Making Biodiesel

One of the most effective ways for drivers to wean themselves off the gas pump is probably making biodiesel. We can’t make commercial biodiesel that is sold at the pump, which can run on standard diesel engines. But we can make biodiesel from waste and vegetable oils (cooking oil), in which case it is necessary to convert the diesel engine so that it can operate on this type of home-made diesel.

The engine conversion costs around $2,000 and it involves installing a two-tank system so that the oil can be pre-heated. This way it will still be possible to switch back to conventional diesel or biodiesel when temperatures are very low, for instance. It also means that in case the driver runs out of vegetable oil, he or she will still have a second option. Besides the financial gains, making biodiesel can be beneficial to the environment since emissions are dramatically reduced. Adopters say that performance does not suffer at all and some even claim that vegetable oil can improve the driving experience.

When making biodiesel, you’ll need alcohol (methanol or ethanol) and a catalyst (lye is a commonly used one). The fuel is nothing but a chemical reaction between alcohol and oil in the presence of a catalyst. A quick online video search produces several results of short videos showing how to make biodiesel. As mentioned above, low temperatures make biodiesel crystallize and fuel filters get blocked. What biodiesel enthusiasts usually do is to add conventional diesel when temperatures reach the -10°C range in order to keep the engine functioning as normal. If it reaches -15°C the advice is to turn back to conventional diesel altogether.

Making biodiesel may not be a passport to complete independence but it certainly can help green-minded drivers mitigate their emissions, save some money and recycle vegetable oil that may otherwise go wasted.