Criss Cross Crafts Blog

Biodiesel is still somewhat unknown in society and this has led to many incorrect stories, myths and crazy tales. It’s important to understand that biodiesel is not an experimental fuel, the subject of inconsistencies or likely to lead to failure or damage to your engine, and we should remember that biodiesel fuel has been around for over 80 years since it was first revealed.

Independent studies show that biodiesel performs equally as well as petro diesel, yet represents a significant benefit to both the health of the population and the environment as a whole. A large number of tests have taken place and they all point to the same thing. Within the US, the Energy Department, Agriculture Department and the EPA have all looked into the situation and reported positively.

The Clean Air Act, signed in 1990, has recently been the subject of some publicity, as the EPA, using powers vested in the body by the Act, has deemed greenhouse gases to be a hazard to human health. This may have far-reaching consequences for energy sources and fuels that are known to be high emitters of carbons. Biodiesel is the only fuel alternative to have passed rigorous tests imposed by the Clean Air Act.

With regard to performance, it is estimated that more than 50,000,000 miles have been completed and recorded performance has been comparable to petro diesel in all types of diesel engines. It must be noted that biodiesel can be used in regular diesel engines with no modification whatsoever. The fuel can be blended with regular diesel or can be used in place. Biodiesel gives better lubricity and can result in longer life and less wear within the engine.

Among all alternative fuels, bio diesel scores the highest in terms of energy performance.

For those who live in colder climes, in the northern parts of the United States or Canada, for example, cold weather is a big consideration. While biodiesel will react to cold extremes, just as conventional diesel does, the same method should be used to prepare your vehicles during those cold snaps and no additional measures are required. As normal, fuel heating or indoor storage are recommended.

Certain people mistakenly think that biodiesel can cause problems with filtration, but this is only likely when it is first presented to a regular diesel engine. In its purest form, biodiesel is a solvent and as a result, may release deposits which have accumulated on the walls of the tank or in pipes. As such, the first time that biodiesel is used, the fuel filter should be replaced and problems are unlikely from then on.

Even though making biodiesel is a little bit more expensive than purchasing conventional fuel, there is definitely a worthwhile increase in fuel quality and overall performance. This enhanced lubricity can lead to longer engine life. In addition, carbon emission levels are considerably reduced, with increased reductions as a stronger blend is used. When you are making homemade biodiesel, so long as the right precautions are taken, you can expect the fuel to contribute to a reduction in the size of your carbon footprint. Take the leap, and make a change for the better by helping the environment, for this generation, and for all the generations that follow!

Despite what by any standards was a setback at Copenhagen, there seems little doubt that a considerable amount of attention is going to be focused on the need for us all to become more sustainable during the new decade. There had been much hope for lasting accord in Denmark, as nations met to discuss a successor to the original Kyoto Protocol. Once again though, politics and domestic interests came to the fore, even though individual countries did promise to take concerted action.

As we go forward, more and more evidence accumulates pointing to how greenhouse gas emissions are causing damage to our environment. We can now see how over 300 years we have disregarded the consequences of excess energy production and how we relied on old fossil fuels. There is no doubt that a lot of harm will ensue unless we change our ways soon.

In Europe, the United Kingdom has taken a lead in introducing a trading scheme to force the largest emitters of greenhouse gases to buy allowances from the government, thus enabling them to emit extra carbon. In these cases, if the companies do not act efficiently, they will incur penalties. Should they not, they will incur penalties. This is just an example of what governments may do as they force our attention toward sustainability.

Pollution can often be traced back to our over-reliance on transportation and our thirst for petro diesel and petroleum to fuel our vehicles. As such, biodiesel fuel is an excellent option and in many cases is much more palatable and can even reduce carbon dioxide related emissions as compared to those conventional gases.

The EPA has recently found that greenhouse gases are a hazard to health under the powers given to them by the Clean Air Act. This may well give rise to further legislation or the application of existing powers to cut back on emissions, including those from our vehicles.

If biodiesel can be shown to be a workable alternative and a solution that has benefits above and beyond carbon emissions, then we could see a concerted increase in the number of facilities making biodiesel, more distribution stations and more people converting to the use of biodiesel for their diesel engine vehicles. This alternative may be used within regular petro diesel engines without any modifications or alterations and can be used within a variety of different strengths or solutions.

Biodiesel is not a new invention, far from it, but has been in the shadows due to what used to be relatively inexpensive costs associated with petroleum or petro diesel and a lack of education and awareness surrounding related carbon emissions. Things have definitely changed though and our society is looking for many alternative options and as such biofuel advocates must bring the discussion levels to the fore. It is time that more people moved from making homemade biodiesel to demanding that the product be made commercially available within their communities.

