biodiesel

Biodiesel can be used as a pure fuel or blended with petroleum diesel in any percentage. B20 (a blend of 20 percent biodiesel with 80 percent petroleum diesel) has demonstrated significant environmental benefits with a minimum increase in cost for fleet operations and other consumers.

How do biodiesel emissions compare to petroleum diesel?

Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed the health effects testing requirements of the Clean Air Act. The use of biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine results in a substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter compared to emissions from diesel fuel. In addition, the exhaust emissions of sulfur oxides and sulfates (major components of acid rain) from biodiesel are essentially eliminated compared to diesel. Of the major exhaust pollutants, both unburned hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides are ozone or smog forming precursors. The use of biodiesel results in a substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons

Can I use biodiesel in my existing diesel engine?

Biodiesel works in any diesel engine with few or no modifications to the engine or the fuel system. Biodiesel has a solvent effect that may release deposits accumulated on tank walls and pipes from previous diesel fuel usage. The release of deposits may end up in fuel filters initially, so fuel filters should be checked more frequently at first. Ensure that only fuel meeting the biodiesel specification (D 6751) is used.

Can biodiesel help mitigate global warming??

Biodiesel is the best greenhouse gas mitigation strategy for today?s medium and heavy duty vehicles. A 1998 biodiesel lifecycle study, jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, concluded biodiesel reduces net carbon dioxide emissions by 78 percent compared to petroleum diesel. This is due to biodiesel?s ?closed carbon cycle? where the plants grown to produce biodiesel absorb C02 from the atmosphere which is then released back when it is used as a fuel.

Does biodiesel take more energy to make than it gives back?

No. Biodiesel actually has the highest energy balance of any transportation fuel. The DOE/USDA lifecycle analysis shows for every unit of fossil energy it takes to make biodiesel, 3.2 units of energy are gained. This takes into account the planting, harvesting, fuel production and fuel transportation to the end user. So it produces 3 times more energy than it takes to make it!

Is biodiesel better for human health than petroleum diesel?

Scientific research confirms that biodiesel exhaust has a less harmful impact on human health than petroleum diesel fuel. Pure biodiesel emissions have decreased levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and nitrited PAH compounds that have been identified as potential cancer causing compounds. Also, particulate matter, an emission linked to asthma and other diseases, is reduced by about 47 percent, and carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas, is reduced by about 48 percent.

Can I make biodiesel at home?

The simple answer is yes. Should you make biodiesel at home? This is something buyacar does not recommend, but if you?re feeling experimental and take all necessary precautions, let us know the results.
There are a number of different recipes and methods online showing you how to make biodiesel at home. Here are the links to just a few of them;

http://www.biodieselcommunity.org/
http://www.kitchen-biodiesel.com/
http://www.reuk.co.uk/Biodiesel-Recipe.htm
http://www.make-biodiesel.org/ssbrecipies/