We are often asked to provide information related to biodiesel and here we provide some basic information specific to biodiesel.  For more information related to biofuels please see our biofuels glossary as well as our links page.

1. What is Biodiesel?

Biodiesel is the name of a clean burning alternative fuel produced from domestic, renewable resources.

Biodiesel contains no petroleum.

It can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend.

It can be used in compression ignition (diesel) engines with no major modifications.

Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics. It is essentially vegetable oil and/or fats that have been modified with alcohol to give the oil improved viscosity and burn characteristics.

2. What do I need to do to convert my engine to run on biodiesel?

Technically nothing at all, especially if you have an engine built after 2000. If your car was built prior to 2000, and especially if it was built prior to 1994, it is probably a good idea to install a set of "biodiesel compatible" fuel lines prior to making the switch as well as preparing for the necessity of changing a fuel filter (or two) shortly afterwards. 

3. Why do I need to change my fuel lines and prepare for changing my fuel filter?

Biodiesel is an amazing solvent, capable of dissolving rubber and petroleum deposits that may have accumulated in your fuel delivery system. The higher the blend level (e.g., B20, B99, B100), the more pronounced this effect is.

If you are making the changes to your fuel delivery system yourself be sure to check with your favorite fuel lines manufacturer for B100 compatible hoses. If you are less mechanically inclined, you can feel free to contact us or your mechanic for some suggestions.

4. Where might I purchase a diesel vehicle?

For new vehicles, many manufacturers are now producing diesel cars and trucks.  Current manufacturers include Ford, Volkswagen, and many others. You may encounter availability issues in your local area because demand for diesel cars and hybrids has recently increased.

For pre-owned vehicles we suggest you check the following web sites:

Craigslist - Locate your city (or the city nearest to your city), select the Cars and Trucks link, and then perform a keyword search using "diesel".

eBay - eBay has a section dedicated to vehicle sales. You can search by make, model, and fuel type.

AutoTrader - Many  believe that AutoTrader offers the best service related to searching for a vehicle.

5. Why isn't biodiesel cheaper?

Biodiesel is very cheap relative to the cost of petroleum diesel. The petroleum industry is very mature, and benefits from domestic and international subsidies as well as a great deal of liabilities protections. In essence, U.S. taxpayers historically have helped to maintain the perception that the retail price of gas is low. Aside from a tax credit for biodiesel blenders, the biofuels industry is not mature enough to have amassed the slew of benefits that benefit the refiners of petroleum.

In 1998 the International Center for Technology Assessment (CTA) published a detailed analysis of the "hidden external costs consumers pay to fuel their automobiles." They found that the real cost of some fuels to Americans is in excess of $15.00 per gallon. The full PDF can be downloaded here.

6. What is the ASTM? What is ASTM 6751?

ASTM International (ASTM) in the past stood for the American Society for Testing and Materials. The organization develops and maintains consensus- based technical standards. ASTM committees developed the currently accepted government standard for biodiesel. The latest standard was released in March 2007, and can be downloaded here courtesy of the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) web site.