Why is regular diesel used to grow Bio-Diesel instead of Bio -Diesel fuel?

Question

If you grow crops to make Bio- Deisel can't you run the tractors and other farm equipment off of the same bio-Deisel?

Answer 1

Cost.  Regular diesel is cheaper than bio-diesel.

Answer 2

yes you can once the crop is made in to bio diesel . most farmers use regular diesel right now as bio is not readily available but as more bio becomes available Im sure they will use it .

Answer 3

It's more expensive to use bio-diesel than it is to use regular diesel. To use bio in a tractor or other farm equipment requires the vehicle to be altered, removing the rubber gaskets and hoses and replacing them with similar products that won't be as easily degraded by the bio-diesel. It would cost the farmers far more than they earn to convert one of their vehicles for use of bio-diesel. Converting their vehicles could also cause damage to the fuel intake because, after years of use of petroleum-based fuels, build-up occurs, and bio-diesel acts as a solvent of sorts, removing the build-up in the fuel lines and moving this build-up down the line towards the injectors. It could cause more damage than it's worth! Harvesting one acre of crop uses around 8.75 gallons of fuel, and this one acre produces between 100-150 gallons of bio-diesel. It makes sense to use 9 gallons of bio-diesel to produce over a hundred gallons more, but it may not be so simple.

Answer 4

the idea of bio diesel made from corn helping the environment is not exactly right because ethanol does not get very high mpg and you would use more ethanol to grow and take care of the crop than it produces

Answer 5

While I agree that some equipment may need to be altered any unit that has been in service since 1991 should be able to use at least a mixture or Bio-Diesel blend.  B20 at least. Is there a clean out period? Yes, Generally the first few tankfuls will require an extra fuel filter change or two but once the guck is cleaned out most people notice no difference.