Biofuel refiner, good idea or bad for truck?

[JTreas]

a friend and i were thinking about making some biofuel instead of paying $3. 30 a gallon. read a few threads about how its runs ok and won't gunk your engine and a few on how the 3rd gen trucks don't like it and it thrashes the fuelsystem/injectors and valves. so has anyone been running biofuel (not b5 or b20) for a few thousand miles and then taken the head off to check valves and pistons and all the nice moving parts inside? if you make your own how much of a pain in the hiny is it? does it have any kind of shelf life? after the upfront cost of the kit and getting started if you can only run half and half/half bio then fill with #2 its gonna take awhile to recoupe the cost, is it actually worth it?

 

[JFaughn]

This is a big can of worms , any way you look at it , it would seem that the manufactures of engines & fuel are making them in such a way as to steer us away from alternatives , so with your newer truck you have cut yourself short .
The biggest argument is going to be WVO = waste vegi oil , bio-diesel = processed to remove glycerins & do other stuff , you can get by with more on an older fuel system but anyway I look at it , WVO is going to cause problems in at least the long run .
You need to be good with building stuff & have some basic knowledge of chemistry to do it for money savings , buy a turnkey system for 3-7 grand & up , then you could build your own processor for $100 - $300 depending on good of getting together the needed pluming & stuff , heres a good link for everything to do it yourself .


Biodiesel & SVO Forums - Powered by eve community

 

[JHardwick]

Look Here... .

 

[brods]

Biodiesel plants will not allow any yellow metals (copper, brass, bronze, etc) anywhere the bio can come in contact with them. Apparently bio coming in contact with these metals drastically reduces its shelf life. Just a quick browse of some DIY biodiesel sites show they are selling pumps with bronze impellers, bronze valves, etc. Do extensive research before taking the plunge.



http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels/npbf/pdfs/39096.pdf Check out this 2005 report and look at the problems starting on page 25 and then the conclusions on page 37. Do not be fooled into thinking making good biodiesel is a simple thing.



Given the issues the bio plants have, it must be extremely difficult for a home brewer to make high quality bio to ASTM spec. Whatever you decide to do... . do your research first!!!

 

[JTreas]

thanks guys, people of the tdr never cease to amaze me with the knowledge,

 

[ABarry]

svoforums
google it