Exploding myths about making Biodiesel

Having worked in the motor trade for around 30 years, selling cars and then running dealerships and finally doing consultancy and sales training for the major motor manufacturers I have a kind of insight into how the manufacturers work and think.

Combine this with a strong interest and active role in making Biodiesel for more than 4 years and I guess I have a rather special take on the present situation regarding Biodiesel. Particularly here in the good 'ole UK.

I try to read lots of articles and blogs on Biodiesel of course and try to post some of these to this site. In trying to keep abreast of latest news I am either amazed or dismayed at some of the so called 'information and advice' that gets published.

I am currently on a mailing list for a newsletter that trundles into my inbox 3 or 4 times a week. Written by someone in the Biodiesel business. He writes in a rather authoritative tone and yet says some complete nonsense! Anyone thinking of getting into making Biodiesel would be either alarmed or seriously put off by some of the comments. They come across not as opinion but as 'gospel'

This week he has been going on about the way that Biodiesel will attack pure rubber hoses and seals in vehicles and of course this is true. However, for someone trying to promote others into making Biodiesel I would put it differently.

For instance: while it's true that Biodiesel attacks rubber fuel lines etc on cars, tractors, lorries, vans etc, etc. Most engines built after 1994/95 used synthetic fuel lines and seals so there is no problem with using up to 100% neat Biodiesel in these.

For older equipment all you need do is buy a set of synthetic lines and seals and replace the rubber ones. That is a relatively small outlay which then enables you to take advantage of all the Biodiesel benefits! So come on, let's get positive here.

And another thing that really bugs me. This guy tells people to only follow the car makers guidelines for the use of Biodiesel. Which sounds like good sense. Except that in some European countries such as France, for some years they have sold their fossil diesel at the pumps as a B5 mixture. Meaning it comes with 5% Biodiesel in it. This is for lubrication and takes the place of the sulphur. So the manufacturers that tell British customers to not use any more than 2% Biodiesel in the UK are selling and servicing identicle cars in Europe that run quite happily on B5.

The big revelation however is that these same cars will run on B100. The reason car manufacturers try to disuade owners from using homemade fuel is simple. They don't want to expose themselves to warranty claims from people who make 'dodgy' home made gloop in their kitchens or worse, try to run straight vegetable oil (SVO) in their new Ford or Honda or Merc in the mistaken belief that this is Biodiesel!

Proper Biodiesel made by the transesterification process will run in almost any diesel engine, so there.

I am beginning to think that I need to mount a much more aggressive campaign to counter all of this wishy washy, negative style, misleading output surrounding Biodiesel.

The stuff is good, cheap, accessible to almost everyone and you can make it yourself at home. It will run in almost ANY diesel engine without modification usually or at the worst you may have to fit some new fuel lines and seals and renew your filters - what's not to like??

So if you are hesitating about either using or making Biodiesel, don't listen to people who simply spout off about the subject based upon what they have read, read from someone who has made the stuff, sold the stuff and used the stuff for years. I know, I was that man!

Keep reading it here folks. And look out for some interesting new developments coming soon.



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