Fitting into a mold hasn’t been Chris Haag’s way of life. The 23-year-old Clarkston High School graduate (2001) and Oakland University student walks and now drives to a different beat.
Haag, with the help of friend and co-worker Jake Horn, parts and supplies from www.greasecar.com and assistance from a diesel basics class at Oakland University, Haag became the proprietor of a car that can be run on bio-fuel. His 1999 Volkswagen Golf hatchback can get 40 mile per gallon using vegetable oil as its fuel source, the same mpg as when he uses diesel fuel.
A flip of a switch is all it takes for the longtime Independence Township resident to go from diesel, to start and warm the car, to the recycled oil. Haag has been collecting the oil from his employer, The Clarkston Union and its sister restaurant The Clarkston Caf?. From there, the self-asserted non-chemist runs the oil through his homemade refinery, made from a used water heater, which strains out waste from the oil, making it good enough to drive on.
After returning from an eye-opening trip to Alaska and Hawaii in 2005, Haag decided his next vehicle was going to be diesel, so he could convert it to a veggie oil burner.
‘I bought it and I was hesitant to (convert) because the equipment to make the conversion wasn’t as good and I was weary to do it on a newer car. But the technology got a little more sophisticated and it wasn’t such a big deal to do it on (the Golf),? he said.
Between the kit and the ‘refinery,? Haag said he paid about $1,000, the same savings he expects as a result of his transition. He doesn’t expect to single-handedly change everyone’s fuel consumption behavior.
‘That’s one of them, but that’s really not the solution to the whole environmental/energy/pollution problem at all, but it’s a step in the right direction. I can probably save a thousand dollars a year in fuel costs and that’s a bonus too.
‘As I go along, it costs me six dollars a month for filters.?
Haag isn’t worried about a shortage from his fuel sources, because for one reason, restaurants have to pay to have collection companies remove the waste grease.
‘Between the two places, I can probably get between 20 and 30 gallons a week, which is more than I need, but I’m stockpiling,? Haag said.
‘A few people have already asked me about converting their cars for them. A couple guys that work at The Union are trying to buy diesels right now.?
The scent of tortilla chips or French cuisine coming from the oil is actually a refreshing change for Haag.
‘It smells like whatever you put in it,? he said.
‘Diesel smells horrible, I’ll take tortilla chips over that any day. It’s not that bad. You only really notice it if you stick your face up to the exhaust pipe.?
In addition to attention on the news, Haag has become a near celebrity for his car, fielding conversation for and against his move.
‘Some people make fun of me and others almost thank me for doing it. Others tell me about how I’m going to wreck my car,? Haag said.
Like his car, Haag has customized his school schedule at OU to work around subject areas he likes. In May, Haag will get his degree in general studies, a combination of four minor degrees: economics, international management, communications and philosophy.
Haag spoke about using bio-diesel in his public speaking class, and after researching, came in contact with, Jim Leidel, an energy manager at OU. Chris attended a one-day seminar about how to make the bio-diesel fuel, long before vegetable oil passed through his engine. Only about 10 people went to the class, some came from as far as Minnesota, Haag said.
After graduation, a celebratory trip is in order. That’s not the case with Haag, who has another trip in mind.
‘Originally we talked about going to Alaska because the car was done and we thought it would be really cool to drive all the way up there on vegetable oil. Right now we’re talking about doing Habitat for Humanity in Costa Rica building houses,? Haag said.
Haag has already been to Alaska twice anyhow, most recently in 2005, on the trip that spurred his decision to switch to vegetable oil. The vacation was a bit unusual compared to how most people would take a trip.
Haag and a friend rode a train to Seattle, where they spent nearly a month in Seattle awaiting a fishing boat for a free ride to Alaska. After an unsuccessful try, Haag and his associate bought a round-trip ferry ticket.
Once arriving at his destination, Haag started walking and hiking. Another type of hiking helped Haag and his friend see much of the state.
‘We ended up hitchhiking all over southeastern Alaska and hanging out and doing whatever,? Haag said.
‘Pretty much everywhere we went out there, people gave us a place to stay.?
Chris noticed a similarity immediately with his newfound friends.
‘They’re all from Michigan and they’re all really nice,? he said.
‘It’s really laid back. You almost feel uncomfortable at first because people are being so nice to you.?
The trip left Haag with the goal of hiking at Denali National Park on a return visit after seeing Mt. McKinley.
From Alaska, Haag traveled to Hawaii and stayed with another friend for a month, which was a visit less about discovery and more about surfing.
More than three months and $800 later, Haag returned home and went back to OU.
While back in Michigan, Haag still enjoys rock climbing at Planet Rock in Pontiac and playing basketball, a lifelong passion of his.