Bio Diesel

While I can't speak to the dual fuel aspect of it, I can give you a few things to think about concerning bio.

The Bio PITA - "You" have to go fetch the stock. Its a real PITA to travel to all your stops only to come home with 5 gals of veggy oil because somebody came around and sucked it all out of the tanks. Ever price locking oil tanks?????

The Bio Trap - There is no way on Gods green earth you can make it for 70 cents a gallon. I don't care how much you make in whatever kinda system. By the time you figure chemicals, filters, electric, labors, fuel to fetch it, and equipment, Tain't, no way.

The Bio Curse - More a diesel issue than bio issue. The bio does act like a solvent and will require a few filter changes to rid your tank of diesel varnish's and crud. After the inital shock (few tank fulls) it tends to go away. But do replace any rubber hoses in the fuel system as it will eat them up.

Da Insurance Man - He is closely related to the Fire Marshal. Get their blessings up front. One of the regular bio makers just burnt down his house. Ask what he should tell the insurace company. 99% told him to say it was a grease fire, as "technicly" it was since the over heated oil flashed on him. I doubt the insurance fella's count boiling 40 gals of veggy oil as the same as a grease fire in a frying pan.

So why have I basicly quit, I found I was spending about $3.00 a gallon makin my own. By the "time" (figured cheap labor $10 hour) I fecthed the oil, filtered it, pumped it, heated it, mixed it, seperated it, washed it, washed it again, and again, and again and then finally dried it by heating and pumping it again, again, and again. Not to mention the batches that failed (turn to gunk) or the gallons of glycerine and wash water you have to get rid of. I can get farm diesel or fuel oil (my main uses) for 2.20 and 1.85 a gal respectively, and takes all of 5 mins to fill the tank.

Don't get me wrong there is a place for in the future. It's just not the fix all great home brew they claim it to be. Now put diesel at 4+ a gal. Different story.

• Biodiesel

But here in Iowa we can buy biodeisel that is produced from soybeans.

The cost on soydiesel is about $2.00 per gallon

I use a 5% blend of soydeisel, 95% diesel because if you use it straight it is hard on the rubber hoses and fittings.

But every gallon used helps the farmer and helps lower the cost of diesel.

Check with your fuel supplier and see if he will offer soydeisel. If your close enough to a plant he might do it if there are enough interested.

Just my 2 cents. Gary