Can you make your own fuel? Biodiesel?

Discussion in 'Expediter and Hot Shot Trucking Forum' started by hertfordnc, Nov 15, 2013.

  1. Blind Driver

    Blind Driver Road Train Member

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    Lard isn't worth messing with.

    If you get a good supply of WVO and plan to use it as a percentage istead of making bio, be sure to test it to titrates. If the WVO is too acidic, you may want to pass on it.
     
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  3. wore out

    wore out Numbered Classic

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    CHASIN THE DEVIL'S HERD
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    Tolerances are so tight in the newer fuel systems that the repair alone of biofuel will by far put you in the hole. Even cleaned and dewatered it just won't cut it in 99 percent of common rail tier III and IV fuel systems. Call a diesel injection repair shop that does pumps and injectors and ask what their most common failure cause is contaminated fuel will be the answer. My old B model would probably get along ok with it but I wouldn't chance it. I can buy biodiesel right at the future fuels plant 30 miles from home, 60 cents a gallon cheaper. Lots of us used to we all learned a lesson. If it can't be done in a multimillion dollar facility it can't be done in your garage either. Cost 6 injectors on our C16 we got off light. I gave several guys a bill for 5 to 6 grand needless to say there is never a line at future fuels anymore.
     
  4. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    You do mean titrate a sample to know what the acid level is so you can adjust the lye solution?
     
  5. hertfordnc

    hertfordnc Bobtail Member

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    My question was only about the legality. The idea would be to build a business plan around making several hundred gallons of high quality bio-diesel per week and reducing operating cost by $0.30/mile

    Straight WVO, blending etc would cause too many problems but well made biofuel could be a cost reducer.

    I think the guys who do it for fun or just to save a few bucks on their personal driving are not saving enough to make it worth my time. But if you were burning a few hundred gallons a week it would be worth it. The net cost is around $1/gallon depending on what the WVO cost. In some places there is a lot of competition for it.
     
  6. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    I understand your question and I thought I answered it but this is a good discussion about the opinions of using WO. To me it isn't simple enough to just use it straight in a truck or everyone would do it. At one time I processed it for my own use, it was easy to get and process. This was before it was a fad with ready made processors or "kits" from these pop up companies or long before those grease car people even heard of it. Now it is nearly impossible to get the waste to process it so I just went back to dino fuel and sold off all my stuff. Even now there are issues with waste oil recyclers threatening places if they give it away and so on.
     
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