Just bought some Biodiesel

John_Mc · Aug 15, 2003

( Sure it can be made [from waste veggie oil] but it's not in any of the plants that I've seen. They only use soybeans for the most part. I mean how much "used vegetable oil" do you think is available to make biodiesel? I'm also not talking about backyard "stills" so to speak. I'm talking about actual plants. It's kind of like the differnce between "moonshine" and a good bottle of my favorite Jack Daniels. Alot of difference in the quality. )

There is nothing about using waste veggie oil that by itself means that you will get poorer quality. Like most products, the quality is in the care that goes into it. WVO can be processed into top grade BioDiesel. It usually requires a slight adjustment to the processing as compared to "virgin" veggie oil. Also, there is nothing that says you have to use exclusively one or the other. There is a processor in Montpelier, Vermont, and another in Massachusetts that use waste veggie oil, at least in part. These are not just backyard "moonshiners", though they may not be as large as some of the processors out your way. Part of their reason for using WVO is that they have access to large quantities of it for free, so the adjustments required to the processing are worth it, as compared to using only 100% new veggie oil.

John Mc

cowboydoc · Aug 15, 2003

Docsknotinn,

I've got two freezers full of beef and plenty of beer and whiskey. We've got two barbeques and lot of acres to enjoy it on so feel free to stop by anytime and I do mean that. You've been a nice addition to this board. Glad you came over here. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Docsknotinn · Aug 16, 2003

I know this much for sure, the deer like rape as well or better than soy beans and its a heck of a lot easier for someone like me who is not a dedicated farmer to grow.

Docsknotinn · Aug 16, 2003

Cowboy, Thanx And thanx for the offer. I have been a certified executive chef for about 10 years now (acf). Although Unless its just us by the BBQ and a campfire Id'd just as soon as keep that to our selves though. Nothing tastes better than the other fellows wifes cooking. Besides If I open my mouth to soon I wind up workin ! lol Good Grief Memory flash back. When I was a kid growing up in farm country the folks down the street used to have a Ox roast every year. Yup, a whole one on the pit. It took a few days but friend I want to tell you about good eats. WOW ! It finally got so big that the last time I went they had about 20 barrels of beer a dance floor and a band. Everyone brought a dish to pass and us kids just waited for it to get dark enough to sneek some of that hootch and hide behind the tractors drinkin. They finally had to stop haveing it as the liability was too great with several hundred people showing up. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

BigDave · Aug 16, 2003

Okay, I've lurked long enough, I guess I'll offer up my two cents. I'm lucky enough to have a Soy Biodiesel pump just three miles from my home. I've run 100% bio through several tanks, plus blends of down to zero percent. (100% fossil diesel) I usually have one can of regular diesel & one can of biodeisel and I just grab one and top off the tank. What can I tell you...100% soy smells like fries and 100% fossil just smells bad. Vary the percentage and you vary the smell. Bio will gell-up quicker. 100% bio is not approved by my tractor's manufacturer, but they are currently testing various concentrations of bio.

Am I afraid that I screw up my warranty? No, not really. If I have fuel system problem, NH may not cover the repair, but IMHO, I think my tractor will last longer if I use bio. It certainly runs smoother. These just aren't words since I put $20K (my tractor) behind that statement. We'll see what happens 5, 10, 15 years down the road.

I copied & pasted an excerpt from my local distributor's website below. I assume he won't mind.

Powered by Soy Biodiesel!

Tevis Oil is pleased to announce the addition of a new product to our line of fuel and lubricant offerings. We started selling a biodiesel blend at our automated, 24hr fueling station located in Westminster on the property of Bare Truck Inc. This location had been dispensing low-sulfur diesel fuel until October of 2001. This new product delivers increased performance, lower emissions and increased lubricity, resulting in mileage improvements and cleaner running engines. We offer 100% biodiesel "at the pump" at Taylorsville Shell (Rt 27 and Rt 26).

Our premium fuel:

Saves money by using less oil
Keeps sludge from forming in your tank
Purifies fuel lines, strainers and nozzles
Flows freely
Burns cleaner
Reduces emissions because combustion is more efficient

dmftoy1 · Aug 16, 2003

( ( I wish I could remember what the name of the plant is, but there's actually a plant that makes more oil than soybeans and that can be easily grown in the midwest (same equipment) that outproduces soybeans)

He was probably talking about rapeseed (the same stuff that is used to make canola oil). I can think of only two reasons why this is not now the dominant source of BioDiesel: (1) a lot of farmers are already set up to grow soybeans. It's been one of the best cash crops in the Midwest for quite a while. I'm not sure what, if anything, diferent would be needed for rapeseed, but farmers also understand soybeans well at this point. (2) The Soybean lobby has a hell of a lot of clout.

If it turns out your brother was talking about something other than rapeseed, let me know. I've been following this for a while now, but not as actively as I'd like. (I grew up on a farm in NW Ohio, and I've never quite left it behind, no matter what else I do.)

John Mc )

John Mc, you are exactly right, that is what he was talking about. I remember thinking that I've never seen Rapeseed, but he said that in certain area's of the country they're already growing it, just not in this area. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I really wish we could put our farmer's to work producing fuel instead of price supported crops, but that's just my personal bias I guess.

Have a good one,
Dave

John_Mc · Aug 16, 2003

( I really wish we could put our farmer's to work producing fuel instead of price supported crops, but that's just my personal bias I guess.)

What really gets me, is the Gov't is paying farmers to let land lay fallow, and we have a huge dependence on imported oil. Pay 'em to grow rapeseed instead and use the stuff to make biodiesel. But, I guess that would make too much sense, and might get ol' G.W.'s buddies in the oil industry upset.

John Mc

cowboydoc · Aug 17, 2003

What really gets me, is the Gov't is paying farmers to let land lay fallow,

It's not that simple. Most of the ground that is put into the CRP program, Conservation Reserve Program, is just that. It's put into CRP to conserve the land. Waterways, watersheds, game preserves, erosion control, etc. Most of the land has to qualify as highly erodable ground. Take a trip down to your local Farm Service Agency and they have alot of information for a person to read if you really want to see how your tax dollars are spent.

dmftoy1 · Aug 17, 2003

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I took your advice and did just that. The CRP program around here is $170 per acre. I think my property taxes on that same land is higher than $170 per acre. (that being said, I am enrolling 6 acres to be reforested because I love the taste of grilled bambi! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Have a good one,
Dave

cowboydoc · Aug 17, 2003

Another thing to remember is the payment is different for each piece of ground. The ground has to have had a crop on it in the past and have a crop basis. Your payment will be based on the crop basis for the last three years.