Biodiesel is a form of diesel that is used to replace more refined fuels in vehicles and home heaters. The more refined a fuel is, the more chemical compounds have been split apart and combined to create it. Many of these compounds are hazardous to the environment, so rougher fuels, such as diesel, are not as inherently dangerous and with the engines of today do not produce as much pollution, either. Biodiesel is a form of diesel fuel made from used plant oils so that energy can be saved and waste can be recycled.
Step One
Using Biodiesel - There is not one biodiesel but many different grades of biodiesel made from the combination of many different types of oils, especially vegetable oil. The only absolutely necessary requirement for using biodiesel is having a diesel engine in your car. If you have a gasoline engine, you will not be able to use biodiesel because gas engines process and use fuel differently than diesel engines, which can handle the heavier fuel. While most house-based biodiesel appliances such as heaters must be built and installed from the ground up, if you have a normal diesel engine in your car, then you can use biodiesel. You can also choose whether to buy biodiesel from a supplier or make it yourself. You should try to buy from a supplier wherever possible because making biodiesel from vegetable oil can be very expensive and difficult. Normal oils, such as use vegetable oil, should never be used straight. Another popular recycling strategy is using old diesel engine oil, which you can more easily filter at home and add to your existing diesel supply.
Step Two
Considerations and Extra Equipment - Not all biodiesels are created equal. While your diesel engine can run on 100 per cent biodiesel fuel, it will not use it quite as efficiently, and you may even have trouble finding 100 per cent solutions available in your local area. Most biodiesel is combined with regular diesel fuels, forming only 5, 10, or 20 per cent of the solution. While this supplements the fuel considerably, it still provides a pure enough mixture that the engine will not be affected. When you use biodiesels for the first time in your engine, your filter may become easily clogged. This is because of the break-up of wax particles already present in the engine, and can lead to blockages and other dangerous problems. If you are just beginning to use biodiesel, expect to replace the filter soon afterward--look for signs such as slow starts or slower acceleration.