What Is biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a clean source of fuel for diesel engines that utilizes renewable energy sources, either soybeans, palm oil, or some sort of vegetable oil, including waste vegetable oil. It is made through a process that converts these oils into fatty acid methyl esters. Biodiesel can be a complete replacement for diesel, or blended - b100 is 100% biodiesel, b20 is 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel.
Why use biodiesel?
No conversion is necessary for a regular diesel engine to run on biodiesel. Research also shows that there are no performance issues related to the use of biodiesel, either in loss of power or fuel mileage. Further research also shows that its use can help extend the life of the motor by reducing wear on key parts. The alternative fuel is completely biodegradable and reduces some of the pollutants that are emitted with petroleum diesel usage, such as carbon monoxide and sulfur oxides.
How can biodiesel be obtained?
Biodiesel can be obtained commercially at many gas stations and is usually found in a blend from 5-20 percent biodiesel. By buying a blend, you can contribute to the biodiesel movement without any real sacrifices - it costs the same and doesn't hurt your fuel mileage.
You can also make your own. The process of converting the oil, regardless of the source, can be somewhat tricky, but can be accomplished with a home brew "recipe." However, with rising fuel prices, making biodiesel yourself appears to be more and more economical. The latest research shows that setting up a small scale biodiesel manufacturing system at home can cost as little as $200 and the fuel can be made for around $1.00 per gallon or slightly less. While many sites on them web contain recipes and information on making your own biodiesel, you should be careful and do good research before jumping in to this.
For a great resource on making your own b100 biodiesel you can visit BiodieselEconomics.com For information on other alternative energy solutions AlternativeEnergyAdvantage.com has some great resources.
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