Buyers Guide to Biodiesel Kits
There is a lot to be said about making an impact on the environment, and making the shift from diesel to bio-diesel can not only save you money, but it can possibly be the best alternative around.
Bio-diesel itself is an enigma that most people do not even know exist, or exactly what it is. Waste vegetable oil produced by fast-food restaurants, and other food services is usually a product that doesn't get a second life, but bio-diesel may just change the way we treat this slop. Bio-diesel conversion is the process in which waste material from vegetable oil is converted into a form of usable alternative fuel. The conversion can either be done by converting the oil to a useable fuel, or converting the diesel motor to burn unmodified waste vegetable oil, which can be either grease, fat or even lard. This process would result in producing a bio-diesel engine. This has aptly been dubbed the "grease car!"
The Bio-diesel engine conversion kit can appeal to most due to that it is a one time process that does not require further changes, where a bio-diesel conversion must be an ongoing conversion every time you run out of fuel. There is an uprising in the USA for bio-diesel fuel stations, which sell at a drastic price difference compared to other fuel. Another advantage to making a engine conversion, is due to the availability to use both converted bio-diesel, and regular petroleum based fuel, so you don't have to worry if you can't find the right station to top up!
Fuel Processing Kits: Since the process of converting waste to bio-diesel fuel is not practical for an average driver I will just state the cost for such kit. The average bio-diesel processor kit can range from $2000 US which can make up to 40 Gallons in approximately 8-14 hours, but requires you to collect such waste to begin production. Larger more industrial units can range into the $8000 US price which will produce up to 230 Gallons of bio-diesel in approximately the same 8-14 hour range.
Bio-diesel fuel engine conversion: First check your manufacture if you already have a diesel motor, since most vehicles already have the ability to run on bio-diesel fuel. Ensure that using such fuel will not have any impact on your warranty guidelines before considering any form of alternate fuel. Bio-diesel has three common forms:
Straight Vegetable Oil SVO or Pure Plant Oil PPO: This is basically vegetable oil in its purest form, and it requires no specific refinement or additives to be mixed.
Mixed oil: This is similar to SVO or PPO but it requires it to be mixed with kerosene, bio-diesel, or petroleum based diesel fuel. Mixing the fuel is a common choice among bio-diesel consumers since it can reduce maintenance issues and still have the same higher viscosity required to run a typical diesel motor.
Straight Bio-diesel fuel: Advantage to this is simple; no need for mixing, or dabbling with finding the right combination; simply fill your tank and go. This type of fuel mixture is also been modified to specifications that will work better in colder temperatures, and is likely to not harm or affect your warranty of your vehicle.
A bio-diesel kit consists of some basic components:
Fuel Valves HardwareWire Harness and connectors Hose bracketsFuse and harness Fuel hoseDash light, fuel gage Hose clampsHeater hose T-fittingsInstruction manual Heated vegetable oil tank5 Micron Bag filter Heated 10 Micron filter
Kits range between car makes, models and whether your converting a car or a truck so I will give you the basic average costs based on a few vehicles.
A Volkswagen Jetta can get a basic kit for roughly $1000 US to $1500 depending on the kit company. I recommend Greasecar Vegetable Fuel Systems for the best kit on the market.
A Mercedes Sedan kit is slightly less ranging between $850 US to just under $1000 US, and with this type of vehicle an add-on monitoring system may be recommended to ensure the life of your motor.
My father has a 2006 Ford F350 pickup truck, and his conversion kit was much higher in price due to the heavy duty motor inside. The cost was just over $3000 US, but if you examine the benefit of someone who pulls a fifth-wheel trailer over a couple thousand miles each month, the overall fuel savings is much greater than the cost of the conversion. I have to admit it might be strange how my father pulls up to a deli, or fast food joint, and pops in to ask if they have any old oil they might no longer need. In fact most are happy to relinquish their sludge collection, avoiding the cost of paying someone to dispose of this waste is actually quite welcomed among most restaurant owners.
The environment is in dire need of cleaner alternative fuels, and bio-diesel is definitely a resource that cannot be dismissed. My father runs in a few circles of bio-diesel junkies, and I have heard tales of guys who haven't paid for a single tank of gas for years, or how some have actually went into business collecting free used oil from restaurant owners only to convert it to this reusable resource, so why don't more people convert? I don't really know the reason, but I do know that free gas sounds pretty good to me!
