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Is
biodiesel the same as raw vegetable oil?
No, it is not the same as raw vegetable oil. [more]
How do I convert my diesel equipment to run on biodiesel?
You probably don't have to convert anything, just pump and
go. [more]
Will using biodiesel damage my engine or void the manufacture's
warranty?
No, but there are some things that you need to know. [more]
Is biodiesel used as a pure fuel or is it blended with
petroleum diesel?
Either way works. [more]
Do I need special storage facilities?
Typically not, but there are a few exceptions. [more]
How does biodiesel work in cold weather?
You should have no problems with concentrations of B20 or
less. [more]
How does biodiesel compare with horsepower, fuel economy,
and torque?
Almost identical to petroleum diesel. [more]
Can I use biodiesel in my gasoline engine?
No. [more]
How do biodiesel's emissions compare to petroleum diesel's
emissions?
Emissions from biodiesel are significantly improved compared
to petroleum diesel. [more]
Where can I buy biodiesel?
Visit the National
Biodiesel Board or the Alternative
Fuels Data Center
Can I switch back and forth between diesel and biodiesel?
Yes. [more]
How is biodiesel made?
Biodiesel is produced by mixing plant or animal fats or
oils with an alcohol in the presence of a catalyst. [more]
Is biodiesel safer to handle and store than petroleum
diesel?
Yes, absolutely! [more]
Is biodiesel the same as raw vegetable oil?
No, it is not the same as raw vegetable oil. Some people will
mix raw vegetable oil in with their diesel fuel or use it
straight (including Rudolf Diesel back in 1911!). We do not
recommend this. Modern diesel equipment requires some modification
to burn straight vegetable oil effectively, and it is yet
unclear the effects of straight vegetable oil on diesel engine
performance and longevity. Furthermore, raw vegetable oil
cannot meet biodiesel fuel specifications; is not registered
with the EPA as a legal motor fuel; has poorer cold flow properties
compared to biodiesel; and is highly variable in terms of
quality, water content, impurities, etc..
Fuel-grade biodiesel is produced to strict industry specifications
(ASTM D6751) in order to insure proper and consistent performance.
Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed
the health effects testing requirements of the 1990 Clean
Air Act Amendments. Biodiesel that meets ASTM D6751 and is
legally registered with the Environmental Protection Agency
is a legal motor fuel for sale and distribution.
For entities seeking to adopt a definition of biodiesel for
purposes such as federal or state statute, state or national
divisions of weights and measures, or for any other purpose,
the official definition consistent with other federal and
state laws and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) guidelines
is as follows:
| "Biodiesel
is defined as mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty
acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats which
conform to ASTM D6751 specifications for use in diesel
engines. Biodiesel refers to the pure fuel before blending
with diesel fuel. Biodiesel blends are denoted as, "BXX"
with "XX" representing the percentage of biodiesel
contained in the blend (ie: B20 is 20% biodiesel, 80%
petroleum diesel)." |
[back to top]
How do I convert my diesel equipment
to run on biodiesel?
You probably don’t have to convert anything, just pump
and go. Some car manufacturers (though few, if any major modern
manufacturers) use components for their diesel fuel pumps
and lines that are adversely affected by biodiesel, such as
Buna and Nitrile seals. If biodiesel is used in these vehicles
in higher than concentrations of B20 for an extended period
of time then you should replace the seals and hoses with a
material that is biodiesel resistant, such as Teflon or Viton.
Almost all vehicles manufactured after 1978 are compatible
with biodiesel.
You should also be aware that biodiesel acts as a better solvent
than standard petroleum diesel and it will "clean out"
deposits in your fuel tank and they can get stuck in your
fuel filter. It is often necessary to change your fuel filter
a couple times when you first make the switch to biodiesel.
[back to top]
Will using biodiesel damage my engine
or void the manufacture's warranty?
No, but there are some things that you need to know. Manufacturer
warranties only cover defects in material and workmanship.
These warranties do not cover engine problems related to fuel
of any kind (biodiesel or petroleum diesel). Tests and demonstrations,
however, have shown that biodiesel is no different from petroleum
diesel in terms of engine performance and wear. Some manufactures
such as Volkswagen have made very positive statements about
biodiesel. John Deere and DaimlerChrysler have gone as far
as to fill their diesel vehicles with biodiesel blends on
the production line. [back
to top]
Is biodiesel used as a pure fuel or is it
blended with petroleum diesel?
Either way works. Biodiesel can be used straight (B100) or
in a low blend (B2) or anywhere in between. People mix and
buy different blends for different reasons. Low blends of
biodiesel (B2-B5) are often used to increase the lubricity
of petroleum diesel. At a moderate blend of B20 you will start
to realize significant emissions improvements, while at the
same time avoid a drop in cold flow operability. Economics
is also an issue. In some markets and at some times biodiesel
is more expensive than petroleum, but if blended at only B5
the cost difference is hardly noticed. [back
to top]
Do I need special storage facilities?
