Ran On Frying Oil

• 28.09.2026, 14:13

The old Terrano produced an unexpected result.

An old Nissan Terrano produced an unexpected result in an alternative fuel experiment. The Russian workshop Garage 54 tested whether the diesel SUV could run normally on regular and used sunflower oil, according to Autoblog.

First, the Terrano was filled with fresh sunflower oil. The engine ran without any major issues, after which the experimenters decided to try an even cheaper option—oil that had previously been used to fry French fries and chicken.

The next day, a problem arose: due to the cold, the oil had thickened, and the engine had trouble starting. After warming up the glow plugs, the SUV set off for testing again.

Next, they compared fuel economy. On one liter of diesel, the Terrano traveled 10.7 km, while on used oil, it traveled 10 km. Thus, the difference was only 700 meters.

The authors of the experiment, however, warn that this method is primarily suitable for older diesel engines with mechanical injection. Modern engines are not designed for this type of fuel due to its high viscosity.

In addition, consistently running on used oil can accelerate wear on the fuel pump and injectors and lead to carbon buildup.