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Errin OH
09-07-2005 21:22:20
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Re: Bio-Diesel / veggie diesel, Question ??? in reply to TractorMike, 09-07-2005 18:28:58
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Kind of an open ended question like is Ford a good tractor? Bio can be in the form of B100 all the way down to B5 or B2. B100 being 100% bio and B5, 5% bio, 95% petro mix. It can be made from seaweed, nuts, plants, etc. Just about anything that produces oil even aminals. Problems with any bio vary depending on what you get. Bio made from virgin oil tends to be the best and most expensive. Problems with it tend to be from the solvent side of things. You put it in and all the sudden filters are cloged with all the crud that was stuck to the sides of you lines and such. Once you get through the inital shock problems disapate. Including the filter issue. Winter compounds the issues with a gel point at about 32F. adding cost to the use of it. The reasons for concern on older vechs is the solvent properties tend to eat away rubber seals and lines. Some metals as well, copper (I think) being one. Doubt I'd ever run it in my old case 970. After about 94 most vechs didn't use rubber thus don't have the problems. A mix with regular diesel can cause some of the same issues but not as quick as a straight bio and you may never notice them with regular filter changes. Bio made from WVO (waste veg oil) will have the same issues but add to that the particles of food and the filter issue really shows itself and may not go away. Filtering, washing and drying will help, but one bad batch and the whole lot is contamanated. There have been many stories of this problem as home grown producers are reluctant to throw out a batch unless they absolutly have to. You have to remember the process for good and bad is the color. So its off a shade or two?? Between time and production cost it is like throwing money away. Another thing they like to do to keep cost down they do it all in one vessel. Bad idea as far as I am concerned. To many risk involved. Questionable mixing, residuals in lines, inability to wash. You just don't know what you are getting. All comes down to the product is only as good as the effort. You plan on making 40 cent bio, plan on issues. You go and buy $3 bio better know who you are getting it from. Personally I think bio is a good idea. Cost effective? Depends on the cost to produce a reliable product. Even counting the inital equipment as a long term investment, proper production (virgin oil / drying filtering WVO, treating mixing, washing x2, drying, filtering, waste disposable) production alone puts it over a buck.
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