Biodiesel

When you start looking for information on how to make biodiesel there are a more than a few things that you need to consider. The most important in my opinion, is safety both yours but also the safety of family members, pets and your property where you are making biodiesel. It also matters if you have any plans about selling your biodiesel product.

Pouring biodiesel into your vehicle's engine can void your warranty on your vehicle. You have to read your OME warranty to make the right decision. And remember if you sell or give biodiesel fuel to another individual and it destroys their engine then is it you and not the manufacturer of the diesel engine or diesel car that can be sued. And selling biodiesel that is not fuel grade is illegal.

Making biodiesel at home can be a time consuming, labor intensive process so set aside a week for your homemade diesel production. Also be prepared to experience a few failures and make several test batches, as biodiesel production not always an exact science. The success of the venture depends on factors like quality of the vegetable oil you are using, humidity of the air, quality of your chemicals.Some go as fas as to say it depends on luck, but surely it depends on your actual skills as a chemist.

Every time you have made a batch of biodiesel you must test that it is fuel grade. Failing to do so and you could be risking damage to your diesel engine or diesel car.

Making biodiesel at home is not for children. It is only for adult as many of the materials used to make biodiesel are very toxic so you must be aware of this and not make your biodiesel making a "kid's science project."

Many of the ingredients used in biodiesel are toxic but they are also common household chemicals and large numbers of ordinary people from all over the world (farmers for example) have been making biodiesel for the last 50 years.

For instance, the lye that is used in most recipes is sold in supermarkets and hardware stores as a drain-cleaner. Methanol is the main or only ingredient in barbecue fuel or fuel for fondue. Methanol is sold in supermarkets as "stove fuel" and used at the dinner table. It's safe if you're careful and sensible about the handling and mixing of the product then there is no need to be apprehensive.

On the positive side of things Biodiesel fuel works in any diesel engine without any conversion or modifications to the engine or the fuel system as long as you use the percentage of biodiesel fuel to regular diesel fuel that is recommended in your owner's manual.