Typically not, but there are a few exceptions. Biodiesel can
usually be stored in the same tanks and equipment that petroleum
diesel is stored. One exception to this rule is that the tank
can not be lined with concrete (few are however). You will
also want to ensure that the rubber components of the tank
seals, pumps, and hoses are compatible with biodiesel (most
are). Also, if you are living in a cold climate with an outdoor
tank and are using high blends of biodiesel, then you will
want to insulate and heat the tank or switch to a wintertime
blend of B20 or less. [back
to top]
How does biodiesel work in cold weather?
Like any diesel fuel, biodiesel can gel at low temperatures,
however, the gel point for 100% biodiesel is higher than petrol
diesel. We therefore do not recommend the use of B100 below
40 degrees F. During the part of the year when temperatures
drop below 40F, we recommend biodiesel concentrations of B50
or less. Concentrations of biodiesel at B20 or less behave
almost identical to petroleum diesel in cold weather. Cold
weather gadgets designed for traditionally fueled vehicles,
such as engine block and fuel tank heaters, are helpful for
cars running biodiesel in cold weather. [back
to top]
How does biodiesel compare with horsepower,
fuel economy, and torque?
Almost identical to petroleum diesel. In terms of energy contained
in the fuel, a gallon of biodiesel contains slightly less
energy than a gallon of petroleum diesel. This is because
alcohol molecules are attached to the ends of the fatty carbon
chains in biodiesel, causing them to be slightly bulkier with
slightly less concentrated energy. However, the increased
lubricity of biodiesel helps to counteract this energy difference.
The end result is that some drivers report a slight reduction
(1%) in mileage, while others report slight increases. You
not notice any difference at all. [back
to top]
Can I use biodiesel in my gasoline engine?
No. Go buy a diesel car like a Volkswagen TDI jetta, new beetle,
or golf, or a DaimlerChrysler Jeep Liberty, or Mercedes, or
… [back to top]
How do biodiesel's emissions compare
to petroleum diesel's emissions?
Emissions from biodiesel are significantly improved compared
to petroleum diesel. Biodiesel and biodiesel blends significantly
reduce tailpipe emissions, especially carbon dioxide, carbon
monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulates (sooty black smoke).
Using biodiesel decreases the cancer-causing risk of auto
exhaust by 94%; B20 reduces this risk by 27%. Click here for
a chart detailing specific emissions reductions for B100 and
for B20. [back to top]
Where can I buy biodiesel?
Visit http://afdcmap2.nrel.gov/locator/FindPane.asp.
[back to top]
Can I switch back and forth between diesel
and biodiesel?
Yes. Biodiesel is the ultimate flexible fuel, so you can switch
back and forth between biodiesel and petroleum diesel whenever
or however you want. One day you can fill with B100, then
next tank B0 (straight petroleum diesel), the next B20, the
next B5, etc.. Remember that you can mix in any ratio: if
you tank is halfway full with straight petroleum diesel, you
can still fill it up with B100, or B20, or B5, or B-anything.
The only caution is that if you use only straight petroleum
diesel for an extended time (a year or more) then the walls
of your fuel tank may have again accumulated some sediments
and you might again want to think about checking your fuel
filter after switching back to a high concentration of biodiesel.
[back to top]
How is biodiesel made?
Biodiesel is produced by mixing plant or animal fats or oils
with an alcohol in the presence of a catalyst. It is quite
simple to make. You can even do it at home with ingredients
you probably have lying around the kitchen. Making it on the
industrial level, however, becomes more complicated especially
as one must achieve a consistent standard of quality. The
fundamentals remain the same. Start with raw vegetable oils,
recycled cooking greases or oils, or animal fats. These all
contain fatty acids which are first attached to glycerin molecules,
but would prefer to be attached to alcohol molecules if given
the choice. So if you mix these oil molecules with an alcohol,
they will simply let go of the glycerin and grab onto the
alcohol. This process is rather slow, but can be sped up by
warming the oil a little and adding a catalyst like sodium
hydroxide (lye). The result are chemicals called long chain
mono alkyl esters, or biodiesel.
The mass balance works out in approximate proportions that
10 pounds of oils or fats are reacted with 1 pound of alcohol
(usually methanol) to form 10 pounds of biodiesel and 1 pound
of glycerine. Glycerine is a sugar, and is a co-product of
the biodiesel process. It has lots of uses, too, such as conserving
preserved fruit, providing a base for lotions, preventing
freezing in hydraulic jacks, lubricating industrial molds,
and as an ingredient for some printing inks, cakes, and candy
making. Not to mention it could also be turned into nitroglycerin.
Boom! [back to top]
Is biodiesel safer to handle and store
than petroleum diesel?
Yes, absolutely! Biodiesel is ten times less toxic than table
salt and biodegrades faster than sugar. The EPA has tested
biodiesel’s health effects extensively and has classified
it as a non-toxic substance that poses absolutely no threat
to human health. Biodiesel is such a clean fuel, in fact,
that it is used to remediate petroleum spills in water. [back
to top]
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