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Bio-diesel has been around a long time, but is a new fuel to many users. The following is a list of questions and answers about bio-diesel. If you have any other questions please fell free to call or e-mail Jeffrey Bigham our operations manager. Information included on this page was provided by the National Biodiesel Board What is bio-diesel? Bio-diesel is the name of a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources. Bio-diesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a bio-diesel blend. It can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines with little or no modifications. Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free from sulfur and aromatics. Can I use bio-diesel in my existing diesel engine? Bio-diesel can be operated in any diesel engine with little or no modification to the engine fuel system. Bio-diesel has a solvent effect that may release deposits accumulated on tank walls and pipes from previous petroleum diesel storage. The release of the deposits may clog filters initially and precautions should be taken. Ensure that only fuel meeting federal bio-diesel specifications is used to prevent unnecessary issues. How do I begin to use bio-diesel? Texas Green recommends initially using bio-diesel in a blended form. The solvent properties of bio-diesel can be addressed by watching filter wear, but by beginning at a blend of 10% to 20% bio-diesel with 90% to 80% petroleum diesel, the effect will be gradual preventing any issues. Very quickly you can increase the percent blend of bio-diesel to up to 100% depending on your situation and needs. Is bio-diesel approved for use in the U.S.? Bio-diesel is registered as a fuel additive with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and meets clean diesel standards established by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Neat (100%) bio-diesel has been registered as an alternative fuel by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Do I need special storage facilities for bio-diesel? In general, the standard storage and handling procedures used for petroleum diesel can be used for bio-diesel. The fuel should be stored in a clean, dry, dark environment. Acceptable storage tank materials include aluminum, steel, fluorinated polyethylene, fluorinated polypropylene and Teflon. Copper brass, zinc, and rubber should be avoided. Viton seals or Teflon seals should be used. How is bio-diesel any better than petroleum diesel? Bio-diesel has many benefits beginning with its lubricity. At as low as 5% blend bio-diesel significantly extends the life of a diesel engine. In fact when bio-diesel is being used most operators will cease adding lubricity additives. Use of bio-diesel increases gas mileage and is an efficient use of our energy resources. For every unit of traditional energy used in the production of bio-diesel 4.5 units of energy is produced. As compared to petroleum fuels which harvest less than 1 unit of energy from every unit of energy used in production. Bio-diesel also helps the environment through significantly reducing CO2 emissions. Bio-diesel releases 78% less CO2 into the environment and the bio-diesel produced by Texas Green has a significantly smaller carbon footprint through use of local feedstock and a limited distribution area. |