Biodiesel

Gox777 · 09-14-2008, 10:06 AM

Hello all,
I'm new here and I thought I might offer my knowledge on this idea for anyone who may find it viable.

I've been planning to brew my own biodiesel at home for a little while now, mainly to avoid high transportation costs. If things get really bad, energy independence will be one more benefit.

Biodiesel can usually be run perfectly in all diesel engines except the newest, complex engines that have computerized systems integrated. Biodiesel is made by reacting new or used vegetable oil with methanol and a catalyst (sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide). The vegetable oil separates into a layer of glycerin at the bottom and crude biodiesel at the top. The biodiesel should then be rinsed with water, allowing time for the water to sink to the bottom along with impurities. Finished biodiesel is much thinner than vegetable oil.

In a pinch, some diesel engines can also run pure vegetable oil. If you want to try this, I would HIGHLY recommend finding a way to heat the vegetable oil or thin it with something. Regular diesel and kerosene can be used for thinning in any ratio, and gasoline is said to be ok up to 20%. Straight vegetable oil can lead to problems over the longterm however.

The easiest, cheapest way for most of us to obtain vegetable oil is from the waste drums of restaurants. I get mine from a golf course restaurant that I (sort of) work for. You're going to want to talk to the manager of an independent restaurant, tell them what you're doing, and see if they're ok with you taking their oil. Most chains are already bound by contracts to allow processing companies to take the oil.

The application of biodiesel can of course be used for necessary transportation and generating electricity as well. By hooking an inverter to the battery, (powered by the alternator while running), you can have power in emergency situations. I have around 60 gallons of unprocessed vegetable oil stored up currently which I plan to process soon for use in my 85 Mercedes 300D. It's nice having the added security in uncertain times.

These are a couple of my favorite biodiesel information resources.

http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html
Good site with information, instructions, and pictures relating to biodiesel. Also has some sections on other DIY topics.

http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x?a=cfrm&s=447609751
Very detailed forum on producing/using biodiesel and straight vegetable oil. Plenty of experts on here.

09-14-2008, 10:06 AM	#1
Gox777 Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1	Biodiesel Hello all, I'm new here and I thought I might offer my knowledge on this idea for anyone who may find it viable. I've been planning to brew my own biodiesel at home for a little while now, mainly to avoid high transportation costs. If things get really bad, energy independence will be one more benefit. Biodiesel can usually be run perfectly in all diesel engines except the newest, complex engines that have computerized systems integrated. Biodiesel is made by reacting new or used vegetable oil with methanol and a catalyst (sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide). The vegetable oil separates into a layer of glycerin at the bottom and crude biodiesel at the top. The biodiesel should then be rinsed with water, allowing time for the water to sink to the bottom along with impurities. Finished biodiesel is much thinner than vegetable oil. In a pinch, some diesel engines can also run pure vegetable oil. If you want to try this, I would HIGHLY recommend finding a way to heat the vegetable oil or thin it with something. Regular diesel and kerosene can be used for thinning in any ratio, and gasoline is said to be ok up to 20%. Straight vegetable oil can lead to problems over the longterm however. The easiest, cheapest way for most of us to obtain vegetable oil is from the waste drums of restaurants. I get mine from a golf course restaurant that I (sort of) work for. You're going to want to talk to the manager of an independent restaurant, tell them what you're doing, and see if they're ok with you taking their oil. Most chains are already bound by contracts to allow processing companies to take the oil. The application of biodiesel can of course be used for necessary transportation and generating electricity as well. By hooking an inverter to the battery, (powered by the alternator while running), you can have power in emergency situations. I have around 60 gallons of unprocessed vegetable oil stored up currently which I plan to process soon for use in my 85 Mercedes 300D. It's nice having the added security in uncertain times. These are a couple of my favorite biodiesel information resources. http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Good site with information, instructions, and pictures relating to biodiesel. Also has some sections on other DIY topics. http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x?a=cfrm&s=447609751 Very detailed forum on producing/using biodiesel and straight vegetable oil. Plenty of experts on here.