If I buy a car with a diesel engine, will I have to convert to use biodiesel fuel or can the fuels be mixed?

Question

If I buy a car with a diesel engine, will I have to convert to use biodiesel fuel or can the fuels be mixed?

Answer 1

biodiesel is awesome. the only thing that you have to change is the fuel hoses. get braided metal lines, and you'll be fine. there is some residual chemicals left in the making of the biodiesel, that will eat your rubber hose lines. the metal ones don't cost that much, and you can change them out yourself. it would only take about an hour.

Answer 2

www.biodiesel.org

(oh, and look at 20days.org too)

Answer 3

You can use biodiesel in any diesel car, and the fuels can be mixed at any percentage.

For that matter, diesel, biodiesel, kerosene, vegetable oil, and even gasoline can be mixed at different percentages and burned in a diesel engine.

99% of biodiesel has been chemically reacted throughly, and so all the methanol has been removed.  You will hear lots of people telling you to replace your fuel lines right away.  There is no need to do so.  Pure alcohol or E85 which is 85% alcohol, can deteroriate rubber.  However regular fuel has 10% ethanol in it, and biodiesel has luss unreacted methanol than that, so don't waste your money.  If you are the type of person who likes to worry about things, have your mechanic squeeze your lines once a year to check for ones that might be starting to feel soft.  This probably will take 10 years to occur.

I use biodiesel and vegetable oil in 4 vehicles and do not have any loss of power.  If you notice any power loss in a diesel, change your fuel filter, or check for water contamination in your fuel and/or tank.

Unlike the energy requirement controversy for ethanol, Biodiesel requires very little energy to make so everyone agrees it is good for the environment and energy security.

Buying and driving a diesel and using 100% biodiesel is a win, win, win situation!  Good luck!

Answer 4

Well you do not need to do any modifications on the engine but you will need to swap out the fuel hoses because the oils will break them down..but engine wise none needed

Any modifications to the fuel or engine will only increase the efficiency (fuel mileage) but they are not essential

Answer 5

If you buy a new diesel you can use any grade of bio diesel.

If the engine is older the highest percentage you would wish to use is 20%.

This is the highest percentage currently available at stations in the US.

I would check to be sure that Bio diesel is available in your area before making a decision.

Answer 6

You can use both. Some states actually mix biodiesel with regular diesel that you buy at the pump.

Biodiesel is reported to cause a very miniscule loss of power (1/2-1 HP) but the cost is enough for that loss to be worth it.