making biodiesel at home com-biodiesel advantages and disadvantages

Biodiesel Advantages and Disadvantages

biodiesel advantages and disadvantages:

Made from non-petroleum, renewable resources that can be produced domestically
Can be used in most diesel engines, especially newer ones
Less carbon monoxide, particulates, and sulfur dioxide emissions
78% less carbon dioxide (CO2) production
Biodegradable
Non-toxic
Safer to handle

Disadvantages:

Slightly lower fuel economy and power (10% lower for B100, 2% for B20)
Currently more expensive
More nitrogen oxide emissions
Transportation & storage of B100 require special management
B100 generally not suitable for use in low temperatures
Concerns about B100's impact on engine durability

Some other things to consider: For those of you who like the details...Keep reading...

There are some things you need to be aware of. First is ...

...Filters...

Biodiesel advantages and disadvantages: Conventional diesel is pretty filthy stuff. Not only is the black cloud spewing out behind your car dirty, but the fuel itself leaves a sludge in the tank and fuel system itself.

Your biodiesel car is a clean machine. Biodiesel is a clean fuel. Not only that but it will also clean your engine -- (There's a reason one of the interesting by-products of biodiesel production is soap) it does a great job of cleaning up the residue commercial diesel leaves behind. The problem is, then all the freed crap blocks up the fuel filter.

When you first switch to biodiesel, check the fuel filters on a weekly basis and change them when needed. The first few weeks are the most critical. It wouldn't hurt if you fitted a second cheap filter upstream of the main filter for awhile on your biodiesel car until you cleaned your engine up.

Biodiesel advantages and disadvantages: If a car has been hanging around for a long time with commercial diesel in the tank, (as with a lot of second-hand cars up for sale,) the bottom of the tank may have rusted (water content is a common problem with commercial diesel). Adding biodiesel will free up the the crud and rust, and it could clog the particle filter inside the tank. At worst what happens is the biodiesel car simply stops running, starved of fuel. More likely the engine will start steadily losing power at first, probably for long enough to get you there before it stops, the first time anyway. It doesn't happen all the time, but it happens.

It's happened to a few older Mercedes in the US, after running on 100% biodiesel for about a year. What you can do in that case is take the particle filter out of the tank and replace it with an external filter, you'll need to check this often as well, and after awhile it will stay clean.

Biodiesel advantages and disadvantages: Keep in mind though, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." There's probably no need of removing the particle filter from the tank UNLESS there's a rust problem.

Rubber...

Biodiesel advantages and disadvantages: Rubber parts in the fuel system may rot or corrode as time goes by with biodiesel cars. Especially if you're using 100% biodiesel (B100). Newer cars, since the mid-1990s or so, use resistant parts. Biodiesel is used in many older engines without any problems. If necessary, check with your vehicle's manufacturer. Viton parts are best. Just do it, go ahead and use biodiesel, and wait and see. If you do have problems you should, with a little common sense, see it coming. You'll have warning and it's easily fixed.

Cold Weather...

Biodiesel advantages and disadvantages: Biodiesel doesn't particularly like cold weather. Between 1 degrees and 10 degrees Fahrenheit it tends to gel or congeal. If you live in a cold weather climate, this something that needs to be taken into consideration. The answer could be as easy as storing you biodiesel and your car in a garage. You can also pre-heat the biodiesel in a storage tank. My point here is, with a little thought, this problem can also be gotten around.

...Also..

Biodiesel advantages and disadvantages: Be sure to check out your car warranty information and your owners manual. In some older models, biodiesel is not covered and may void the warranty. Do this YOURSELF. Don't take someone's word for it.

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