Run Your Car on Bio-Diesel – The Good and Bad Points of Bio Fuel

If your mode of transport is a diesel oil burner, then your motoring is probably not as clean as you may want it to be. We all should do our bit to keep our planet clean, it is the only one we have after all. In an ideal world we would all switch to electric or at worst hybrid type cars, but this is too expensive for many of us. The good news is you can improve the green credentials of your current transport if you run your car on bio-diesel. If you are trying to decide if this is right for you, below are listed the good, and bad points of bio fuel.

Bad. Using land for producing oil:

One of the bad points of increasing bio fuel production is the amount of land that is going to be needed to grow the oil producing plants that are needed. Concern has been raised that farm land previously used for food production will be used for fuel production, and this will lead to food cost inflation, or at worst food shortages that will effect developing nations.

Good. Can use almost any biomass:

A solution to the point above is to expand the type of organic material we use to make the raw oil. There are tons of food thrown away daily due to spoilage or over production, and much of this can be used to produce fuel. There has even been research done that converted used coffee grounds into bio-diesel. In fact if all the used coffee grains in the world were used, they could provide 1% of the worlds diesel needs. This is something that would usually get thrown away.

Bad. Not good in low temperature environments:

At low temperatures there can be problems with gelling, which in turn will cause fuel system blockages.This can be overcome by using additives or even a tank warmer to pre heat the fuel.

Good. Naturally cleans engine:

It contains detergent that will keep your engine cleaner and also natural lubricants that reduce wear.

Bad. Dissolves rubber due to solvents:

Older diesel engines may have rubber seals and hoses. There are solvents in bio-diesel that eat rubber. Modern engines use artificial silicone rubber and therefore this is not a problem. If yours is an older model however changing the rubber components before you switch is advisable.

Good. Renewable:

Oil will eventually run out. This bio fuel is from a renewable source and so will never run out.

Good. Available now:

It is the easiest way to improve the green credentials of your daily motoring. It is available right now in most areas. Most engines can use it with no modification. You can even make your own, and you can do it using waste cooking oil that most people just throw away.

Good. Cheaper:

Making your own is much cheaper, and plans or kits are available. However even the commercially made stuff is getting cheaper as more people use it, and production methods improve. Fossil oil produced fuel is only going to get more expensive.

Good. Low emissions:

It produces 80% fewer greenhouse gases than traditional diesel. Plus no soot or sulfurous smell. As the gasses that are released are the ones tat where absorbed by the plants used to make the fuel you add nothing to the atmosphere. As well as producing more, burning fossil fuels releases gasses that have been locked away since prehistoric times.

I hope the above points have helped you to decide to run your car on bio-diesel. The pros outweigh the cons, and you can do your bit for the planet, whilst reducing your motoring costs at the same time.