Not Your Daddy's Diesel: Your Grandpa's Biodiesel

Not Your Daddy's Diesel: Your Grandpa's BiodieselPerformance wise, biodiesel has a higher lubricity than
Tired of high gas prices? Want to save the earth?conventional diesel, subsequently acting as a bit of an
Want to support local economies and clean the air'enema' for the engine, cleaning out the dinosaur
while getting high performance out of your vehicle?residue, so be sure and replace the fuel filter after the
Try Biodiesel. It's clean, sustainable, domestic,first couple of tanks of biodiesel. After that, because
renewable AND you can make it at home!!! Wavebiodiesel is so clean burning, it actually may reduce
farewell to petroleum.maintenance costs and extend engine life.
Amidst the hybrid hype, there has been little mention ofEurope, which has traditionally been more diesel-heavy
one of the oldest 'alternative' fuels with somethan the US, (currently diesels occupy about 40 % of
tremendous advantages. Invented and patented bythe European market) has recently increased its
Rudolf Diesel in 1893, diesel engines were first made toemissions standards and subsequently the use of
run on various vegetable oils. Thus, almost any dieselbiodiesel has taken off in a big way. Europeans are
engine outfitted with the right hoses is capable ofsupporting the growth of the biodiesel industry through
cleaner, vegan, non-petroleum based Biodieselfarming subsidies of biodiesel feedstocks unknown in
operation. (Most newer diesels have the right hoses).the US until this week when Oregon introduced a
Diesels have tremendous advantages. Although theirsimilar bill in their State Legislature.
pricepoint can be somewhat higher initially, it's wellAnother tremendous advantage of Biodiesel is its
worth it in the long run. Diesel engines are well knownblend-ability. Biodiesel can be used straight (called B100)
for their consistent reliability, length of engine life, andor blended in any percentage with conventional #2
perhaps most importantly, their fuel economy. In ourdiesel, and even at low percentages (B5 or B10) has
ever-growing awareness of planetary resources andincredible emissions benefits. Subsequently, if you're out
taking geopolitical circumstances into account, fueltraveling and don't have access to homemade or
economy is beginning to take a place of primacy.storebought biodiesel, you can use regular diesel in
When running on biodiesel, there are tremendousyour tank with no conversion issues.
emissions benefits as well. Traditional dinosaur-dieselThere are an ever-growing number of biodiesel filling
powered engines have gotten a bad rap for their dark,stations available if you don't have space or interest in
smoky exhaust, smell and pollution of our air. Biodiesel,making your own. Check with for more information of
on the other hand, reduces emissions significantly inwhat's available in your area. For more biodiesel
every category in which pollutants are measuredresources see
except nitrous oxide (NOx) which can be adjustedOn a personal note, I've been running my VW Jetta
with some slight modifications. Unlike their petroleumTDI (Turbo Diesel Injection) on Biodiesel (mostly B100)
powered counterparts, biodiesel exhaust smellsfor the last three years with only good things to say.
pleasantly like the feedstock of whatever vegetable oilIt's been trouble-free and now it's actually pleasant to
is used. (There are tales of people who have usedhave the sunroof open. And if your outdated ideas
recycled fryer oil for their biodiesel from their localsuggest that diesels compromise performance or
doughnut shop and subsequently end up with visions ofspeed, feel free to sniff my doughnuts.
Krispy Kreme.)