Alternative Fuel
What is biodiesel: Biodiesel is a sustainable alternative to petroleum that can be used to power almost any unmodified diesel engine. No engine conversion is needed! Biodiesel is a renewable fuel made by the relatively simple chemical reaction of alcohol and vegetable or animal oils, fats, or greases. Through a refinery process (also many people home-brew biodiesel) called transesterification,(many people home-brew biodiesel) the reaction removes the glycerin , a by-product that is not good for your engine but which can be made into soap. Biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine in pure form or blended with petroleum diesel. It is a safer, cleaner alternative to petroleum diesel. The US Department of Energy has acknowledged biodiesel as an alternative fuel. Biodiesel can be used for vehicle credits under the Energy Policy Act. Since engine modifications are not required, there's no need to change vehicles, spare parts inventories, refueling stations or specially skilled mechanics. Vehicle hoses need to be checked after the first several months biodiesel use. Replacement of some hoses may be necessary. Blended oils may have little or no effect on hoses. In addition to reducing dependance on fossil fuel, biodiesel cuts down on hydrocarbon emissions as much as 47% it will also reduce sulfur emissions and aromatics.
Biodiesel is actually as old as the diesel engine itself. Rudolf Diesel, its' inventor, used refined peanut oil to run his invention. The rise of cheap crude oil killed his vision of farmers growing their own fuel. Now, after a century burning fossil fuels, the diesel engine is finding its way back to its agricultural roots costing less than 75 cents per gallon to produce.