Q. Will Biodiesel harm my engine?
A. Biodiesel may be used in a conventional petro diesel engine without any modification whatsoever. This has been tested over millions of miles by a number of different agencies and in every conceivable situation. Bus fleets and commercial haulage companies have been using biodiesel in their operations for many years and reporting great success.

Q. Is Biodiesel experimental?
A. No, it has been in widespread use since the 1980s and has become more accepted in the United States over the last 10 years. Biodiesel actually dates back to the 1930s when it was originally mooted, but the process of converting vegetable oils into this fuel was perfected in the 80s.

Q. Is this alternative fuel accepted by the government?
A. The Clean Air Act, subject to the 1990 modification, recognises biodiesel as the only certified alternative fuel. Further, the EPA authenticates and certifies bio diesel fuel.

Q. Where can I get biodiesel?
A. There are now 14 major production facilities in the US and a number of distribution channels. Across the nation, hundreds and hundreds of small operations cater to locals. As the number of diesel engine cars increases, additional manufacture plants and distribution points will emerge.

Q. Can I just use conventional vegetable oil instead?
A. Absolutely not, vegetable oil must be converted through transesterification into biodiesel fuel first. This involves the use of alcohol, and a catalyst to extract the final liquid.

Q. What about the cold weather?
A. Biodiesel may gel in extreme conditions in similar fashion to petro diesel. Employ the same precautions when the weather turns particularly cold.

Q. Is this fuel good for the environment?
A. Biodiesel is carbon neutral, which means it is not contributory to the carbon emissions problem currently plaguing our planet. As biodiesel is fundamentally extracted from vegetable crops which were previously carbon “sinks,” the fuel is far better for the environment than conventional petroleum, which is extremely high in toxic greenhouse gas emissions.

Q. Will I have to worry about clogged filters?
A. Biodiesel has some solvent properties and may dissolve certain deposits which have built up on your tank wall or within your pipes. As these deposits could clog in filters, you should clean or change the filters after you first use biodiesel fuel, making way for a cleaner running, longer lasting engine.

Q. Is it okay to make biodiesel at home?
A.There are many people successful at making homemade biodiesel. As long as you follow the essential safety advice and use common sense, making biodiesel is not particularly difficult. This can be a great way of making a difference, environmentally!

Q. As interest in biodiesel increases, will this cause over-harvesting?
A. We need to ensure that biodiesel growth is itself sustainable and ensure that we do not over-harvest and cause an imbalance in agricultural crop availability, especially as we need these absorbers of carbon in place. This is a challenge for the industry going forward.