Convert a Car to Biodiesel
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We've all heard stories about the wonders of biodiesel cars. Unfortunately, rigging a vehicle to run on this cheaper, more environmentally sound fuel takes more than a "Veggie-powered" bumper sticker. Here's the scoop on how to transform your ride into a petroleum-free, cash saving driving machine. Contents [hide]
1 Diesel Vs. Biodiesel Vs. Vegetable Oil
1.1 Petroleum Diesel (petrodiesel)
1.2 Biodiesel
1.3 Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO)
2 Step 1: Get a Diesel Car
3 Step 2: Scout a Fuel Source
4 Step 3: Procure a Conversion Kit
5 Step 4: Choose Your Install Method
5.1 Mechanic
5.2 Self-Install
6 Step 5: Filter The Used SVO and Fill the Tank
Diesel Vs. Biodiesel Vs. Vegetable OilThere's often a little confusion when it comes to the term "biodiesel." When one speaks of converting their vehicle, it's usually in reference to vegetable oil specifically. However, this confusion is compounded by the fact that most diesel engines can run on regular diesel, biodiesel, and some form of vegetable oil too. Here's the difference between the three:
Petroleum Diesel (petrodiesel)
This is the 'regular' diesel you'll find at a gas station. It's easy enough to locate, and ultimately what a diesel engine was designed for. In addition to supply advantages, petrodiesel is also better suited for colder temperatures than its bio cousins.
Biodiesel
Photo by skidrd on FlickrBiodiesel is basically a non-petroleum variation of diesel that's been chemically modified through a process called transesterification. Though not nearly as available as petrodiesel, it's often sold in varying mixes of petrodiesel/biodiesel. A system called the "B factor" is used to denote the percentage of biodiesel contained within a petrol/bio mix. For example, biodiesel rated "B5," "B20," or "B100" contains 5 percent, 20 percent, and 100 percent biodiesel respectively. These percentages are worth noting because some stock diesel engines have problems running on pure biodiesel (B100) for extended periods of time.
Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO)
If you've stepped foot in a kitchen, chances are you've encountered straight vegetable oil. It's commonly derived from soy, corn, palm, hemp, or a number of other vegetable sources. Despite being the brass ring for biodiesel aficionados, the setbacks for this fuel source are numerous. For starters, it's extremely expensive if purchased off the shelf -- especially compared to petrodiesel. Also, since it hasn't been chemically treated like biodiesel, SVO tends to turn to gel at low temperatures.
Step 1: Get a Diesel CarBad news gasoline lovers. The cornerstone of this conversion is a diesel engine. Since diesel vehicles fell out of vogue for automakers during the 90's, finding a newer used car may prove a challenge. But on the bright side, automakers should be bringing diesel cars back into the marketplace in the coming years.
Step 2: Scout a Fuel Source
Waste Vegetable Oil: It's not clean. It's not pleasant. But it's cheap (and good for the environment).What good is an eco-friendly car without eco-friendly fuel? Believe it or not, the best starting point for large amounts of vegetable oil is restaurants. Local fast food joints should have vats of used SVO (sometimes called waste vegetable oil) out back, and ripe for the taking. However, there's no guarantee you'll be able to waltz in and skim whenever you want. It's best to talk to the manager and get a feel for how much SVO the business generates and then try to hash out a regular pickup schedule.
A good balance is make an arrangement with a few businesses in the area to secure a rotating supply. Don't panic if you can't secure a solid source right off though. After all, you can still run on petrodiesel or even biodiesel in the meantime.
Step 3: Procure a Conversion KitA conversion kit is pretty much mandatory for SVO-only operation. Like any other large purchase, it's advisable to hit up online biodiesel communities before rushing out to make a purchase. Shopping around and compiling testimonials is crucial for two reasons: First, prices for equipment and labor can vary greatly. Second, it's likely there's a specific kit that works best with the make and model car you've chosen. Picking the collective brain of the local biodiesel community will likely bring details like this to light. Good sources for kit info can be found at greasecar.com and frybrid.com.
Step 4: Choose Your Install MethodMechanic
Playing grease monkey not your thing? Finding a mechanic to do the install for you shouldn't be too hard. Just be sure to find someone who has some sort of experience performing the conversion. Chances are you're voiding the vehicle's warranty by undergoing this process, so it's best to have someone skilled in your corner if something goes wrong or additional maintenance is needed.
