What Vehicles Are Best For Running On Biodiesel?

Having the right type of fuel is just one half of the equation- equally as important is having the right kind of vehicle to run on biodiesel. There are thousands of different types of cars out there, so you're more than spoiled for choice when it comes to having a large selection of vehicles.

You can rule out sports cars and big gas-guzzling v8 petrol vehicles or trucks. In fact rule out petrol engined vehicles altogether as you really need a car that was designed to run on diesel, not gasoline or petrol.

A problem arises here in the fact that the selection of vehicles that run on diesel fuel as opposed to regular gasoline or petrol is dramatically reduced, especially in countries that do not permit the import of older Japanese vehicles, a lot of which are diesel engined. If you need a utility vehicle/pickup truck or SUV then you may find your choice for a modern vehicle that is capable of running biodiesel somewhat limited.

By far the best cars for running on biodiesel are diesel engined VWs and Mercedes cars. They have durable engines that have proven extremely popular time and time again with the "biofuels crowd". In fact late 1980s and earl 1990s Mercedes sedans are considered to be by far the best for running on biodiesel. Many consider their engines capable of running on just about anything, so your own high quality biofuels will go down a treat.

Take the initiative into your own hands and do a little bit of research on your own car. Type into Google the model of your car and "biodiesel" or "biofuel" and see what comes up. Try scouting on eBay or in classified magazines for vehicles that have already been successfully converted to run homemade biodiesel, or for a model car that will run it well.

The power really is in your hands.

Is Biodiesel Safe For Your Car Engine?

One thing that oil companies tend to hark on about a lot is the "engine-cleaning" properties of premium fuel blends that cost an arm and a leg. Whilst there is merit in the argument that putting the best fuel possible in your vehicle will yield not only the best performance, but help keep your engine in tip-top shape, it doesn't detract from the financial cost you will feel from filling your car up with the good stuff.

A question that many ask about biofuels, especially biodiesel, is whether they are safe to be used in your car engine, and whether they detract from the lifespan of your engine. This is a valid concern; there is no point in saving money by making your own fuel only to find yourself stuck with a thousand dollar bill to repair the fuel system or injectors.

The long and short of it is that biodiesel, when properly made, is actually better for a diesel-engined vehicle than regular petrodiesel. It has far better lubricative properties, and can prolong the life of your engine. The main problem with using biodiesel in engines comes from the fact that it can eat away seals and hoses that are made from regular rubber. You are only likely to find hoses like these in older vehicles (those made prior to 1992) Newer cars use a different type of rubber that is not prone to being eaten away.

However, once an engine is properly modified to run biodiesel you can rest assured knowing that you are putting a cleaner-burning fuel into your tank that also helps to keep your engine lubricated and running properly.

Why Is The Price Of Gas Skyrocketing?

Unless you have been either living under a rock for the last 6 months, or have not had to fill your car up you will most probably be painfully aware of the fact that gas/petrol/diesel prices are going through the roof. Every single day we seem to see the price of fuel go up- in the last month alone the average US price rose by 23 cents a gallon.

So what is driving the skyrocketing cost of gas for the average commuter? Here is a simple dissection of the factors which are compounding to make driving such an unpleasant business at present:

1. Middle East tensions- There is a twofold implication of the current tensions in the Mid East and Northern Africa on oil prices. Firstly, there is the speculative side of things; with the threat of production being stopped or slowed a risk premium develops which drives up the price of oil. Secondly, supply has been virtually stopped from Libya, and Libyan crude is of extremely high quality. If protests continue to Saudi Arabia expect oil prices to top $200 within days, and if supply is actually affected then it is "game over" as far as we know it.
2. Weakening US Dollar- Due to poor economic performance in the United States, as well as an increasing supply of US dollars the role of the currency as a global reserve and "flight to safety" is being eroded. Oil is priced in US dollars- it now takes more US dollars to buy the same amount of things, including oil, as each dollar is worth less.
3. Peaking Supply Factor- Whether you believe in peak oil or not there is good evidence to suggest that a number of prominent fields around the world with easily accessible and high quality crude are in a state of production plateau, or even decline. Yes there are lots of other reserves, but the difficulty is getting them out economically. Liken it to having $2 million- $1 million in cash, the other $1 million in an account that you can only have $100 a day. Once that one million cash is gone you will never live like a millionaire on the other million that can only be drawn out in smaller quantities.

