A Deeper Look at Biodiesel Fuel

Here's a little riddle for you. What fuel alternative can be made from used vegetable oil, algae, or even coffee grounds? Need a hint? This alternative fuel is also used to run all of the trains in Disney World. The answer - It's biodiesel fuel, one of the cleanest and most practical fuel alternatives on the market.

The Many Uses of Biodiesel Fuel

Biodiesel Fuel is one of the only fuel alternatives that has made significant headway into the world marketplace. The primary reason for this is that absolutely no changes need to be made to a diesel run vehicle before biodiesel fuel can be used in its place. That's right - just grab the pump from the biodiesel side, and fill 'er up. Just make sure that if your vehicle was manufactured before 1992, all the rubber gaskets and hoses have been replaced (they probably have - these tend to wear down over time.) Biodiesel fuel has different solvent properties than petrodiesel, so it can wear down these old fashioned gadgets.
Biodiesel fuel is also a perfect fuel alternative for airline and railway travel and home heating. Some railway lines have already made the switch (the Disney track, for instance), and biodiesel airplanes are still in the testing phase. You can use up to twenty percent biodiesel fuel in heating boilers without the need for any modification, whatsoever.

What is Biodiesel Fuel Made From?

Like many other fuel alternatives, biodiesel fuel is made from renewable resources, like vegetable fats, algae, animal fats, and even coffee grounds. The oils from these products are put through a process called transesterification. This process uses alcohol to remove the glycerin, which creates a cleaner burning fuel alternative.
While the extra farming to produce biodiesel fuel could also lead to an increase in pollution, many biodiesel fuel sources are already available as waste products. For example, the Tyson chicken plant creates over two billion pounds of chicken fat yearly. These waste products could be put to use in making biodiesel fuel. Used vegetable oils could be turned into biodiesel fuel as well - actually, Disney World runs all of their biodiesel trains on used vegetable fats from the many food services in the park.

Biodiesel Fuel Blending

As with all fuel alternatives, many consumers are concerned about extra costs that may be associated with making the switch to biodiesel. While it may not be cost effective for most vehicles to switch to pure biodiesel fuel, it usually is worthwhile to switch to a biodiesel blend. These blends can be made with any combination of regular diesel and biodiesel. Whether the biodiesel fuel makes up twenty percent or eighty percent of the mix, there is still a significant decrease in emissions.
In most places in the United States, 2% and 5% biodiesel fuel blends are cheaper than regular petroleum diesel. A 20% blend is the same price as regular diesel. The only difference is the decrease in emissions.



There you have it. Biodiesel fuel is not only cleaner burning and created from renewable resources - it can also be a cost effective solution for those in search of viable fuel alternatives. Making the switch to biodiesel fuel is a simple and straightforward way to make a positive impact on the environment.