Any help to someone who is clueless about biodiesel cars?

[recoveringrepublican]

I keep seeing people talk about how they converted their cars to take biodiesel. Where can I get info on how to do this (am looking to buy a new car in 6 months, have heard VW's can be converted)? And is it safe to make your own biodiesel? told you I am clueless about this, but the thought really interests me. What are the cons about driving such an auto?

[Best_man23]

1. Little info on biodiesel

First, I want to say that I feel that biodiesel is the way of the future. Of course, Dumbya and his minions think otherwise.

Biodiesel is a mixture of vegetable oil and diesel fuel (the mix is usually 20% veg oil to 80% diesel). The result is a much cleaner burning fuel. The biggest con is availability of biodiesel, especially if you want to take the car on a long trip. I'm not sure about the possibility of home brewing your own biodiesel; however, I can't see why not, just be sure to keep your fuel as clean as possible.

Biodiesel can only be used in diesel engines (such as the VW TDI), so any though of a gasoline to biodiesel conversion is out. Depending on the vehicle you're considering, I would recommend checking with the manufacturer as to their recommendations for biodiesel. Given how diesel engines operate, if there are any required modifications, I think they would be minor.

You should take a look at www.grassolean.com and possibly this book.

[recoveringrepublican]

2. Thank you so much! Google gave me too much information

made me dizzy. I only need my car to get to work and various things around town. Needs to be big enough to fit 2 carseats though.

[NEDem]

3. I'm right here in the middle of soy/corn country

I agree with all the points that best_man_23 made about bio-diesel.

I just want to bring to your attention that there is another alternative fuel available. It's called E85, It is a blend of Ethanol (made from corn) and gasoline. I may be mistaken but the 85 in its name means that its 85% ethanol. Ethanol is basically grain(corn) alcohol, in other words: moonshine.

E85 has many of the same environmentally friendly properties of biodiesel, but is just a little easier to find, at least here in Nebraska.

I drive an E85 minivan during work hours. It doesn't get the mileage that gas does, and it's not the greatest stuff during the cold winter months, hard starting when its really cold, but overall its fine.

ON edit:

One of the nice things about the E85 minivan is that when I can't find an E85 pump I can still put regular ole unleaded gas in it until I get to the next E85 pump.

[BlueEyedSon]

4. More links here:

http://www.doomsdayreport.com/links.html