Does Biodiesell/veggie oil really make sense?

[Guest 007]

Am watching the fuel costs go up and up and up once again. Even though my Caddy gets mid 40's and the Rabbit up to mid 50's mileage I wouldn't mind spending less on fuel.
Are the options with Biodiesel/Veggie oil conversions worth doing in order to save some cash in the long run?
What are the realities of the process?

[mortskeg]

I'd say yes if you don't mind spending a little time making/ gathering your fuel.

With the biodiesel you actually don't need to "convert" anything beyond making sure that you have compatable fuel lines, and this is probably only nessesary if you are going to run a >20% blend. You'll spend more in the short run to "convert" to a WVO (waste veggie oil) setup (2nd heated fuel tank, heated filter, electric valves for switching etc) but then you can just go and establish a relationship with a local restarunt and essentially fill up for free. If you decide to make your own biodiesel then you don't need to covert the vehicle (other than fuel line and possibly pump seals) but you'll be paying a small amount to make a processor/reactor, and also buying supplies like lye and methyl alcohol I think.

Biodiesel is becoming more available at the pump, and reg is not far from passing it in price, so for some people this will be the best option.

Run a search on this site for biodiesel and you'll find some other good threads.

[Darth Garry]

I think that SVO and Biodiesel are the wave of the future. I'm seriously considering building a SVO rabbit, as I may be having one fall into my hands in the very near future.

Garry

[rvitko]

I plan to run a 50/50 blend and I bought a biodiesel processing kit from these guys- http://www.biodieselwarehouse.com/

I bought mine on eBay for $215 and to that I just need to add an electric water heater.

Personally I am leary of SVO, I know the film that crap leaves all over my kitchen and I can only imagine what it would do to my engine. The biodiesel process strips the glycerol- the gummy component from the oil. Biodiesel is higher in lubricity and actually cleans out the fuel system. It will become critical to use a portion of Biodiesel after February of next year. In February in the states they mandate Grade 1 Diesel which is sulfur free and this is hard on the old fashioned fuel pumps. The only viable option at the pump for our old style diesels will be Premium Diesel which is 2% Biodiesel. Shell already markets this product and it is what I use both on my pickup and my CDI Merc.

[Darth Garry]

The fuel additive that I use, Stanadyne replaces the sulfur with a substitute that replaces the lubricity.

I look at the SVO rabbit as more of a novelty project/beat around town vehicle. And I don't like all the work involved with distilling my own Biodiesel. But that's just me. Both are excellent alternatives, and I hope to see them grow. Because SVO or Biodiesel, it's still Diesel, and Diesel is the best!

Garry

[rvitko]

I can agree with that. Once I convert my Eurovan to Diesel I will be all Diesel :)