Biodiesel
Biodiesel is a naturally oxygenated fuel produced from organic feed sources such as soybeans, cooking oil, and animal fats. Biodiesel can be used in its pure form (B100) or blended at any ratio with petroleum diesel to achieve cost efficiency and improve cold weather performance. It is commonly used as B20 - a blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel.
Biodiesel can be used in any newer diesel vehicle without modification. Vehicles produced prior to 1993 should have rubber seals in fuel pumps and fuel systems replaced with non-rubber (Viton) seals. Biodiesel acts as a solvent and can loosen sediment built up in the fuel tank over years of petroleum diesel use. Fuel filters should be monitored and possibly replaced shortly after transitioning to biodiesel. With high blends of biodiesel a complete system cleaning is recommended.
Biodiesel results in significantly lower emissions of particulate matter, carbon monoxide, toxic contaminants, sulfur dioxide, hydrocarbons, visible smoke and noxious odors than petroleum diesel. Biodiesel, depending on the feed source, can result in a 78% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions over its entire production. Biodiesel is non-toxic and biodegradable and therefore does not pose a threat to water and soil resources if B100 is spilled. Producing biodiesel from restaurant oil or animal processing wastes reduces the amount of materials overcrowding landfills. Additionally, biodiesel is one of the safest fuels to use, handle, and store because it does not produce combustible vapors and has a flash point that is twice that of petroleum diesel.