Biofuel is a broad term covering biodiesel, straight vegetable oil (SVO), ethanol and other fuels. I am a biodiesel advocate, and focus mainly on biodiesel in my work, but I am including information on SVO because it is a fuel that works in (converted) diesel cars. Ethanol is an alcohol fuel that works in some gasoline vehicles, and is outside the sphere of my experience. Biodiesel and SVO are two ways to fuel a diesel car with vegetable oil. Biodiesel is oil processed in a chemical reaction called transesterification with an alcohol (usually methanol in the US) and a catalyst (lye or potash) that separates all the glycerin from the oil, leaving biodiesel. Biodiesel is thinner and can be used in place of petroleum diesel. SVO is when a diesel car has been modified with heaters and stuff to make the car work with the oil.

Biodiesel
Biodiesel is a biodegradable, non-toxic fuel made from oils and fats that can run in existing diesel engines. Biodiesel can be made in backyards, in small, local plants and in large factories. While biodiesel can be made sustainably from waste grease, this is the best-case scenario and more the exception than the rule. While I use biodiesel myself and believe it has clear advantages to petroleum fuels, I must acknowledge that biodiesel cannot be made, with existing feedstocks and technology, in quantities sufficient to replace the petroleum diesel currently being used in this country. It can, however, play a part in reducing carbon dioxide and other dangerous emissions, as well as in establishing energy security and self-reliance.

Emissions
One of the best things about biodiesel is that it reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 70% compared to petroleum diesel, and is about an 80% reduction compared to gasoline due to the diesel engine’s greater efficiency. The study I refer to for this information can be found here. There are also substantial reductions in cancer-causing volatile organic compounds and carbon monoxide when using biodiesel. The summary of the Tier I and Tier II Health Effects testing done by the Biodiesel Board show significant emissions reductions as well. http://www.biodiesel.org/pdf_files/fuelfactsheets/HealthEffectsTesting.PDF

Feedstocks
It was an honor for me and fellow Berkeley Biodiesel Collective member John White to appear on KPFA with Biodiesel: Growing a New Energy Economy author Greg Pahl in September 2006. One thing I said on the air is that I want my biodiesel to come from waste oil. It is true that some promising work has been done with algae, but for now waste grease is the most efficient feedstock for biodiesel. Soy has been the most used feedstock in this country because the soy industry established the Biodiesel Board when they saw the potential to create a new market for their soy oil. But there are many more oil-rich crops than soy, and not many people I meet like the idea of GMO soy as the source of our fuel. It’s a step up from petroleum, but is not our ideal. The right oil crop depends on the region where it is grown. The issue of feedstock is central to biodiesel’s sustainability, and I hope you will join me in supporting the Biodiesel Council of California’s work with farmers on developing locally appropriate feedstocks. http://www.biodieselcouncil.org

Precautions
Using biodiesel requires no major changes in either diesel cars or your lifestyle, but there are some basic precautions to take when making the transition:

Blending and fuel filters
If you live in an area with commercial biodiesel available, you can switch to using 100% biodiesel, or B100, or blend at any ratio you choose or have access to. It does not harm the car to go back and forth between petroleum and biodiesel. You may, however, have some issues with fuel filter clogging when you first begin using biodiesel because it cleans engines so effectively. If your fuel system has sediment from lots of dirty petroleum diesel, it may take several months and a couple of fuel filter changes before that stuff is gone.

Solvency
While biodiesel is biodegradable and non-toxic, it is still an effective solvent and should not be left to sit on you car’s paint or upholstery. Wash it off, like you would a spill of any messy food substance, with soap and water.

Cold weather
Cold weather may pose a problem for you if you want to use B100, because biodiesel solidifies, or “gels” at a higher temperature than diesel or kerosene. In some areas, or in some times of the year, it is advisable to blend biodiesel down to B70 or B50. Where I live, it is mild enough that I have never had any problems with fuel gelling, but there were a few reports of problems on the coldest days of last year even here in the Bay Area.

Effect on cars
For many cars older than year 1993, it might be necessary to replace fuel lines made from natural rubber with modern hoses that are biodiesel compatible. Some of these fuel lines have been replaced during routine maintenance, so many people never experience problems using biodiesel, even in very old cars. While there have been reports of occasional fuel pump problems associated with biodiesel, there is no evidence that biodiesel poses a threat to any diesel engines. In fact, biodiesel is considered a performance-enhancing additive and may improve the fuel efficiency of some cars. Studies on biodiesel safety can be found in Greg Pahl’s book Biodiesel: Growing a New Energy Economy.

 

Fuel quality
Fuel quality is an issue of some concern, so I suggest checking with your fuel supplier about their methods of ensuring that only uncontaminated biodiesel makes it into your fuel tank. If you have a vehicle of substantial value, I recommend using only ASTM spec fuel. You can buy biodiesel “pHLip” tests at B100supply.com for use when traveling if you have any doubts.

