Biodiesel

BioDiesel in Wisconsin to run in Farm Machinery. All I have heard is that it has less fuel economy. It won't hurt as it does increase lubricity though you may have trouble running it in higher concentrations as it softens and distorts some seal material.
As far as making it yourself, do you have the time to go collecting oil and doing the refining process? Or would it be cheaper to pickup an extra excavating job to pay for a load of fuel?
If you aren't convinced then what to do with the glycerin (soap) and used alcohol plus did you add in the cost of the lye and alcohol in the first place.
My opinion.....

Well I don't run an excavating company, so an extra job to pay for fuel won't happen...

My equipment is for my own personal use. And, my Inland Marine insurance policy states that I can't use my equipment anywhere else but my land, nor can I use then for making money.

I have a retired father who can go scavenge for old restaurant oil.

And I really don't know about the refining process, that's why I was asking here. To see if anyone was doing it...

I have been trying my best so far this year to conserve diesel when running my equipment, but that only can do so much...

I just assumed it would not cost me $4.50/gallon to make my own biodiesel if I could get the oil for free...

I know Joe Black is into biodiesel and makes his own. I wonder if he will come on here. I know he posted information on it, and I don't recall whether it was on this site or the ACME site. GWH

Biodiesel is 100% compatible with any diesel engine. old or modern, and is typically much less expensive than petroleum diesel. If you get the materials for making the fuel in bulk (methanol and potassium hydroxide) or find/form a local biodiesel co-op then your per gallon costs can drop to well under a dollar. Biodiesel is very simple to make, especially as it's mostly a "hands off" batch process, and is scalable meaning what you learn making 10 gallon batches is easily scaled to 100 gallon batches or larger. Your basic 40 - 50 gallon garage operation takes up little more space than a washer and dryer.

To get started take a look at this web site, what I consider the best and most accurate resource on small-scale biodiesel: http://www.biodieselcommunity.org/

As for economy, most folks I've communicated with have found a moderate increase in mileage and power for automotive uses. There have been some that have reported less power and mileage, but this is in the minority. One thing to keep in mind is that the diesel engine was designed to run on vegetable oil and derivatives, not petroleum products, which is why there are so many lubricity, soot and sludge problems with diesel fuel. If you start running on 100% biodiesel one thing you definitely want to do is a couple of short oil changes initially to get out what the fuel will loosen up from inside the engine! Much like you'd do if running an older engine on Mobil-1 for the first time. 😉

The only significant drawback to this fuel is that it gels at a higher temperature than petroleum diesel. I don't have any experience with this aspect as a Floridian, but from I understand the procedures and additives used to prevent gelling with petroleum diesel works well with biodiesel. Heated fuel filters and tanks wraps or heaters just need to be set for slightly higher temperature. If you live in an area regularly affected by colder temperatures then you should pay particular attention to this and research accordingly before jumping in. My impression is that it's not a severe issue, but certainly worthy of looking into.

The question of seals above is also relevant, especially with older fuel systems. Biodiesel, much like it's biofuel cousin Ethanol, is a solvent and can effect or degrade lines, seals and o-rings made from rubber and some synthetics. Viton is the material of choice when using biofuels. Do you have to replace immediately? No, but the effect is cumulative and will need to be addressed eventually so figure that cost into the concept of switching over the life of the vehicle/equipment. Newer vehicles are supposed to have viton or similar already as most countries are already way ahead of us on the biofuel curve. For example, I have an '06 VW Jetta TDI diesel and it's 100% biodiesel compatible from the factory as B100 is common in Europe at the pump. Believe me, it's very nice getting 55MPG in a mid-size car! Especially when you've got a tank of "home brew" getting you there. Oh, that brings up one last thing: Biodiesel and petroleum diesel are 100% compatible, so if you drive off on biodiesel and need to tank up just pull over and fill-up wherever you can with petroleum diesel. Then when you get home tank it back up with biodiesel. No worries!

Thanks for the good info Joe, I'll definitely look into it!

the glycerin byproduct? How do you dispose of that? My other concern is the used alcohol from the water washes. Where do you dispose of that?
Thanks,

the glycerin byproduct? How do you dispose of that? My other concern is the used alcohol from the water washes. Where do you dispose of that?
Thanks,

[quote="drujinin"]the glycerin byproduct? How do you dispose of that? My other concern is the used alcohol from the water washes. Where do you dispose of that?
Thanks,[/quote]
All recyclable. Glycerine can be recovered for use as a heat source, often in what is called a "turk burner" similar to waste-oil burners. Also makes a fantastic hand cleaner/degreaser or can even be made into good old fashioned soap. The methoxide can also be recovered and re-used for additional processes. Basically, as you research and learn about the process you become involved in the biodiesel community where you'll find more uses for the "waste" products than you ever thought imagineable.

We're getting ready to plant about 10 - 20 acres of African Oil Palm here in central Florida which yields around 600 gallons per acre annually. The waste from pressing the fruit for oil is a high-protein paste that's an excellent feed additive for livestock. You'll be hearing more and more negative press against bio-fuels, but the plain truth of the matter is that biofuels are cleaner, greener and create more permanent American jobs than any petroleum product ever could. Not to mention we've managed to do more damage to this planet in less than 150 years of the "petroleum powered era", not even a flicker in the history of man. Where will be in the next 150 years if we don't kick the petroleum addiction?

I get a lot of comments at the pump from folks when I fill up my diesel VW, especially since my fuel is about $.60 more a gallon than theirs. But I love bringing up the point that gasoline was the original "alternative fuel" when about 100 years ago every vehicle in America either was electric, steam powered or ran on ethanol. Yet a century later we don't have the ability to find something better than gas? Food for thought. 😉

I've read about the Palm Oil research in Florida on the Bio pages.