Do people really make their own bio-diesel?
I came across some online forums talking about how there are people who make enough of bio-diesel that they never have to go to a pump again. Is this really true and do you know anyone who does it? I’m thinking it’s just a lot of hear say.
Let me start off by saying we (Agua-Luna) are a non-profit organization that live, promote & teach 100% “off grid” living & complete self sufficiency”. To give you an idea of this, we typically don’t leave the Ranch but once or twice a year.
The 1 Bio truck we do currently run on Biodiesel is a 1999 Dodge truck (we have 1 the runs 100% on water, 2 EVs & 1 running on Ethanol). But all Cummins engines were modified from the factory to run on BioD since around 1992 without any modification.
Biofuel is recognized by both the US Environmental Protection Agency & Department of Energy as an alternative fuel, & qualifies for mandated programs under the Clean Air Act Amendments & the Environmental Protection Act of 1992 (EPAct).
USDA Clears Air with Biofuel: Buses & other diesel-burning vehicles run cleaner if they mix biofuel with regular diesel fuel, said the US Department of Agriculture at a biofuel fuel seminar at a USDA research center.
Conversely most major automotive manufacturers (Chrysler, Ford, & General Motors, etc) recommend the use of bio fuels, & nearly every car manufacturer in the world approves ethanol blends in their warranty coverage.
In fact you’re probably even driving a Flex Fuel car & didn’t even know it.
The trick is finding fuel.
I’ve been producing biofuel for about 8 years now, it’s not extremely difficult. Basically you need general household ingredients, a processor (or still for ethanol) & some used oil. Blend it, let separate, screen & use. I complied a guide a while back to help walk you threw the process step by step, just email me or check out..
•1 liter of new vegetable oil, whatever the supermarket sells as cooking oil
•200 ml of methanol, 99+% pure
•lye catalyst — either potassium hydroxide (KOH) or sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
•blender or mini-processor
•scales accurate to 0.1 grams, preferably less — 0.01 grams is best
•measuring beakers for methanol & oil
•half-liter translucent white HDPE (#2 plastic) container with bung & screw-on cap
•2 funnels to fit the HDPE container
•2-litre PET bottle (water or soft-drinks bottle) for settling
•two 2-litre PET bottles for washing
•duct tape
•Thermometer
Use the “Methoxide the easy way” method — it’s also the safe way. Here’s how to do it.
Measure out 200 ml of methanol & pour it into the half-liter HDPE container via the funnel. Methanol also absorbs water from the atmosphere so do it quickly & replace the lid of the methanol container tightly. Don’t be too frightened of methanol, if you’re working at ordinary room temperature & you keep it at arm’s length you won’t be exposed to dangerous fumes.
Carefully add the lye to the HDPE container via the second funnel. Replace the bung & the screw on the cap tightly.
Shake the container a few times — swirl it round rather than shaking it up & down. The mixture gets hot from the reaction. If you swirl it thoroughly for a minute or so five or six times over a period of time the lye will completely dissolve in the methanol, forming sodium methoxide or potassium methoxide. As soon as the liquid is clear with no undissolved particles you can begin the process.
The more you swirl the container the faster the lye will dissolve. With NaOH it can take from overnight to a few hours to as little as half-an-hour with lots of swirling (but don’t be impatient, wait for ALL the lye to dissolve). Mixing KOH is much faster; it dissolves in the methanol more easily than NaOH & can be ready for use in 10 minutes.
Using a blender. Use a spare blender you don’t need or get a cheap secondhand one — cheap because it might not last very long, but it will get you going until you build something better.
Check that the blender seals are in good order. Make sure all parts of the blender are clean & dry & that the blender components are tightly fitted.
Pre-heat the oil to 55 deg C (130 deg F) & pour it into the blender.
With the blender still switched off, carefully pour the prepared methoxide from the HDPE container into the oil.
Secure the blender lid tightly & switch on. Lower speeds should be enough. Blend for at least 20 minutes.
Using a mini-processor. Follow the instructions below & improvise where necessary — there are many ways of building a processor like this.
Proceed with processing as above, maintain temperature at 55 deg C (130 deg F), process for one hour.
i happen to know my self and indeed i make my own bio diesel! crazy heresay huh?
yes people do, but in the uk you are only allowed to make a certain amount a week before you have to pay tax on it, but not all cars are able to run on bio diesel
There are people who do that (and it’s quite well known how they do it).
Although a lot of them are technically breaking the law since they don’t pay tax on their fuel (which would pretty much wipe out any savings they make), if only a few people are doing it they aren’t likely to be caught but if a lot of people start doing it then enforcement tends to happen.
Yes.Certain states have their hand out for fuel taxes.I run wvo,and wmo, with a converted diesel.Less hassle making fuel.
you can make anything at home, but it isn’t usually cost effective and frankly, it’s dangerous. Ask the Forum what they do with the hazardous waste bi products. If they use Straight unconverted biodiesel, what is the normal temperature in their town and how they deal with temps below 40F?
So, most are bragging and either are pouring wastes somewhere or live in hot climates, like Texas.