GreenEngines
Egan Riordon Automotive
Alternative fuels...Sustainable Planet
Oregon's technical resource for Full Flex conversion products
Alternative fuels...Sustainable Planet
Oregon's technical resource for Full Flex conversion products
A national trade association for the biodiesel industry. Helpful FAQs.
Propel BiofuelsA Northwest provider of high quality biodiesel. Propel stations are in Washington now, but are coming to Oregon soon. Check out their CleanDrive reporting system that helps you keep track of your carbon conservation efforts!
Northwest Biodiesel NetworkA local advocacy and educational group for biodiesel enthusiasts.
National Renewable Energy LabExcellent informational source about the science and technology associated with biodiesel and other renewable energy sources.
Biodiesel is a non-petroleum-based diesel fuel, typically made from renewable resources such as vegetable oil or animal fat. It is a clean-burning, domestically-produced fuel, that can be used in any diesel engine. Biodiesel delivers equivalent or better engine performance while decreasing harmful emissions by nearly 80%. It reduces the U. S. dependence on foreign oil.
Any diesel vehicle can use biodiesel - either 100% biodiesel or a blend created by mixing biodiesel with regular petrodiesel. Because biodiesel is a natural cleansing agent, when you first switch to biodiesel, it may dissolve deposits that have accumulated from previously used petrodiesel. This is usually just a temporary problem.
Older vehicles should transition into using biodiesel. It is important to have a mechanic replace any hoses and gaskets made from rubber or nylon. Biodiesel degrades these materials. Run a couple of tankfulls with a 20% biodiesel mixture; then a couple of tankfulls at 40%; and so on until your car is running on 100% biodeisel. The Propel Biofuels website has excellent tips for older vehicles.
Although clogged fuel filters are rarely a problem, most advocacy groups recommend that drivers carry a spare fuel filter in the car.
In 2007, a 2,000,000 mile test was conducted by some trucking organizations running on B20 (a mixture of 20% biodiesel with 80% petrodiesel.) The National Biodiesel Board now states that a B20 can be used year-round, even in the coldest climates.
Propel Biofuels and other biodiesel manufacturers include additives in their product to insure cold weather performance without needing to mix biodiesel and petrodiesel.
For a concise set of tips about about using biodiesel in winter, see the National Biodiesel Board's winter diving tip sheet.
In 2002 the EPA published a comprehensive study showing that biodiesel reduced 7 of 8 harmful emmission compounds by 47 - 100%. (In this study, biodiesel was compared to petrochemical diesel.)
A 1993 study compared biodiesel with gasoline emissions. The study showed a 100% reduction in sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide, and a 10 - 50% reduction in carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons.
By energy balance we mean - all the energy required to produce a fuel's raw material, associated transportation costs for fertilizer, transporting the raw material to a refinery, the energy needed to refine it, and the energy needed to deliver the fuel to a retail location. The U. S. Department of Energy calculates the energy balance of biodiesel at 3.2. In other words, biodiesel provides 3.2 times as much energy as goes into its production. (The following table is based upon various DOE reports.)
| Type of Fuel | Energy In | Energy Out |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | 1.0 | .81 |
| Corn-based Ethanol | 1.0 | 1.28 |
| Biodiesel | 1.0 | 3.2 |
| Celluosic Ethanol | 1.0 | 4 - 7 (Estimated) |
The question to ask is: cost per mile, or cost per gallon? Biediesel costs more per gallon than regular gasoline. But the FuelEconomy.gov website shows that diesel-powered vehicles have a 20 - 40% higher miles-per-gallon rating than the same model vehicle powered by a gasoline engine. When you do the math, biodiesel is an economical way to travel - plus, it's good for the environment!