Q. Does biodiesel harm an 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.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. 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. Further, the EPA authenticates and certifies bio diesel fuel.
Q. Where can I get biodiesel?
A. There are now 14 major production facilities in the US and a number of distribution channels. Across the nation, hundreds and hundreds of small operations cater to locals. As diesel engine cars become more widespread, additional facilities 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. Alcohol is used with a catalyst to extract the liquid used as biodiesel.
Q. Does it work in cold weather?
A. Biodiesel does have a tendency to gel in very cold conditions, just as conventional 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. 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. 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. Generally, making biodiesel is not very difficult in and of itself, so long as you take certain safety precautions and make sure that you follow the necessary instructions. It is great for the environment!
Q. As interest in biodiesel increases, will this cause over-harvesting?
A. Biodiesel growth must also be sustainable and must be managed so that harvesting does not cause an imbalance in the availability of agricultural crops, especially as they may represent absorbers of carbon already in our atmosphere. This would be a challenge as things unfold.