Q. Will Biodiesel harm my engine?
A. Biodiesel will work in a conventional petro diesel engine with no problems at all. Multiple agencies have tested this combination over millions of miles and in every circumstance. Biodiesel has been used within commercial haulage fleets and regional bus lines for many years with few problems.
Q. Is Biodiesel experimental?
A. No, it has been in widespread use since the 1980s and has become more accepted in the United States over the last 10 years. In fact, biodiesel goes back to the 1930s when vegetable oil was first converted into fuel, being perfected during the 1980s.
Q. Does the government accept this alternative fuel?
A. The Clean Air Act, subject to the 1990 modification, recognises biodiesel as the only certified alternative fuel. The EPA recognises and authenticates the use of certified biodiesel fuel.
Q. Where can I get biodiesel?
A. There are now 14 major production facilities in the US and a number of distribution channels. In addition, many hundreds of smaller operations exist in localities around the nation. As the number of diesel engine cars increases, additional manufacture plants and distribution points will emerge.
Q. What about using conventional vegetable oil?
A. No, the vegetable oil must be converted into biodiesel fuel through a process known as transesterification. Alcohol is used with a catalyst to extract the liquid used as biodiesel.
Q. What about the cold weather?
A. Biodiesel may gel in extreme conditions in similar fashion to petro diesel. Employ the same precautions when the weather turns particularly cold.
Q. Is this fuel good for the environment?
A. Our planet is plagued by carbon emissions and it is good to know that biodiesel is essentially carbon neutral. As biodiesel is fundamentally extracted from vegetable crops which were previously carbon “sinks,” the fuel is far better for the environment than conventional petroleum, which is extremely high in toxic greenhouse gas emissions.
Q. Will I have to worry about clogged filters?
A. As biodiesel is a solvent, it may act to dissolve some deposits which may have accumulated over time in your tank or within pipes. These deposits could then become trapped in filters and it is advisable to clean or change your filters when you first convert from conventional diesel to biodiesel, making way for a cleaner running, longer lasting engine.
Q. Is it okay to make biodiesel at home?
A. Many people have been successful at making homemade biodiesel. As long as you follow the essential safety advice and use common sense, making biodiesel is not particularly difficult. This can be a great way of making a difference, environmentally!
Q. Do we need to worry about over-harvesting if biodiesel becomes popular?
A. We need to ensure that biodiesel growth is itself sustainable and ensure that we do not over-harvest and cause an imbalance in agricultural crop availability, especially as we need these absorbers of carbon in place. This is a challenge for the industry going forward.
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