Those three factors mentioned above have combined to unleash a maelstrom upon the motoring public. There is only so far you can cut your fuels consumption before your standard of living is really affected, so personally I would recommend learning how to make your own car fuel.

Do It Yourself Biodiesel Production Kits

Making biodiesel is becoming more and more popular as fuel costs skyrocket. Today we are going to be looking at various do it yourself biodiesel production kits and guides you can use in order to learn how to make your own high-quality liquid fuels.

Provided you have a bit of spare space and time on your hands it is entirely feasible that you actually produce enough fuel to run a modest sized car and commute reasonable distances without ever having to buy petrodiesel again. Although there is an upfront investment this can pay itself off in a matter of months, and then you get the last laugh when you get to drive past the lines of people emptying their wallets to pay for increasingly expensive gas.

If you already have a decent amount of cash to spare and want to dive straight into making your own high-quality fuels without having to make your own processing equipment then a ready-made biofuel processing system is what you need. Before we even begin to look at these please note that you are contending with a price tag of at least $1500 USD- you can 100% "do it yourself" for less than a couple of hundred bucks. However, if you want results fast and have a bit of cash on the hip then either of the following devices will help move you into the alternative fuels age at warp speed:

NWR Alternative Fuels Biodiesel Processor

The NWR Biodiesel processor is an excellent quality piece of kit that will allow you to easily and reliably generate generous quantities of top notch biofuels at low prices. Here is the lowdown on what you really need to know about this kit:

• Has a 40 gallon capacity (ie you can produce 40 gallons of biodiesel)
• Can make biofuel from either new or "used" vegetable oil.
• Contains catalyst chemicals to help you get making your first batch of fuel.
• Has a digitally controlled timing system for maximum accuracy and generation of highest quality fuels possible.
• Made from high-quality long-lasting components.
• Contains basic instructions on making your own biodiesel.
• Retail price is $2,499.99

So what do I think about the NWR kit? Well firstly the pricing is slightly "wounding" one could say. You will have to make a fair bit of fuel to offset the up front cost of buying this kit, although it shouldn't take you more than a year at current prices (if fuel costs continue to rise you could be paying it off much more quickly) However on the plus side this is by far one of the best quality systems I have seen to date, it is extremely efficient and does not waste much input oils and chemicals, the quality of the end product is fantastic, and it is also fairly portable.

Please click the following link to learn more about the kit, or to purchase the NWR Alternative Biofuels Processor on Amazon.

Biobuddy Diesel Processor

STOP THE PRESS! At the moment the Biobuddy 53 gallon diesel processor is available on Amazon for the price of $1,799. The RRP of this product is $4,777 so to be frank you are absolutely mad if you don't take up this offer (I assume there are only a few left at this special price anyway)

Here are the basic facts on the Biobuddy

• Allows you to make 53 gallon batches of fuel.
• Is almost completely automated (you only need to do a few minutes work yourself, the rest is done for you)
• Comes in a compact and aesthetically pleasing form, especially when compared to the competition.
• 18 inch by 18 inch footprint.
• 67 inches tall.
• Built in pump for easy transfer to your vehicle.
• Has an excellent filtration system to ensure no contaminants in the fuel.
• Contains step-by-step instructions to making the perfect batch of biodiesel every time.

My personal opinion is that at the current discounted price the Biobuddy is essential buying if you have the cash. At normal retail prices the NWR system is better buying simply due to the $2,000 savings you make. However, if you get in quick then the more visually pleasing and compact Biobuddy will quite literally become your new best friend. Click the following link to purchase the Biobuddy Biodiesel Processor from Amazon for a 62% discount.

What Is Biodiesel?

Before you can learn the steps to making biodiesel you actually need to understand what it is made from in the first place. In this brief post we are going to look at what biodiesel is, what it is made from, and what types of applications it has in everyday life.

Basically, biodiesel refers to a liquid fuel made from either vegetable oils or animal oils/fats. This differs from petrodiesel, which is (as you probably would have guessed by now) made from crude oil drilled out from the ground. In some countries, especially in the European Union, biodiesel is actually a few cents a liter cheaper than petrodiesel, so there are incentives to get more and more vehicles using this great source of fuel.

What is biodiesel made from exactly?

