Biodiesel Fuel -
Let's Get Biological

Biodiesel is something you can make yourself at home!

Biodiesel fuel is basically a diesel fuel that is a non-petroleum-based fuel. It is made of what are known as alkyl esters (methyl and ethyl) which are extracted from vegetable oils or animal fats by a method called "transesterification".

And yes, we are talking about the same vegetable oils and animal fats that can be found discarded by most restaurants and fast-food places.

What makes this type of fuel unique is that it can be used alone, or blended with conventional everyday petroleum diesel (the type that's been used for years in unmodified diesel engines).

However, no modifications are necessary on most newer engines to allow you to use biodiesel fuel right now in your own diesel engine, as long as the engine is one used in a vehicle that was manufactured after 1992. (Vehicles made after 1992 use FKM in the gaskets and hoses. FKM does not break-down from the solvent properties of diesel like materials used to do in older engines).

*** Biodiesel fuel is not to be confused with the method of using straight vegetable oil like that used as fuel in some modified, converted diesel engines. Vegetable oil is an entirely different type of fuel.

It is a standard fuel made from alkyl esters and non-petrol-based fuels that are "biological" in origin. This gives us a long list of benefits that we can get from using this type of fuel.

How Is It Used?

Biodiesel can be used in the B100 form (pure), or it can be blended with petroleum diesel at just about any concentration and you can use it in most diesel engines.

**Again, biodiesel has solvent properties that can erode older gaskets and hoses not made with FKM (most of these have probably been replaced by now on most older vehicles, but just be aware of it).

Another somewhat short-term drawback to immediately switching to biodiesel is that it breaks down the deposited residue in the fuel lines after having regular petroleum diesel running through them. These loose deposits can cause fuel filters to get clogged with particles (if you make an immediate transition in your engine).

So, it's recommended that you change the fuel filters on the heaters and engines shortly after you make the change-over from petrodiesel to biodiesel (Once this is done, it may not ever need to be done again).

What are the benefits?

1.) Contributes to national security - All of the more developed countries that are currently the largest users of fossil fuels can switch to using biodiesel (which can be made domestically) and reduce their dependence on foreign oil. This will solve a myriad list of problems, in ways it would take us too long to go into on this site.

2.) Helps the national economy - Keeping money at home that is normally used for buying foreign oil reduces the trade deficit and contributes to creating more domestic jobs in the long-term.

3.) Emissions are reduced - You create very little (if any) emissions from using biodiesel because it is almost carbon-neutral. There have been some complaints about the smell of the exhaust from burning biodiesel as it tends to smell like french fries or popcorn. But dealing with a smell is much better than dealing with greenhouse gases created from burning fossil fuels.

4.) Engine life is prolonged - Multiple studies have been done that prove biodiesel reduces the wear that is normally done to your engine by 50%. This is because this fuel provides "lubricity" for all internal engine parts - unlike fossil fuels or petrodiesel.

5.) Non-toxic - This type of fuel is non-toxic, in that if it happens to get into your water supply, it won't hurt you if you consume or drink it - it is, after all, vegetable oil. Also, biodiesel is completely renewable - meaning we will never run out of it. It can even be made at home under the right conditions. This can NOT however, be said of fossil fuels.

6.) Better performance - Most people that have used biodiesel fuel in their engines have noticed a dramatic reduction in engine noise. Your engine will tend to run smoother and quieter with biodiesel and less smoke and exhaust will be created.

Biodiesel fuel is showing more and more promise for the future as a big player in the alternative fuel realm.

It is being used by more and more people everyday the world over.

Because you can make it yourself (right in your own garage if need be), biodiesel easily overcomes the biggest obstacle for changing over to different fuels - which are:

1.) No availability of the fuel at most stations.

2.) No setup of infrastructure is needed for delivery to (and storage at) multiple stations/locations.

***The number of future applications of biodiesel are numerous - and more are
being discovered each day. If you'd like to check out the best source online for an easy to use biodiesel recipe or more information on making biodiesel, be sure to check out answers-to-your-biodiesel-questions.com They answer all your questions on this new and promising fuel.

Some recent discoveries have also been made for ways to extract or make this fuel from pond algae and scum. This may prove to be the most efficient, cost-effective way of manufacturing this fuel. We can only wait and see what the future holds for the algae method. But, it sounds promising!

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