diesel tacos

It's my understanding that the Biodiesel produced in the garage with french fry oil actually provides better performance than mass produced diesel fuel. I saw this on one of those mechanic shows where they were demonstrating how easily biodiesel could be made and how few minor modifications were needed to use it in your average American diesel engine. I think it was a Dodge. Also, the byproduct of brewing your own biodiesel was glycerin, one of the main ingredients in soap.

If I am mistaken, correct me now, set me straight. I don't want to misinform anyone.

 

Not quite true. Let me clarify, I shouldn't of said never turned profits. I should of said they mostly broke even or turned negligible profits during the 80's and 90's. If you google it and reserch the facts, before 2000 there were roughly 30 some odd companies operating in the US, due to lack of profit, they merged into bigger companies, i.e. Exxon Mobil. The combined revenue of these companies allowed the money necessary for investment in drilling technologies, exploring and alternative energy sources. One of the largest reserves is believed to be in Russia in Siberia, but the Russians themselves cannot generate the capital to research the deep drilling necessary to reach the wells, and US companies fear the anti capitalist trends in the Russian market make it a very shaky investment. Look what happened in Venezuela. Exxon lost somewhere near $7B in investements when Chavez turnes the oil market there into a state controlled asset and kicked out US companies. Morales did a similiar thing in Bolivia. The oil indusrty is very volitile. The companies may have turned a profit one year and didn't turn one for three years previous to 2000. It has only been since 2000 that the oil industry has been seeing continual profits. Only now has it somewhat started to slow down due to refinery profits taking a chunk out of the overall oil shares; regardless, they are still huge profit, and the oil companies are not re-investing that money into research for alternative sources in line with the profits they are making.

 

I'm going to get the skinny from my brother in law. He does this as a hobby, but lately it's been an obsession. He'll consider turning any vehicle into a bio diesel. He was considering dropping a diesel engine into a Kia Spectra His wife totalled the car before he could put his aspirations to test. I'm sure if I wanted to spend the money, he wouldn't think twice of converting over my Tacoma to a french fry burner.

 

I've been researching making biodiesel. I could sure use the cash we spend on heating oil.... That was $300/month last winter! Luckily we got our tank filled for free after I lost my job, but we still had to drop another $100 or so for the minimum delivery last month. I just get confused when I read all the info about this fry oil is bad, this is good, this equipment is needed, etc. Although I saw a set n forget setup on northern tool for either $1,000 or $3,000.... I forget, but what caught my eye is the fact you add the oil, fill chemical hoppers, "Push the big green button", and walk away to let it do it's thing. Only thing left would be getting a trailer, tank, transfer pump, and some storage containers I guess. Maybe some filters and misc. parts along with the chemicals. If I could get that, make it work, and get more than we need to heat the house I'd be seriously looking at a diesel to replace the Corolla since it's on it's last legs anyway.

 

It's also the main ingredient in Nitroglycerin...

 

Well, that is sort of correct. It actually is a bit worse for performance (about a 2-3% drop in power at B100), but the lubricity (word?) is much higher. It is extremely good for a diesel engine to run biodiesel. Most vehicles don't need any modifications as they already use Viton line instead of rubber. Older vehicles (<1996) used rubber fuel lines. The biodiesel will actually eat through these lines.

You are correct about the glycerin. You can make fuel and take a shower now. Now, how are you going to make those towels?

 

duh.... from the "hemp" he grows in the basement!