Q. Will Biodiesel harm my engine?
A. Biodiesel will work in a conventional petro diesel engine with no problems at all. This has been tested over millions of miles by a number of different agencies and in every conceivable situation. Bus fleets and commercial haulage companies have been using biodiesel in their operations for many years and reporting great success.
Q. Is Biodiesel experimental?
A.The answer is no, it has been used in Europe in widespread fashion since the 80s and within the United States increasingly so over the last decade. Biodiesel actually dates back to the 1930s when it was originally mooted, but the process of converting vegetable oils into this fuel was perfected in the 80s.
Q. Does the government accept this alternative fuel?
A. Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel fully certified under the stringent provisions of the Clean Air Act, as modified in 1990. The EPA recognises and authenticates the use of certified biodiesel fuel.
Q. Where can I get biodiesel?
A. You can find more than 14 major production facilities across the country in the US with many distribution channels. Across the nation, hundreds and hundreds of small operations cater to locals. As the number of diesel engine cars increases, additional manufacture plants and distribution points will emerge.
Q. Can I just use conventional vegetable oil instead?
A. Absolutely not, vegetable oil must be converted through transesterification into biodiesel fuel first. This involves the use of alcohol, and a catalyst to extract the final liquid.
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 biodiesel good for the environment?
A. Biodiesel is carbon neutral, which means it is not contributory to the carbon emissions problem currently plaguing our planet. Biodiesel is made from vegetable crops and these were previously known as “sinks” for carbon, so the fuel is considerably more advantageous from an environmental perspective than the highly toxic, carbon emitting petroleum we otherwise use.
Q. What about clogged filters?
A. Biodiesel has some solvent properties and may dissolve certain deposits which have built up on your tank wall or within your 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. It is great for the environment!
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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