Biodiesel comes as a good alternative source for conventional fuel. It may not perform as well as diesel, but it emits a smaller amount of harmful gases. The fuel is composed mainly of vegetable oil or animal fat. After going through the process of transesterification (exchange of compounds), the oil that you use for cooking can actually power biodiesel-based automobiles.
Pricing Problem?
The main problem in using biodiesel is its price. Some variants of the fuel are cheaper than petroleum diesel, while others are more expensive. Cooking oil and vegetable oil, together with the processing, are more pricey than diesel. If you really want to get a bang for your buck with biodiesel, you can purchase vegetable oil and do the processing yourself.
Three Ways to Make Biodiesel
Biodiesel is not hard to produce. In fact, you can make it in your kitchen. You just need a large supply of vegetable oil. The presence of additional components depends on the method that you choose for making biodiesel.
Straight Vegetable Oil
Mixing Vegetable Oil with Conventional Fuel
Processing True Biodiesel
Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Just pick according to your fuel needs.
A. Straight Vegetable Oil
Using vegetable oil straight up is the easiest and cheapest long term option among the three. You simply have to secure vegetable oil, place it in your automobile’s fuel tank and you’re off. In buying vegetable oil, your options are to purchase a gallon from the supermarket or get used oil from a restaurant, which is cheaper but involves more processes.
Engine Modifications
When you plan to solely use vegetable oil as your automobile’s power source, you need to make several engine modifications. A single-tank vegetable oil system must be installed. The system should have glowplugs and replacement injectors with vegetable oil optimization and fuel heaters. If you are planing to use used vegetable oil, a filtration kit is necessary.
The cost of the entire installation ranges from $500 - $1200, depending on the quality of parts and the need for oil filtration kits. It may be pricey but in the long run, you’ll end up saving more, especially if you’re using waste vegetable oil.
Using Waste Vegetable Oil
As compared to the use of newly purchased vegetable oil, waste vegetable oil still needs filtration before it can power a vegetable oil engine. The food residue, water and other oils found in the oil can damage the engine. An oil filter should be installed along the single tank vegetable oil system.
The filter removes solid particles and water from the oil but its efficiency in removing other oils and acids is questionable. You can also do manual filtration by letting the oil settle and resettle in a metal drum. Whichever the case, there is always a risk involved when using waste vegetable oil. Use this type of oil only for emergencies.
B. Mixing Oil with Conventional Fuel
Mixing vegetable oil with petroleum diesel or other combustible fuels like kerosene and gasoline improves fuel efficiency. It is still not as efficient as true biodiesel, but it works better than vegetable oil alone.
Vegetable oil, when compared to petroleum diesel, is viscous to power a normal diesel engine. The addition of other fuels makes the oil’s base thinner, causing smooth movement through the engine’s mechanisms. If the vegetable oil is mixed well with conventional fuel, the resulting solution should work well with standard diesel engines.
Materials Used:
vegetable oil
petroleum diesel/kerosene
deep container
Procedure:
Pour the vegetable oil and the diesel in a deep container. The ideal measurements are 20% vegetable oil and 80% diesel but you can tweak the amounts, depending on your car’s engine requirements.
Mix the ingredients thoroughly.
Transfer the solution to a bottle.
Let the solution settle for about 8 hours, then test it on your car’s engine.
Make separate sets of mixtures with varying oil and diesel measurements to see which works best for your automobile.
Reminder:
The oil and fuel mixture works only for old diesel engines. Modern engines are more precise with the viscosity and combustibility of fuel. Using the mixture can damage those motors, since their tolerance for viscous fluids is much lower than older models. To be safe, just use this option if you have a vehicle that was released during the mid-nineties.
C. Processing True Biodiesel
Processing biodiesel fuel is your safest and most efficient option. True biodiesel works perfectly on standard diesel engines. Some researchers say that biodiesel, despite providing less power, circulates better inside the engine. It ends up extending the usable life of the engine’s parts.
When creating biodiesel, you will need a good amount of vegetable oil, some chemicals, and several containers. Your measurements should be precise. If you overshoot the amounts of the ingredients, you may end up creating a solution with inefficient properties. Do not use waste vegetable oil. It can damage your car’s engine, even if the resulting solution is refined.
Materials Used:
1 liter vegetable oil
200 ml antifreeze
50-75 ml lye
water
blender
funnel
plastic containers (with cover)
duct tape
thermometer
Procedure:
Pour the antifreeze into a plastic container.
Add lye.
Cover the container quickly, or else the solution will absorb too much oxygen, rendering the fuel useless.
Mix the lye and the antifreeze by shaking the container. Continue mixing until the solution becomes warm and foamy.
Transfer the solution in a blender and add the vegetable oil. Remember, the solution must be clear before pouring in the vegetable oil.
Blend the solution for about 20 minutes.
Use a funnel to transfer the solution into a container.
Once transferred, cover the container. Let the solution settle for about 8 hours or until the glycerin separates. Take note that glycerin is the different colored substance occupying the bottom portion of the container.
Transfer only the biodiesel in a separate container.
Get a different container and bore a tiny hole on its bottom portion.
Cover the hole with duct tape.
Pour the biodiesel into the taped container, then add 500 ml of water.
Roll the container for a minute or two to mix its contents. The biodiesel and the water will separate, when you stop mixing. Naturally, the water will stay in the container’s bottom portion.
Drain the water by removing the duct tape, then cover the hole again when all the water has been drained.
Keep repeating the previous step throughout the week, until the biodiesel becomes clear.
Store the refined biodiesel in a glass container.
Processing biodiesel takes much time to finish. You can make separate sets to maximize the lengthy duration of the process. If you own more than one automobile, you should probably make at least a gallon.
The Lowdown
Overall, the preparation of true biodiesel is your best option. Biodiesel might not be easy to create but it promises performance without the need to alter your car’s engine. The fuel is even safer to use than petroleum diesel, since it has better lubricating qualities and extends the life of your car’s fuel injection system. The other two options are a bit risky to apply.
Reportedly, the supply of oil in the Middle Eastern countries is fast dwindling. Many people are trying to find alternative sources of fuel before the global oil supply runs out. Through these testy times, you better hold on to your home’s supply of vegetable oil. For all you know, it may be powering your cars much sooner than later.