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. Biodiesel is experimental, isn’t it?
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. You can find more than 14 major production facilities across the country in the US with many distribution channels. In addition, many hundreds of smaller operations exist in localities around the nation. As diesel engine cars become more widespread, additional facilities will emerge.
Q. What about using conventional vegetable oil?
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. What about the 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 biodiesel 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. Can I make biodiesel at home?
A.There are many people 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. 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.
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