You cannot run straight vegetable oil in your diesel powered vehicle for many reasons. First, the EPA does not recognize vegetable oil as a "fuel grade" product. Second, the flash point is different, it can congeal in your fuel pump, injectors, and fuel lines. Third, it can eat up those fine little rubber seals that help hold all that fuel pressure together.
Vegetable oil must be "processed" into "Biodiesel" which does several things that improve the performance of pure vegetable oil. It also allows it to be blended with regular diesel. It needs to be washed, tested, and processed to become a practical Biosiesel fuel that is safe for your equipment. You can find "real" quality research about making, buying, or using Biodiesel by clicking here.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
You cannot run straight vegetable oil in your diesel powered vehicle for many reasons. First, the EPA does not recognize vegetable oil as a "fuel grade" product. Second, the flash point is different, it can congeal in your fuel pump, injectors, and fuel lines. Third, it can eat up those fine little rubber seals that help hold all that fuel pressure together.
vegetable oil must be "processed" into "Biodiesel" which does several things that improve the performance of pure vegetable oil. It also allows it to be blended with regular diesel. It needs to be washed, tested, and processed to become a practical Biosiesel fuel that is safe for your equipment. You can find "real" quality research about making, buying, or using Biodiesel by clicking here.
vegetable oil must be "processed" into "Biodiesel" which does several things that improve the performance of pure vegetable oil. It also allows it to be blended with regular diesel. It needs to be washed, tested, and processed to become a practical Biosiesel fuel that is safe for your equipment. You can find "real" quality research about making, buying, or using Biodiesel by clicking here.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Buying Biodiesel
The National Biodiesel Board is a good source to find a quality Biodiesel product. Biodiesel producers listed there can assure a quality product. Home made Biodiesel can have a volitile flashpoint. It may not have been tested or properly cleaned. You do not want your engine to become a lab experiment. Other considerations are components like seals, ports, and other contact points inside your engine. Look for producers who fall under the BQ-9000 Biodiesel Quality Program. The National Diesel Board rates these producers and approves their certification.
Pure Biodiesel is referred to as B100 or "neat" Biodiesel. Blends of Biodiesel and petro-chemical diesel are known as Bxx. The xx is the percentage of Biodiesel product to petro-diesel. Or, B20 means 20% Biodiesel blended into regular diesel. You will learn more on Biodiesel by simply clicking here. http://tinyurl.com/p9gqw
Pure Biodiesel is referred to as B100 or "neat" Biodiesel. Blends of Biodiesel and petro-chemical diesel are known as Bxx. The xx is the percentage of Biodiesel product to petro-diesel. Or, B20 means 20% Biodiesel blended into regular diesel. You will learn more on Biodiesel by simply clicking here. http://tinyurl.com/p9gqw
Monday, April 24, 2006
I just returned from a truck show in Toronto, and wanted to see information on Biodiesel. There are some commercial producers but not hardly enough. Not as much information as I expected to see on Biodiesel. You can find a lot of information here at http://tinyurl.com/p9gqw. You can learn a lot about Biodiesel. Pros and cons of Biodiesel. Environmental benefits. The basic properties of Biodiesel. Energy, performance and efficiency. How to safely use Biodiesel. OME warranties and use. Biodiesel compatible engines and where to buy Biodiesel.
We were hauling some horses to Regina Canada a few years back, we fueled up at a station in Nebraska. My first experience with Biodiesel was interesting. As trucks pulled in and out the truckstop, the exhaust smelled like burned burnt peanuts. Even though it was a blend, it really didn't smell all that bad. At that time, we weren't even considering what the effect Biodiesel may have had on our equipment. We never even considered OME Biodiesel requirements. We just assumed all would be OK. Well, it was. The big turbocharged Powerstroke droned along like normal.
I also noticed a couple hydrogen producing systems at the show that say you can save as much as 20% on diesel fuel. I think if it is possible to blend or make Biodiesel, then add some of these new technologies, we can beat these high fuel cost problems.
I am in the transportation industry and talk to truckers and trucking companies all day. Diesel fuel prices are all consuming these days with no end in sight. I can't seem to figure out why gasoline used to be high and diesel fuel was always less expensive because the refining process was less. I can vouch for that because if you were raised on a farm as I was, and spent any time at all cleaning the fuel system in a diesel tractor, you know all about all the silt that settles in the settling bowl. For all intents and purposes it is mud.
We just need to spool up making good clean home made Biodiesel. More soon.
