This Old VW Diesel Is Crossing America On Used Cooking Oil

A pair of YouTubers, who go by Airborne Entertainment, are driving a 1981 VW Dasher across America, fuelled by used cooking oil. Fresh off a similar stunt that ended with their car dying somewhere near New York City, they decided the only logical follow-up was to try again, this time aiming for Florida. Their diesel weapon of choice had been sitting unused for over a decade before someone converted it to run on vegetable oil, though apparently it was never actually tested before they bought it.

The rules are simple and slightly unhinged. No cash allowed at the start, no fuel bought at any point, and every mile has to be earned by begging, scrapping, or scavenging oil straight from restaurant grease traps. It’s less a road trip and more a rolling experiment in how far goodwill and deep fryer runoff can take you.

Fast Food Fuel Stops

Their first day sets the tone. McDonald’s says no to the oil request, but a stranger hands them $40 after hearing about the mission, which briefly convinces them they’re rich. A Chinese restaurant dumpster turns out to be the real jackpot, yielding enough grease to filter on the move using a barrel rig strapped to the roof.

Along the way, they try scrapping metal off the highway shoulder for extra cash, which nets them a grand total of $20 for a hard afternoon’s work, proof that dignity and profitability rarely show up together on this trip. A scratch card gamble briefly makes them feel like millionaires before wiping out what little money they had left, right before the Dasher overheats on a hill, surprise, surprise. 

Running On Empty, Literally

What makes the journey oddly charming is how often strangers step in exactly when things look bleakest, whether it’s free burgers from a sympathetic manager or a jug of grease donated without much explanation. The car itself seems to be held together by stubbornness and duct tape logic. The best part? The diesel Dasher’s reverse gear appears to be functionally optional.

It is chaotic, unglamorous, and occasionally gross, but it captures something genuine about backroad America and the kindness that shows up when you’re visibly out of options. Whether the Dasher actually reaches Florida is besides the point. The fun is in watching it try.