• Waste vegetable oil (think the stuff in the bottom of a deep fat fryer)
• Animal fats such as tallow lard or grease.
• Photochemical algae (in my opinion this poses the best alternative to regular petrofuels as it can be produced in a small space, although the upfront costs are mind-boggling)
• Virgin vegetable oils such as rapeseed.

How much is produced from all these different sources globally?

In 2008, 7.8 million tonnes of biodiesel was produced in Europe alone. In 2006 TOTAL WORLD production was only around 6 million tonnes. Of course this is perhaps 1% of the amount of liquid fuels needed to keep up with oil demand, but the rate of growth in biofuels is staggering, and will only increase with higher oil prices.

What uses are there for this fuel?

Basically, biodiesel can be used when blended with ordinary petrodiesel in diesel based engines in concentrations between 1-20% with little or no engine modification. In other, very simple words, if every diesel engined vehicle used a B20 (20% biofuel, 80% regular fuel) then ordinary diesel use would fall by around 1/5.

Vehicles can be converted to run on higher concentrations of biodiesel, or even a 100% blend itself. However, older engines with natural rubber hoses and gaskets will not take well to even blended biofuels as they have a solvent effect on rubber- this is where much of the modification takes place. Newer engines (ie ones made in the last 20 years) are far less prone to suffering from problems with this.

In fact, when properly converted and the correct blend used biodiesel is actually far better for the health of your engine as it has greater lubricating properties and is better for the fuel injection system.

In many parts of the world biodiesel is also used as a home heating fuel. In older boilers it can be used in a 100% concentration although filtration can sometimes be necessary.

Learn How To Make Your Own Fuel At Home

Let's get one thing straight- filling up your car these days is an extremely unpleasant process. With the collapse of the US dollar and associated quantitative easing, tensions in the middle east, and the US Government's refusal to open up domestic oil reserves for drilling, the price of oil, and therefore the price of gas (or petrol for non US readers) is going through the roof.

Since the start of 2011 global oil prices have risen the best part of $25 a barrel, and this shows no sign of stopping. All over the world motorists are feeling the pain at the pump, while concomitant increases in food prices due to oil being a massive input in modern agriculture is being felt by everyone.

We may argue amongst ourselves about the cause of rising fuel prices- some argue it is due to Peak Oil and declining supply, others due purely to an explosion in the supply of money since the 2008 recession, some because of greedy speculators. However, one thing everyone can agree on is that fuel prices are rising, and will continue to rise in the foreseeable future.

How high they will go is anybodies guess. My personal opinion is that we will see at least a doubling of petrol/gas prices in the next year or so- for US residents we are talking $8-9 a gallon, and for nations like the UK closer to $20 a gallon. This is not scaremongering and I am not one of those "peak oil crash fetishists" who jump for joy every time gas prices increase as they worship the onset of an apocalyptic post-oil scenario. No, I am merely trying to warn anyone who wants to hear that due to a combination of factors beyond our control our transportation and food costs are going to get much higher in the near future.

"Therefore, whoever wishes for peace, let him prepare for war."
Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus

This famous quote from the Roman writer Vegetius was used thousands of years ago to describe how we must prepare for hardship in order to survive it. It is this kind of attitude that will enable us to overcome rising energy prices and the effect they bring- "therefore, whoever wishes for cheap energy, let him prepare for expense"

On this blog we are going to be looking at VIABLE alternatives that you can use yourself to power your car and your home. One such alternative that is of particular interest is "biodiesel", which is made from used vegetable oils or algaes and can be used in diesel engined vehicles with little or no modification.

How do you make biodiesel? This basic question is going to be answered in full detail in the coming days as we examine how to make petrol and diesel at home, as well as how to build DIY energy generation at home.

Whether you believe in concepts such as Peak Oil or Global Warming is entirely up to you, however we are all faced with the reality that is associated with rising energy and transport costs. By learning simple skills such as how to make bio diesel at home you can help prepare yourself and your family against the coming inflationary crisis. There are hundreds of little steps that can be taken to help you save your money in these austere times, without having to have a major and unpleasant backwards shift in your standard of living.

Don't be caught short when the price of gas really starts exploding- learn about making biodiesel and other fuels at home by regularly reading this blog, or even subscribing to it via RSS. Please also tell your friends and family, or share a link on Facebook. Comments are more than welcome too, but please keep language civil.