Biodiesel Facts and Myths
Facts
- Biodiesel is recognized by every industry and government entity, including the EPA and the US Department of Transportation.
- Biodiesel is made by modifying the chemical structure of natural vegetable and animal oils.
- Biodiesel burns significantly cleaner then diesel fuel and is nearly carbon neutral and biodiesel is non-toxic
- Biodiesel has much higher lubricity than diesel fuel resulting in longer engine life and cleaner fuel injection components.
Myths
- "Biodiesel is recycled fryer oil." MYTH. Biodiesel can be made from any vegetable or animal oil but it has been chemically processed into a motor fuel.
- "Biodiesel requires a conversion." MYTH. This confusion is a result of the old practice of burning straight vegetable oil in older diesel engines, which does require a vehicle conversion. Biodiesel does not require a conversion and can be mixed in any proportion with petroleum diesel fuel.
- "Biodiesel is expensive." MYTH. Buying biodiesel at a fuel station costs approximately $4.95 per gallon (July 25, 2012) - roughly the same as the price of petroleum diesel fuel. But biodiesel can be produced by an individual using a BioPro™ processor, usually for approximately $1.00 per gallon! (Camp Blanding, a National Guard unit in Florida makes their biodiesel in a BioPro™ for $0.68 cents per gallon)
- "Biodiesel will void my warranty." MYTH. Many companies warrant their diesel engines for use with biodiesel only to a point, such as a 20% blend. But they are prohibited by the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act from voiding a warranty because a customer exceeds their stipulations, unless the higher blend of biodiesel were to directly cause the failure. By the same logic they can also void a warranty if a bad tank of petroleum diesel fuel directly causes a failure.
- "Biodiesel is a perfect fuel." MYTH. Biodiesel offers huge advantages but, like any fuel, has some limitations. it is affected by cold weather to a greater extent than diesel fuel #2, and it typically delivers 2-3% lower fuel milage.
Bottom line: If it runs on diesel, it will run on biodiesel.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to convert my diesel engine to run on biodiesel?
No. Biodiesel runs in diesel engines without a conversion and can be mixed with petroleum diesel in any proportion. The confusion comes from straight vegetable oil (SVO), which does require a vehicle conversion when burned in older diesel engines.
Biodiesel is chemically processed into a motor fuel, so it behaves like diesel in the fuel system. As a rule of thumb, if it runs on diesel, it will run on biodiesel.
Will running biodiesel void my vehicle or engine warranty?
Not by itself. Many manufacturers warrant their engines only up to a certain blend, such as B20, but the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act prohibits them from voiding a warranty simply because a customer used a higher blend.
A manufacturer can deny a claim if the biodiesel directly caused the failure, just as it could if a bad tank of petroleum diesel caused the problem. Using clean, properly made fuel is the best protection.
Is biodiesel just recycled fryer oil?
No. Biodiesel can be made from used fryer oil, but also from any vegetable or animal oil, and in every case the oil is chemically processed into a motor fuel. The process modifies the chemical structure of the oil so it performs like diesel.
Unprocessed fryer oil burned directly in an engine is straight vegetable oil (SVO), a different fuel that requires engine modifications.
What are the drawbacks of biodiesel compared with petroleum diesel?
Biodiesel is affected by cold weather more than #2 diesel, since it gels at higher temperatures, and it typically delivers about 2–3% lower fuel mileage. Those are its main limitations.
In exchange, biodiesel burns significantly cleaner, is nearly carbon neutral and non-toxic, and has much higher lubricity than diesel, which supports longer engine life and cleaner fuel injection components.
Is biodiesel an officially recognized fuel?
Yes. Biodiesel is recognized as a fuel by industry and government bodies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation. It is made by modifying the chemical structure of natural vegetable and animal oils.
For quality, biodiesel is measured against the ASTM D6751 standard, which BioPro processors are designed to meet when high-purity ingredients are used.
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