Going Biodiesel
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- mrdobolina0
sumthin like that
- mexist0
Ok Anzelina... here's a summary... Biodiesel is a fuel that is made from a mixture of vegetable oil and regular diesel. It comes in different grades. Some ppl run off SVO (straight veggie oil) quite literally running their cars on used cooking oil. The higher grade stuff is mixed because it needs to keep a lower viscocity. On new diesel cars you don't have to worry about any conversions, but on older diesels you should look into getting a tank filter because this fuel is so clean it acts like a solvent and cleans all the crud off the inside of the tank, possibly causing clots in the engine.
Note: this idea is not new by any means, the inventor of the diesel engine had the idea to run it off peanut oil back in the 1800's. What makes this so relevant to our society now is the state of affairs oil consumption has gotten us into. By going biodiesel, you will no longer rely on imported oil, and you won't be using a non-replenishable natural resource. Dig?
Also, I have an 05 Golf TDI and it doesn't stink at all, and sounds like a miniature big rig, which is just kinda funny. It's not loud.
Here's one persons experience going biodiesel:
http://www.transmitmedia.com/gol…Sorry for rambling but I think if more ppl were aware of these benefits, there might actually be some major positive changes.
- anzelina0
thanks kona.
unfortunately there are no biodiesel vendors in new york state. :(
i could make my own but one liter at a time seems pretty painful.
- ********0
- anzelina0
thanks mexist.
can i just call up mcdonald's and get their leftover oils?
this reminds me of that one simpsons episode.
btw mexist, what, you hate mexicans?
- ********0
i make about 6 or 7 gallons of biodiesel a day anzelina. it's easy.
oh wait, i'm thinking of biowaste.
nevermind.
- mexist0
i doubt a corporate palce like mcdonald's would give away their used oil, they would rather pay for the disposal of it. You're better off getting it from local mom and pop shops, ie. local chinese restaurants. They would rather give their used oil away then have to pay someone to come and pick it up for disposal...
- johndiggity0
i'm waiting for the car that's powered by my own sense of self satisfaction.
- hick0
I've been running biodiesel off and on for the last year in my 04 Passat with great results.
Off and on, due to location. Diesel is hard enough to find, let alone biodiesel, even in Boulder.
The hard part has been getting the government on board to offer tax incentives like regular gasoline gets. And engine manufacturers will void warranty on your engine if you put unauthorized fuels in them. VW has pulled back on this however, as long as you aren't brewing your own.
- mexist0
Here's what you need for your Passat hick...
awww zeah...
- hick0
Ha, that's excellent!
My dad's gonna be on the san diego to hawaii leg of this:
he is stoked!
- hick0
Ha, that's excellent!
My dad's gonna be on the san diego to hawaii leg of this:
he is stoked!
- ********0
pretty homo they didnt match the typeface.
- mexist0
yeah nick, they could have matched the typeface... it would have saved some space...
- ********0
just to clarify- do those things run regular diesel as well? how much does it cost to convert?
- hick0
yes, you can run on regular diesel or biodiesel with little or no modification. The newer TDIs need no mods.
- ********0
how far and in-between are biodiesel pumps?
- fate_redux0
uberdesigner, wouldn't really matter. if you had to take a long trip, just switch back to regular diesel.
Kona, I heard toyota is initiating the price hike, all-around, primarily because of how shit a job Detroit is doing at selling. They didn't want their American competitor to bite the dust and have poor US-Japan relations.
Here's an article on it
- mexist0
from my experience, when the low fuel indicator light goes off, i still have about 60 or so miles leftin the tank. my commute to work is along some highways so there is diesel all around since commercial transport uses it so much... so i don't think it would be an issue. even if you lived in rural areas, you would still find diesel easily at any truck stop...
- mexist0
by the way, i hear it's safe to store SVO straight vegetable oil biodiesel fuel in your garage... because the flash point is the same as olive oil...
but does anyone know if's it's safe to store a blend of the fuel?