We now know that if we all make a concerted effort individually toward real change, whether in small things or on a large scale, anything is possible when it comes to global environmental sustainability, for us, and for our future generations.

As Thomas the Tank Engine enlightened every boy’s fantasy and graced the thoughts of those who have been awed by those fantastic machines, trains offer a powerful addiction to many. Small boys watch the talking trains from their living rooms and do not understand what it is that makes them so wonderful. But as boys grow into men they realize what it is that captured them when they were boys and stayed with them into their adulthood; control over a powerful machine.

What is it that makes men play with “toys”? It may be that they are captivated by the thought of controlling something so powerful even though it is 1/87 of its size. Maybe it is the puzzle of how trains work; the electricity running through the lines to make it run. Perhaps it is because trains are so organized; only able to run on its track. Or maybe it is the memories of seeing the train whistling around the Christmas tree every year that makes us want to relive it through our “toy” trains. But the word toy is not accurate any longer when talking about model trains. These wonderful toys have grown into machines and are ready to play with the big boys.

Toy trains are generally the plastic ones that you see on sale while you are Christmas shopping. They are low quality and priced as a great way to introduce kids to the hobby. When boys grow up they are called men. And when toy trains grow up, they are called locomotives. Locomotives are made to last. They are higher quality and many lack the “push it slightly to get it to move” feature like lower quality trains have. Their wheels are designed to make solid contact with the track in order to get a better connection to the electricity which will help to get it going. They are the things that put a smile on a model railroaders face. Plus, locomotives have stronger engines. A stronger engine means greater pulling power. A quality locomotive is also made out of metal rather than plastic like toy trains. The overall weight of the train has a big effect on how well it runs. The more weight the train has, the better it will make contact with the track and therefore, a better running train.

And if electricity wasn’t gratifying enough, the fabulous makers of the model train industry offer steam engines for the little boys inside grown men. Of course there are a many different quality trains on the market that offer steam but, there is nothing better then watching these trains with lifelike steam filling their scenery.

Very few boys get to grow up to be able to actually drive a train. I’m certain that many train drivers look at the work they do as just a job rather thn a little boy’s life long dream. But, we don’t have to all grow up to be train drivers to fulfill our dreams. We can indulge ourselves in the hobby that so many of us love; toy model trains

In all likelihood, making biodiesel may not have entered your mind before. Maybe you will have seen one of those soy powered buses around the place, peaking your interest, or you might just be fed up with those horrible prices at the petrol station. Do you know what the size of your carbon footprint is? Each one of us is pausing to consider how we contribute in one way or the other to the threat of global warming and as we get increasingly more frustrated at the site of politicians bickering and taking no action, we must step in.

Some people think that they cannot make biodiesel fuel cost effectively or safely, but they are incorrect. Thousands of people can testify to the fuel’s efficiency as they use it during their daily lives. So long as you have a modicum of common sense and take some time to understand the process, you will be able to proceed perfectly well. You do not need a degree in chemistry and will be able to find the ingredients required rather easily.

It’s essential to remember that you should beware of using any overly simplistic advice or a simply written ‘how to,’ like this one that follows, and before actually attempting to make biodiesel, you’ll need to have exacting information of the process itself and all safety requirements:

Making homemade biodiesel requires you to engage in a process called transesterification. You will be using a catalyst (lye) to remove glycerine from vegetable or animal oils or fats and you will effectively be extracting the oil that you can use in your diesel engine.

Use potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide, caustic soda and pick up some methanol as well. Note that you will need to keep the lye and the methanol in water tight containers and you should be aiming to use as pure a product as you can.

Take a sturdy plastic container, insert 200 mL of methanol and add the caustic soda. Tightly close the plastic bottle container. Shake the container a few times until everything is dissolved.

Preheat the soy or vegetable oil to about 130°F and pour it into a blender. Add the mixture, close and blend for 30 minutes. Pour the result into a sturdy, large bottle with a tight lid. You should let this settle for up to 24 hours and will note that the glycerine, a dark colour, settles at the bottom. When this is the case, extract the biodiesel, essentially the top layer into a clean jar, being careful not to get any of the glycerine layer mixed in.

Your results will need to be washed to get rid of imperfections and you basically need to add clean water to the mixture, leave to settle for three hours or more and then allow the water to drain off, ideally through a hole you have previously prepared in the bottom of your mixture container.

You may have to repeat the process, but when the product is clear, the water will have evaporated and you will have made your first batch of biodiesel fuel! Now that you know that making biodiesel is possible, look into finding more detailed information on the process and get some essential safety advice, before you begin!