BioDiesel ?

[coachgeo]

...
In the interest of giving a little clarity on this issue to those that may not be familiar with the subject of biodiesel vs straight D2, here is a short summary of the issue from the website link below. First the link to the website then the excerpt of the point of interest.

http://articles.extension.org/pages/26611/biodiesel-cloud-point-and-cold-weather-issues

The cloud point of soybean biodiesel is about 34°F (1°C), whereas the cloud point for No. 1 diesel is about - 40°F (-40°C) and for No. 2 diesel between -18°F (-28°C) and +20°F (-7°C). Usually, when biodiesel nears the cloud point temperature, changes must be made to the fuel, such as the addition of anti-gel additives or No. 1 diesel fuel, to prevent filters from clogging. However, it should be kept in mind that fuel additives recommended for diesel may not be effective for biodiesel. For more information about anti-gel additives and biodiesel, see Impact of additives on cold flow properties of biodiesel

Good report.

Another potential solution is to add into the system a commercial Flat Plate Heat Exchanger (coolant to fuel) or a homemade one to warm the diesel. The colder the climate you live the more you need a pump at the tank that will pull a "gelled fuel" to the location in engine compartment where the coolant heat exchanger will warm the fuel and bring it to a viscosity the engine's IP and combustion chambers are happy with.

 

[BAP]

Good report.

Another potential solution is to add into the system a commercial Flat Plate Heat Exchanger (coolant to fuel) or a homemade one to warm the diesel. The colder the climate you live the more you need a pump at the tank that will pull a "gelled fuel" to the location in engine compartment where the coolant heat exchanger will warm the fuel and bring it to a viscosity the engine's IP and combustion chambers are happy with.

Heat exchanger isn't going to do you any good if your fuel is gelled and you can't get the vehicle to run to warm up the heat exchanger to warm the fuel. Biodiesel is just like Ethanol gas, free handouts to the grain farmers to keep over producing and still make money.

 

[BAP]

Good report.

Another potential solution is to add into the system a commercial Flat Plate Heat Exchanger (coolant to fuel) or a homemade one to warm the diesel. The colder the climate you live the more you need a pump at the tank that will pull a "gelled fuel" to the location in engine compartment where the coolant heat exchanger will warm the fuel and bring it to a viscosity the engine's IP and combustion chambers are happy with.

Heat exchanger isn't going to do you any good if your fuel is gelled and you can't get the vehicle to run to warm up the heat exchanger to warm the fuel. Biodiesel is just like Ethanol gas, free handouts to the grain farmers to keep over producing and still make money at the expense of the taxpayers.

 

[armylifer]

Heat exchanger isn't going to do you any good if your fuel is gelled and you can't get the vehicle to run to warm up the heat exchanger to warm the fuel. Biodiesel is just like Ethanol gas, free handouts to the grain farmers to keep over producing and still make money at the expense of the taxpayers.

You called that right!

 

[torch]

Biodiesel is just like Ethanol gas, free handouts to the grain farmers to keep over producing and still make money at the expense of the taxpayers.

Out of curiosity, how much has the US Federal government spent on munitions in the various wars to protect the overseas oil supply? How much biodiesel and ethanol gas would that have subsidized?

 

[armylifer]

Out of curiosity, how much has the US Federal government spent on munitions in the various wars to protect the overseas oil supply? How much biodiesel and ethanol gas would that have subsidized?

Actually, we would not have to spend money on munitions if the liberal faction in the USA would allow us to use our own oil, gas, and coal reserves. We have enough untapped energy within our own boundaries to fuel the whole world for a couple hundred years.

Another thing that I would point out is that it takes more energy to produce biofuels than the energy we get back from the biofuels. THAT does not make a lick of sense.

 

[WFM]

I only have an opipion...no experience with bio-diesel. If it was available , I would not buy it. I think its crap from what I've read. I add a diesel additive
'power something' every time I fill a diesel can at the gas station. Just to help the crappy diesel anyway. But we do have ethanol in our gas here. Anything with a two cycle engine. It ruins it. My Honda generator (4 cycle)....clogs the carburetor. And WHY do we put up with this ?? Uncle Henry who lives in Alaska said a few yrs back here comes the ethanol gas... within 6 months there was such an uproar to the state government up there. It was ended. C-ya ethanol . Alaska ended Ethanol added to fuel. Why can't we ? I know someone who works for Conaco unloading tankers. He says a tanker will come into NJ or NY or Boston. Unload the regular gas. Then here comes the barge of ethanol to mix with it. Crazy. I hope with the election looming. Folks vote for the less of the evils and maybe give the average person a voice. God Help America.

 

[coachgeo]

We are getting away from facts and into assumptions and mistruth/myths.. Worse yet were getting into politics now. All this ends up a dead horse beating if that is the course. Lets not go there.

For already gelled fuel from sitting "before starting" that too has several simple solutions which have been in use for decades. Just used in more arctic climates for diesel powered engines. Works just as well for Bio fuels in less arctic regions. Small changes makes gelling a nonissue.

 

[torch]

Another thing that I would point out is that it takes more energy to produce biofuels than the energy we get back from the biofuels.

That is also true of petroleum based fuels. The energy required just to refine a gallon of gasoline is approximately equal to the energy it provides when burned in a vehicle engine. That does not include the energy required to get it out of the ground (huge consumption for fracking or oil sands), the energy consumed moving it through a pipeline or by tanker to the refinery, etc.

I was once told by a representative of TransCanada Pipelines that they burn 90% of the natural gas produced powering the compressor stations that pump the gas through the pipeline. I don't know if moving crude through a pipe requires more or less energy than moving gas, but moving it by the largest, most efficient oil tanker afloat consumes between 8% and 11% of the cargo to get it here from the middle east.

Personally I think hydrogen is unworkable, solar/wind too expensive and unpredictable. Electric vehicles are a novelty with limited range between excessive "refuelling" times. The biofuel industry is in it's infancy, but I believe represents our best hope for a practical renewable energy source.

Petroleum is a limited resource. We need it for so many things beyond fuel (and so will our children and grandchildren, ad infinitum). Why waste it if a reliable biofuel industry can be developed?

 

[D2Cat]

Torch, I've often though the same thing about feeding cattle.

When all the cost of getting corn, grass and other grains in a feed to give to cattle to produce a product that effects our health in a negative way, it seems we should just eat the corn! Less cost, better health!

 

[Daren Todd]

Torch, I've often though the same thing about feeding cattle.

When all the cost of getting corn, grass and other grains in a feed to give to cattle to produce a product that effects our health in a negative way, it seems we should just eat the corn! Less cost, better health!

But them steaks are sooooooooo good!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bulldog]

I don't know how I feel about a cornburger.

 

[armylifer]

I like hamburger and everclear. Good stuff.

 

[cerlawson]

This stuff tends to grow bacteria that feed on it. They can clog filters. Good luck.