5 Things to Consider Before Running Your Car on Biodiesel

Biodiesel is produced from vegetable oils and animal fats, with soybeans, rapeseed, and sunflower, the most used raw materials worldwide for this end.

The properties of biodiesel are very similar to those of gasoil of origin fossil, in terms of density, number of cetanes, efficiency, and yield of the gasoleros (diesel) engines, highlighting that biodiesel presents a point of superior inflammation. Here are some things you should know about Biodiesel before using it:

It Doesn’t Contain Oil

Biodiesel does not contain oil, but it can be mixed at any level with normal diesel to make different mixes, usually called B20 or B5. Biodiesel has also been shown to improve vehicle performance with more lubricity and reduced emissions.

Is Biodiesel Safer Than Regular Diesel?

Scientific research confirms that the emission of biodiesel is less harmful to human health than diesel oil. Biodiesel emissions have decreased the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and nitrated compounds of PAH that have been identified as compounds that can potentially cause cancer.

The results of the test indicate that PAH compounds were reduced by 75 to 85 percent, with the exception of benzo (a) anthracene, which was reduced by 50 percent.

It Can Be Used On Any Diesel Engine

Biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine, generally without the need to modify the engine. Its performance is comparable to diesel, with similar content of BTU and a higher cetane while offering excellent lubricity and lower emissions compared to petroleum diesel.

Beware Of Biodiesel

Biodiesel has a solvent effect that can release accumulated deposits in the walls of the tank or in the pipes from previous diesel fuel and precautions must be taken the first time that the passage to biodiesel is made.

The release of deposits can impede the filters initially and precautions must be taken to prevent these deposits from reaching the engine’s fuel filters.

Is Vegetable Oil Usable As Fuel?

Virgin vegetable oil can be obtained from many sources, such as soybeans, sunflower seeds, palm oil or rapeseed, and even some types of algae. Vegetable oil recycled from local restaurants and others from other sources are also a useful reserve of renewable fuel for diesel engines.

It Can Work With Old Motors

Yes, but should replace the fuel system gums, since biodiesel can have a little methanol from the production process that uses metal oxide during. Methanol will eventually destroy rubber pipes and seals, making older engines without synthetic seals made of products like Viton.

We know the use of this type of fuel is beneficial because of the potential contribution of renewable energy sources and technologies. So, the use of this type of fuel should be promoted and massive investments made in order to continue using it as the main fuel, in order to start up training mechanisms in the energy sector.