What is Biodiesel?
Biodiesel is the general term given to processed fuel derived from natural resources, SVO (straight vegetable oil), WVO (waste vegetable oil) and animal fats which could be used as a direct substitute for diesel fuel with minimal engine modification using conversion kits.
Why use Biodiesel?
The primary driving force for the use of biodiesel is the high price of petrol products that include diesel fuel. As the prices of petrol diesel goes up, the price of homemade biodiesel becomes more competitive with some added environmental advantage.
Second, as an alternative fuel, it is renewable, which can be grown and produced from our own backyard and recycled from wastes. Since biodiesel is derived from recycled oil from restaurant or from fresh vegetable oil and animal fats, theres no worrying for how long will the supply last. As long as there is land to grow the crops and plants which played as the major source of oil for biodiesel raw material. There are several crops (soybean, rapeseed, mustard, jathropa palm oil and algae) which could be used as source for biodiesel.
Third, it is biodegradable non-toxic, the and produces fewer emmisions as compared to petroleum based diesel. Biodiesel is made from nature thus its by product is pro-nature. Most biodiesel users commented that their emissions smells like fried fries.
How to use Biodiesel?
Biodiesel can be used as a direct substitute for petrol-diesel without any modification on the existing engines. But companies are manufacturing Biodiesel conversion kits which claims to improve the performance and at the same time protect the engine from damage.
The current practice for the use of biodiesel is as an additive. They are using B20 or 20% biodiesel mixed with 80% petrol diesel. The practice is based on the fact that biodiesel has lubcrating properties which improves overall engine performance, improved milage and fewer hazardous and toxic emissions.
