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"No amount of oil we discover from Alaska or new power plants we may build, there will be never be enough to meet the demand of this growing and dynamic economy" Spencer Abraham, Energy Secretary of United States

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What is Bio-diesel?

Bio-diesel is the name of energy fuel produced from domestic, renewable resources such as soybeans, sunflowers, canola, waste cooking oil, or animal fats. It is regarded as a clean burning and renewable alternative fuel because of its bio-degradable and non-toxic properties.

In its pure form, bio-diesel (B100) contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a Bio-diesel blend. B20 has been blended successfully for commercial use in the United States and some European countries.

It can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines or oil-fired boilers or furnaces with little or no modifications.
How is Bio-diesel made?

Bio-diesel is made through a chemical process called transesterification in which the glycerin is separated from the fat or vegetable oil. The process leaves behind two products-alkylesters (the generic chemical name for Bio-diesel) and glycerin, a valuable byproduct usually sold to be used in soaps and other products.
Why should I use Bio-diesel?

Bio-diesel is better for the environment because it is made from renewable resources and has lower emissions compared to petroleum diesel. It is less toxic than table salt and biodegrades as fast as sugar. Since it is made in the USA from renewable resources, its use decreases our dependence on foreign oil, creates thousand of jobs, improves our farming economy while contributes to our own well being.
How do Bio-diesel emissions compare to petroleum diesel?

Bio-diesel is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed the health effects testing requirements of the Clean Air Act.

The use of Bio-diesel in a conventional diesel engine or oil-fired furnace or boiler results in 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 Bio-diesel are essentially eliminated compared to diesel.
Can Bio-diesel help mitigate "global warming"?

A 1998 Bio-diesel lifecycle study, jointly sponsored by the US Department of Energy and the US Department of Agriculture, concluded Bio-diesel reduces net CO2 emissions by 78 percent compared to petroleum diesel. This is due to Bio-diesel's closed carbon cycle. Most of the CO2 released into the atmosphere when Bio-diesel is burned is recycled by growing plants.
Is Bio-diesel used as a pure fuel or is it blended with petroleum diesel?

Bio-diesel can be used as a pure fuel or blended with petroleum in any percentage. B20 (a blend of 20 percent by volume Bio-diesel with 80 percent by volume petroleum diesel) has demonstrated significant environmental benefits with a minimum increase in cost for fleet operations and other consumers.
What is B100?

Full strength (100 percent) Bio-diesel is often referred to as B100 or "neat" Bio-diesel. A blend of Bio-diesel containing 20 percent Bio-diesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel is referred to as B20. The most popular blend of Bio-diesel in the United Sates is B20, which offers significant reductions in harmful emissions at an affordable price.
Is it true that bio-diesel can be produced from used cooking oil?

Yes. it can be made from recycled fryer oil (from McDonalds or your local Chinese restaurant). Once produced, it can be used as B100 or in blended form.

Can I use use bio-diesel without engine modification?

Bio-diesel is a vegetable oil-based fuel that runs in unmodified diesel engines - cars, buses, trucks, construction equipment, boats, generators, and oil home heating units. However, if your vehicle is older than 1995, please send in to your nearest mechanic to change the fuel line (a cheap part). Newer vehicle generally do not have any problem running on bio-diesel.

What about engine life?

Studies have shown it reduces engine wear by as much as one half, primarily because it provides excellent lubricity. Even a 2% bio-diesel 98% petro-diesel blend will help.

What about drivability?

Most users of bio-diesel will readily admit that it bring about a smoother engine response and it runs quieter as well.

Are there any negatives?

Of course. There is no such thing as a perfect fuel.

Primarily that it's not readily available in much of the nation, YET (click here for a map of locations), although availability has jumped considerably in the last five years. Commercial consumption jumped from 500,000 gallons in 2000 to 15 million gallons in 2001 to 75 million gallons in 2005.

Biodiesel will clean your injectors and fuel lines. If you have an old diesel vehicle, there's a chance that your first few tanks of biodiesel could free up all the accumulated crud and clog your fuel filter. The process will affect your engine performance for the first few drives. But look at it as a GOOD thing... think of it as cleaning up dust around the house when you clean.

It has a higher gel point. B100 (100% biodiesel) gets slushy a little under 32°F. But B20 (20% biodiesel, 80% regular diesel - more commonly available than B100) has a gel point of -15°F. Like regular diesel, the gel point can be lowered further with additives such as kerosene (blended into winter diesel in cold-weather areas).

Old vehicles (older than mid-90s) might require upgrades of fuel lines (a cheap, easy upgrade), as bio-diesel can wear off certain types of rubber. As for most new new vehicles, there should be no problem whatsoever.

Finally, bio-diesel is not 100% clean. it does release NOx which contributes to smog. However, all is not lost. A slight increase (up to 15%) in NOx is greatly offset by the reduction in all other emissions and the major reduction in other greenhouse gasses.