Warranty
If your car is under warranty, you may want to use a low blend of biodiesel (like B5) to be sure your dealer will continue to provide warranty service. Ask what the policy is where you take your car, since dealerships have to make the ultimate call on warranty work. I never recommend any dishonesty about biodiesel. I do not like the “don’t ask, don’t tell” method that some people advocate. Some dealerships respond to customers who take a quiet, respectful approach. They often will service cars without bumper stickers in case someone from corporate happens by. While the higher-ups may have a legitimate concern about fuel quality, your local shop may have more information about the biodiesel supplier(s) in your area, and base their decisions accordingly.

Price
Biodiesel price is something many people have trouble with. Since biodiesel can be made in the backyard for 70 cents a gallon, why does commercial biodiesel cost so much? This is a complicated issue, but certainly supply and demand play a crucial role. There is not very much biodiesel on the market, so large-scale producers keep their prices high because there is plenty of demand. Small-scale commercial producers generally have higher costs per gallon, and often are paying more workers higher wages to make their fuel. The way I choose to think of it is to compare my fuel costs per mile to what a gasoline car’s would be. Since my car is so much more fuel-efficient, I figure that I am saving money. But I also believe that buying locally grown, organic food is cost effective in the long run because I value my health and that of my community, and I want all of my spending decisions to reflect my values. I believe that biodiesel is a good value for my money, even at a premium.

Homebrewing
If you are interested in making your own biodiesel, I recommend taking a class. There are some wonderful resources online, and you can buy the Biodiesel Homebrew Guide at GirlMark.com or the BioFuel Oasis. Girl Mark and Jennifer Radtke (co-founder of the Oasis) both offer classes in biodiesel homebrewing and processor building. See GirlMark.com and Jennifer's Backyard Biodiesel for class listings. I found this fun audio recording from the Berkeley Biodiesel Collective’s second annual car show in July of 2005. It’s Novella Carpenter’s talk on DIY biodiesel: www.indybay.org/olduploads/biodiesel_diy.mp3

SVO
Rudolph Diesel originally designed his engine to use straight vegetable oil, and many people are happy with collecting and filtering their own grease to fuel their vehicles. This waste oil, or WVO, is free and still possible to find at restaurants. I encourage people to pursue this avenue if they are handy with tools and love tinkering around in their spare time. There are kits available to heat the oil in the fuel system. A working SVO conversion provides similar benefits to biodiesel, or even better, in terms of the reduction of greenhouse gasses going into the atmosphere. I have had numerous problems with my SVO conversion. While not everyone experiences this many, or the same exact problems, and they can to some degree be avoided, SVO complications are common enough that I think it is fair to say that conversions are not for everyone.

Conversions – not for everybody
My main issues have been due to my converted car breaking down on the road for various reasons, usually having to do with fuel starvation. When the fuel system is restructured to accommodate the heating and filtering elements necessary to run SVO, air leaks can form which prevent the oil from flowing into the engine. The heavier grease can tire out the old fuel lift pump, and this can also reduce fuel availability. The fuel filters can become chronically clogged, especially if you don’t use excellent grease and filter it down far enough. It is a real drag to have an expensive stainless coolant hose rupture after falling loose from the zip tie holding it to the frame of the car, and being dragged under you while you’re driving along. I wish someone had suggested I have my fuel tank cleaned out at the time of converting my car, because that probably could have saved me from a breakdown or two. While I may sound like a whiner who needs to have all my car repairs done for me, I am typical of the people who should not consider having a conversion done. Imagine having your car break down far from home and hearing, “Sorry lady (or dude) I won’t work on that – it’s been altered so I can’t be responsible for fixing it.” Even when the needed repair has no connection to the conversion, it can be difficult to find a grease-friendly mechanic in a new or different town. If you do decide that SVO is for you, consider performing the conversion yourself. If you hire a mechanic, try to find out in advance how any breakdown-related rescues will be handled. Will your mechanic be there for you every time you get stranded? At least be prepared to change your own fuel filter on the side of the freeway. I may have been unlucky, but I was naïve more than stupid, and now I have done my part to discourage you from following in my footsteps.

Grease collection
One major problem with collecting grease is a law that became effective 1/1/06, prohibiting people from transporting “inedible kitchen grease” without a license. AB1065 requires people to pay $100 plus $75 per vehicle and carry a $1 million insurance policy. While not impossible to comply with, the law is a real hurdle to get over. There have been reports of people being fined for violations because the commercial grease collectors are watching and turning people in. They designed the law to keep people from collecting grease for personal use, and the law has had a chilling effect on the community. Once you have a license, you still have to be responsible and pick up the grease regularly and settle and filter it before you can burn it (or make biodiesel).