1. OK, So what do I need to do to convert my car to biodiesel?
Ensure that you have a CO alarm if you have any fuel burning stove, appliance, fireplace or even an attached garage. Consider locating units close to bedrooms with additional alarms as required. CO alarms wear out too; if you have an older unit it may need to be replaced.3. Is it true that a gradually increasing the amount of biodiesel in my diesel fuel is the best way to start using biodiesel in my vehicle?What exactly is Carbon Monoxide (CO)?2. How much money will I save? It really depends on you, and how you decide to make your own biodiesel. For example, if you are using waste vegetable oil from restaurants, (free feedstock) and buying other ingredients in bulk, your savings are going to be substantial. Say, around $2.00 or more per gallon...just in case. The good news is, once your engine's fuel system has been cleaned, it will stay incredibly clean from then on.All systems that burn fuel and their venting systems should be inspected by a professional once a year, even if they are in good working order. Potential problems can be identified before they occur, and regular cleaning and maintenance can prevent them from happening at all, as well as extending the life of your appliance.They usually heat a radius of 10-20 feet. However the radius varies according to the model and ambient atmosphere. Patio heaters usually raise the temperature from 10-30 degrees Fahrenheit.Patio heaters radiate anywhere up to 35,000 BTU (British Thermal Units). The emitter reaches a temperature up to 1150 degrees Fahrenheit. This causes bluing of the stainless steel. Also a brownish color develops on the emitter which appears like rust. However there is no cause for alarm as this brownish tint is normal and is not rusting of the unit.If anyone is sick as a result of CO exposure, get them out of the house and note their symptoms. Call 911, explain the problem, the number of people ill, and their symptoms. No one should re-enter the house until the source of the CO is eliminated.Production of carbon monoxide can result from a fuel burning appliance or tool being used in a confined space without adequate ventilation, poorly maintained, or improperly adjusted burners or heating systems. Take one such appliance that is not combusting properly because of a lack of maintenance, run it in a tightly sealed house or enclosed space and you have the perfect recipe for creating high levels of carbon monoxide.How is it produced?The principle used in most patio heaters is to heat using radiated heat and not convection. As a lot of energy gets used up in heating air for convection heating and very less percentage of heat is left for the user convection heating is not feasible. Radiative heating patio heaters are more economical as they provide heat to the user and air is not heated.Minimizing the RiskNo problems at all. You can switch back and forth as much as you like.11. Will biodiesel work in kerosene heaters and/or oil furnaces?Because modern diesel engines have been modified to meet diesel #2 viscosity standards, straight vegetable oil like the kind Rudolf Diesel used in 1912, is much thicker. This is the thing which kept biodiesel out of the energy/fuel playing field for so long. What has happened recently is a process called "transesterification." This process is used to thin the vegetable oil and remove the glycerol molecule from the vegetable oil and replaces it with methyl alcohol , or methanol. In order to do this, the methanol is mixed with sodium or potassium hydroxide (Lye) before being mixed with the vegetable oil. This is the basic process. Commercial production requires more ingredients and more refining processes, but you get the picture.The short answer is...yes. Biodiesel is 100% compatible with diesel #2. There are no worries in that regard. One of the compelling reasons to buy a biodiesel kit in my opinion is to get rid of that financial albatross, called "heating oil" in colder climates. A biodiesel kit can pay for itself in a matter of months, one winter definitely. Kerosene, which is also known as diesel #1, or heating oil #1, is thinner than diesel #2. This, of course, requires a bit more experimentation, but generally, if a heater is designed for kerosene, then it will work with a biodiesel blend. (meaning a higher percentage of kerosene and a lower percentage of biodiesel)6. If I switch to biodiesel and don't like it, are there any problems with switching back to diesel again?7. How are automobile makers, and specifically their warranties, responding to biodiesel usage?As we have said, just because the first diesel engines were designed to burn vegetable oil, a lot has changed in the engine world since 1912. Biodiesel fuel, to work efficiently in a modern diesel, we need to lower the viscosity (thickness) of the vegetable oil. we accomplish this through the biodiesel production process. It can also be accomplished by modifying the engine with a SVO Conversion kit. But additionally, there are other reasons not to use straight vegetable oil. One, it still contains glycerol which doesn't burn as cleanly as biodiesel and can leave deposits behind in the injection chambers. Two, SVO still needs to be de-watered, filtered and heated prior to introducing it into your tank. Also, filtering SVO can be very tedious to say the least, needing lots of time and energy, not to mention equipment and toolsWhat happens if the alarm goes off?
The short answer is...yes. Biodiesel is 100% compatible with diesel #2. There are no worries in that regard. One of the compelling reasons to buy a biodiesel kit in my opinion is to get rid of that financial albatross, called "heating oil" in colder climates. A biodiesel kit can pay for itself in a matter of months, one winter definitely. Kerosene, which is also known as diesel #1, or heating oil #1, is thinner than diesel #2. This, of course, requires a bit more experimentation, but generally, if a heater is designed for kerosene, then it will work with a biodiesel blend. (meaning a higher percentage of kerosene and a lower percentage of biodiesel)
Author: David Sieg
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