Biodiesel pros and cons
For most, the time has come to end our global dependence on oil.
Some have begun car-pooling; others are using mass transportation, riding scooters or bicycles for their daily commute. Some, who cannot possibly make their daily journey without an automobile, have chosen to purchase hybrid vehicles. Then there are the lucky ones, who own diesel-engine cars.
Diesel-engine cars get slightly better gas mileage than traditional gas powered vehicles, yet diesel remains costly at the pump. But the engine itself is a veritable piggy bank, as one can save thousands of dollars annually by converting your diesel to biofuel.
Even with the potential to eliminate fuel costs, minimize engine wear-and-tear, and eliminate harmful sulphur emissions from the atmosphere, there are still drawbacks to converting to biodiesel. However, the benefits far outweigh the inconveniences, and the decision should be entirely up to the car owner—every situation is different.
The first thing to remember is that in order to separate yourself from big oil, you will need to do a good amount of research, making sure that you are meeting all local standards and guidelines for proper use, maintenance, and construction of your biofuel system. Next, make sure that you have read your manufacturer’s vehicle handbook to insure compatibility with whatever biofuel system you operate your automobile on.
Finally, make sure that you have established a proven, reliable, and trusted biofuel source. There are home systems available, but not everyone has the money to buy a biofuel tank. Make sure that you have the means to purify your fuel, maintain storage of your fuel, and properly maintain your vehicle—operation of a biofuel-powered car can vary, depending on the system you have opted to use for your vehicle.
To make your decision easier, here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of owning a biodiesel vehicle.
Pros
Rudolph Diesel (1892) designed his diesel engine to use peanut oil as the fuel source. The diesel engine is therefore ready to run on an assortment of environmentally safe fuels. The diesel engine as a whole was designed to get better fuel economy and less engine wear overall.
The diesel engine therefore, saves money on fuel costs, engine repair and reduces one’s carbon footprint.
Biodiesel powered engines generate 90 percent reduction in emissions over traditional petroleum diesel. Biodiesel-compatible crops, such as vegetable, canola, peanut and hemp, take in carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere as they breathe. A vehicle powered by these biofuels will produce the same amount of CO2. This balances the cycle or is “carbon neutral.”
You are also eliminating unburned hydrocarbons, and sulphur oxides from the car emissions when using biofuel compared to traditional diesel. This helps to reduce the production of acid rain.
Waste Vegetable Oil recycles waste oil from restaurants, and causes the emissions to smell like food—French fries, chicken, and popcorn are common scents.
Straight Vegetable Oil is manufactured domestically with renewable crops, which is good for our economy both nationally and locally.
You receive tax credits, oddly, for driving a carbon-neutral vehicle. In some instances, you can receive grants from the U.S. Government for the construction or conversion of your vehicle.
Cons
The new Mustang doesn’t come with a diesel engine option, and diesel engine conversions from a traditional gas powered engine range in the $1,000s.
If you have to buy a kit, it will cost around $2,000 and must be maintained regularly.
According to the EPA, using biofuel to power a car is a violation of the Clean Air Act. Feel free to write your local representative about this.
Purging before and after driving is time consuming and can easily be forgotten when one is in a rush. If you do not purge the car’s system, you will flood the fuel lines and stall the car.
Vehicle warranties are often voided when installing a conversion kit or using biodiesel.
If you cannot afford to buy a home biodiesel kit and are forced to use recycled oil, it’s a dirty and smelly job.
Waste Vegetable Oil often smells like French fries, chicken, or popcorn (I know, this is a pro as well—it depends on how much you like those smells).
Some cars do not perform as well as they do on biofuel. Most can equal, or in some rare cases, outperform their diesel-powered-twins. But this usually requires another expensive upgrade.
Transesterification is dangerous if one has to purify their fuel themselves.
Overall, eliminating one’s dependence on oil, sulphur emissions, and the heavy hand of big oil in one fell swoop sound like a Captain Planet episode, but it’s possible. Diesel engine owners will have to do a cost-benefit analysis, which will undoubtedly work in your favor in the long run if you invest in biofuel.
—Javier Johnson
Articles that may be related to this one
Leave a Response
Entries(RSS)