We were hauling some horses to Regina Canada a few years back, we fueled up at a station in Nebraska. My first experience with Biodiesel was interesting. As trucks pulled in and out the truckstop, the exhaust smelled like burned burnt peanuts. Even though it was a blend, it really didn't smell all that bad. At that time, we weren't even considering what the effect Biodiesel may have had on our equipment. We never even considered OME Biodiesel requirements. We just assumed all would be OK. Well, it was. The big turbocharged Powerstroke droned along like normal.
I also noticed a couple hydrogen producing systems at the show that say you can save as much as 20% on diesel fuel. I think if it is possible to blend or make Biodiesel, then add some of these new technologies, we can beat these high fuel cost problems.
I am in the transportation industry and talk to truckers and trucking companies all day. Diesel fuel prices are all consuming these days with no end in sight. I can't seem to figure out why gasoline used to be high and diesel fuel was always less expensive because the refining process was less. I can vouch for that because if you were raised on a farm as I was, and spent any time at all cleaning the fuel system in a diesel tractor, you know all about all the silt that settles in the settling bowl. For all intents and purposes it is mud.
We just need to spool up making good clean home made Biodiesel. More soon.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Home-made Biodiesel
Before considering the biodiesel manufacturing process, there are few things that you should consider. "Safety first," and others have to do with any plans you may have about selling biodiesel fuel.
"First," burning biodiesel in your vehicle's engine may or may not void your vehicle warranty. READ your OME warranty to help make a wise decision. Selling home made biodiesel can really open up a can of worms if fuel you sold, or gave away trashes the fuel system or engine. Just call and ask a local parts dealer for the price of a single diesel fuel injector. It's also illegal to sell biodiesel that is not "fuel grade".
"Second", the biodiesel home making process can be a time consuming, labor intensive process so set aside week for your homemade diesel production. Make test batches and experience a few failures, as biodiesel production not always an exact science. The success of the venture depends on quite a few factors such as the humidity of the air and the quality of the vegetable oil you are using. It also will depend on your skill as a chemist and some would say luck! Fuel you make should be tested to be sure that you manufactured a fuel grade product. Otherwise you could be risking damage to your diesel engine.
Making Biodiesel at home is not for children. Materials used to make biodiesel are very toxic, so be aware of this before making this a "kid's science project."
On the other hand, ordinary people from all over the world (especially farmers!) have been making biodiesel at home for over half a century. Many of the ingredients used in biodiesel are toxic, but they are also common household chemicals.
"Example", the lye that is used in most recipes is sold in supermarkets and hardware stores as a drain-cleaner. Methanol, is the main or only ingredient in barbecue fuel or fuel for fondue heat cannisters. Methanol is sold in supermarkets as "stove fuel" and used at the dinner table. It's safe if you're careful and sensible about the handling and mixing of the product.
On the positive side, Biodiesel fuel works well in any diesel engine without any conversion or modifications to the engine or the fuel system. It can be cheap too, as long as you use the percentage of biodiesel fuel to regular diesel fuel, that is recommended in your owner's manual. More on home made Biodiesel can be found in this exceptional guide.http://tinyurl.com/p9gqw
"First," burning biodiesel in your vehicle's engine may or may not void your vehicle warranty. READ your OME warranty to help make a wise decision. Selling home made biodiesel can really open up a can of worms if fuel you sold, or gave away trashes the fuel system or engine. Just call and ask a local parts dealer for the price of a single diesel fuel injector. It's also illegal to sell biodiesel that is not "fuel grade".
"Second", the biodiesel home making process can be a time consuming, labor intensive process so set aside week for your homemade diesel production. Make test batches and experience a few failures, as biodiesel production not always an exact science. The success of the venture depends on quite a few factors such as the humidity of the air and the quality of the vegetable oil you are using. It also will depend on your skill as a chemist and some would say luck! Fuel you make should be tested to be sure that you manufactured a fuel grade product. Otherwise you could be risking damage to your diesel engine.
Making Biodiesel at home is not for children. Materials used to make biodiesel are very toxic, so be aware of this before making this a "kid's science project."
On the other hand, ordinary people from all over the world (especially farmers!) have been making biodiesel at home for over half a century. Many of the ingredients used in biodiesel are toxic, but they are also common household chemicals.
"Example", the lye that is used in most recipes is sold in supermarkets and hardware stores as a drain-cleaner. Methanol, is the main or only ingredient in barbecue fuel or fuel for fondue heat cannisters. Methanol is sold in supermarkets as "stove fuel" and used at the dinner table. It's safe if you're careful and sensible about the handling and mixing of the product.
On the positive side, Biodiesel fuel works well in any diesel engine without any conversion or modifications to the engine or the fuel system. It can be cheap too, as long as you use the percentage of biodiesel fuel to regular diesel fuel, that is recommended in your owner's manual. More on home made Biodiesel can be found in this exceptional guide.http://tinyurl.com/p9gqw
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