Comments on: how much does it cost to convert to biodiesel? http://www.switchfuel.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-convert-to-biodiesel/ Just another WordPress weblog Sun, 04 Jul 2010 22:51:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: peter.jungmann http://www.switchfuel.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-convert-to-biodiesel/comment-page-1/#comment-273 peter.jungmann Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:54:15 +0000 http://www.switchfuel.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-convert-to-biodiesel/#comment-273 Usually it costs you a new engine after the biodiesel wrecks the one you have.... And it costs at least double regular diesel. And your biodiesel could have been used to feed poor children So, no, it's not really worth it. when they perfect the process of making it out of algae... then okay. Usually it costs you a new engine after the biodiesel wrecks the one you have….

And it costs at least double regular diesel.
And your biodiesel could have been used to feed poor children
So, no, it’s not really worth it.

when they perfect the process of making it out of algae… then okay.

]]> By: Wolf Harper http://www.switchfuel.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-convert-to-biodiesel/comment-page-1/#comment-272 Wolf Harper Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:28:57 +0000 http://www.switchfuel.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-convert-to-biodiesel/#comment-272 What kind of biodiesel? The vast majority of biodiesel is "B5" (5% bio 95% normal) or B20 (20% bio 80% normal). That stuff is totally compatible, just do it! In fact biodiesel is an excellent fuel additive to lubricate your fuel injection system. Sulfur used to serve that purpose, but it was eliminated from diesel fuel last year. 5% biodiesel will replace sulfur, 20% will actually be better for your engine. 100% biodiesel is fairly rare. It will work directly in your engine. It will probably make your fuel injection system last forever, lol! However, keep in mind a few things. First, biodiesel is a really good fuel line cleaner. That means if you suddenly start using strong percentages of biodiesel, you might loosen up a bunch of crud in your older car's fuel lines (which is a good thing generally) however that may all end up in your fuel filter, clogging it. So be ready for a possible 1-time change of fuel filter. For the same reason, if your diesel is really old and the rubber fuel lines are deteriorated, it might "clean" them too well. If your fuel lines look old, replace them - rubber fuel hose is cheap. The other thing is cold. In below-freezing temperatures, 100% biodiesel is a bit quicker to get waxy and solidify. Either run a blend of fossil-fuel diesel, or look at the additives that they use in jet fuel to keep it from doing the same. (where jetliners fly it's pretty cold. Jet fuel is basically diesel.) What kind of biodiesel? The vast majority of biodiesel is “B5″ (5% bio 95% normal) or B20 (20% bio 80% normal). That stuff is totally compatible, just do it!

In fact biodiesel is an excellent fuel additive to lubricate your fuel injection system. Sulfur used to serve that purpose, but it was eliminated from diesel fuel last year. 5% biodiesel will replace sulfur, 20% will actually be better for your engine.

100% biodiesel is fairly rare. It will work directly in your engine. It will probably make your fuel injection system last forever, lol! However, keep in mind a few things.

First, biodiesel is a really good fuel line cleaner. That means if you suddenly start using strong percentages of biodiesel, you might loosen up a bunch of crud in your older car’s fuel lines (which is a good thing generally) however that may all end up in your fuel filter, clogging it. So be ready for a possible 1-time change of fuel filter.

For the same reason, if your diesel is really old and the rubber fuel lines are deteriorated, it might “clean” them too well. If your fuel lines look old, replace them – rubber fuel hose is cheap.

The other thing is cold. In below-freezing temperatures, 100% biodiesel is a bit quicker to get waxy and solidify. Either run a blend of fossil-fuel diesel, or look at the additives that they use in jet fuel to keep it from doing the same. (where jetliners fly it’s pretty cold. Jet fuel is basically diesel.)

]]> By: Nata T http://www.switchfuel.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-convert-to-biodiesel/comment-page-1/#comment-271 Nata T Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:11:54 +0000 http://www.switchfuel.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-convert-to-biodiesel/#comment-271 biodiesel is very expensive to make and dangerous. If you get caught using homemade biodiesel AND NOT PAYING the $.45/gallon tax on it, there could be up to a $10,000 fine. The glycerin waste is defined as hazardous by the EPA because it still contains caustics and methanol. Improper disposal can be fined at $25,000 per day. If you want to use bio Diesel, leave the production to the pros. biodiesel is very expensive to make and dangerous. If you get caught using homemade biodiesel AND NOT PAYING the $.45/gallon tax on it, there could be up to a $10,000 fine.

The glycerin waste is defined as hazardous by the EPA because it still contains caustics and methanol. Improper disposal can be fined at $25,000 per day.

If you want to use bio Diesel, leave the production to the pros.

]]> By: Ron B http://www.switchfuel.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-convert-to-biodiesel/comment-page-1/#comment-270 Ron B Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:01:46 +0000 http://www.switchfuel.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-convert-to-biodiesel/#comment-270 No diesel engines needs to be converted to run on biodiesel. Maybe you are referring to running waste vegetable oil as fuel. There are extensive modifications that need to be done such as adding an extra fuel tank, installing switching valves and adding heaters to heat the oil. The engine must be started on straight diesel and after the engine warms up and the oil is heated, you switch to burn the waste vegetable oil. Then before shutting down the engine, you must switch back to diesel to purge the fuel lines of the WVO so the engine will start the next time. Biodiesel is made from waste vegetable oil that is processed using certain ratios of methanol and lye added to the heated WVO and circulated together for a period of time. This causes the glycerin to separate from the WVO and the resulting product is biodisel that can be burned by any diesel engine, mixed in any ratio with diesel fuel, or even burned straight, with no modifications to the fuel system or engine at all. You can build your own processor out of a water heater by using plans found on the internet. I have been making biodiesel at home for 3 years and have not bought any diesel fuel at all since May 2008. I have been running biodiesel 100% since and have saved lots of money by not having to buy fuel. This has easily paid for the investment of building my processing system which was less than $1000. For more info check out No diesel engines needs to be converted to run on biodiesel. Maybe you are referring to running waste vegetable oil as fuel. There are extensive modifications that need to be done such as adding an extra fuel tank, installing switching valves and adding heaters to heat the oil. The engine must be started on straight diesel and after the engine warms up and the oil is heated, you switch to burn the waste vegetable oil. Then before shutting down the engine, you must switch back to diesel to purge the fuel lines of the WVO so the engine will start the next time.
Biodiesel is made from waste vegetable oil that is processed using certain ratios of methanol and lye added to the heated WVO and circulated together for a period of time. This causes the glycerin to separate from the WVO and the resulting product is biodisel that can be burned by any diesel engine, mixed in any ratio with diesel fuel, or even burned straight, with no modifications to the fuel system or engine at all. You can build your own processor out of a water heater by using plans found on the internet. I have been making biodiesel at home for 3 years and have not bought any diesel fuel at all since May 2008. I have been running biodiesel 100% since and have saved lots of money by not having to buy fuel. This has easily paid for the investment of building my processing system which was less than $1000.
For more info check out

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