Self-Install
The sky's the limit with modifications. Just remember you're responsible for the upkeep. Photo by 300td.org on FlickrTackling a kit install isn't an impossible task, but it's definitely involved. Luckily, most kits are relatively user-friendly and designed with the eco-conscious DIYer in mind. Below are some of the the more common mods you'll have to install:
SVO Fuel Tank
The difference in viscosity between SVO and diesel can be problematic given their different gel points. So, most kits employ a two tank system for keeping the fuels separate. This is usually achieved by providing a second fuel tank (typically stored in the trunk) specifically for the SVO. Any kit up to snuff should also supply a pumping system for getting the SVO out of the fuel system for once the car is no longer in use.
Hose/Seal Overhaul for the Fuel System
Though diesel engines can handle SVO, it's a toss up whether the fuel system is compatible. Rubber hoses and seals from older vehicles are notorious for breaking down after prolonged exposure to heated SVO. If you're able to locate a kit specific to your make and model, it's not uncommon to see a new set of SVO-safe hoses, seals, and additional filters included for install.
Heating System
One of the biggest setbacks of SVO is its need for heat. Conversion kits combat this by including a heating system to warm the SVO before pumping it into the fuel system. One of the most common setups is a system that pumps waste heat from the radiator into the SVO tank. If the kit doesn't include a similar system, take heed -- the cold will always be your enemy, and you're going to need some sort of heating solution to keep the SVO running smoothly through the fuel system.
Step 5: Filter The Used SVO and Fill the Tank
The filtering process can be long and messy, but it'll save your fuel system. Photo by Laboratorio en Movimiento on FlickrWith a used SVO supply and a converted vehicle, you're almost ready to get moving. The final hurdle is filtering the waste oil you've collected and getting it into the SVO tank. Although there are a number of filtration methods, one of the simplest is to heat the oil (a container as simple as a metal bucket can work) and then pour it through a series of cheap household filters. Large coffee filters or even mesh strainers should do the trick, but there's lots of room to get fancy if money isn't an issue. Just remember that the ultimate goal is to remove any visible leftover food particles and debris before loading it into the SVO tank.
This page was last modified 01:27, 3 September 2008 by trussell
Showing posts with label diesel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label diesel. Show all posts
Monday, June 1, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
40 MPG plus?
10 Cars That Get More Than 40 MPG
Some you can buy; some you can't — not yet, anyway.
By Jacob Gordon of TreeHugger
Perhaps you've noticed the phenomenon of the incredible shrinking car. Yo-yoing gas prices and a stumbling economy have had a visible downsizing effect on the types of vehicles Americans are choosing to buy these days. Small cars are simply cheaper to run than bigger ones, and no one believes that this price reprieve at the pumps will last very long. Now that there is a demand for small cars, however, we need to find the cars to fill it. For that, we need to turn to our more fuel-efficient neighbors across the ponds for help.
Discuss: Do you think that Americans can accept smaller, more fuel-efficient rides?
According to a recent study from Jato Dynamics, a leading provider of automotive business intelligence, U.S. cars emit 85 percent more carbon dioxide and consume twice as much fuel as European and Japanese cars. The average year-to-date fuel consumption figure for cars, minivans and SUVs in the U.S. market stands at 22.6 mpg, compared with 40.3 mpg in Europe and 40.6 mpg in Japan. Those are staggering differences, and they make us wonder why it will take American automakers until 2020 to reach a mandated average fuel-efficiency rating of 35 mpg, when European and Japanese automakers already do. (That's food for thought, folks.)
But we digress. This article is about vehicles that get 40 mpg or better on the road. Sadly, only two are currently available in the U.S. Here's the top 10:
1. Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is still the reigning mileage champ in the U.S., earning an EPA rating of 45 mpg highway, 48 mpg city for 2009.
The Toyota Prius is the reigning champion for fuel efficiency in the U.S., and has been since 2007, when the Honda Insight hybrid was put to sleep. The Environmental Protection Agency rates the 2009 model at 45 mpg highway, 48 mpg city. This kind of efficiency is achieved by pairing up a gasoline engine with an electric motor and a large storage battery. In addition to saving you lots of dough at the pumps, the Prius ranks as one of Consumer Reports' most reliable cars. In fact, three of the six most reliable family cars are hybrids (the Prius, Camry and Nissan Altima).
Can Americans buy it? Yes.
Greenest Cars of 2009
12 vehicles for sale in the U.S. with the least environmental impact..Powered By Mother Nature
Best Family Cars for Downsizing
One Future, Many Fuels
Read more advice-related articles
Civic delivers 40 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway.
Like the Prius, the hybrid Honda Civic has an electric motor that shares the work of the gasoline engine. Though not quite as miserly as the Prius, the gas-electric Civic still reaps a respectable 40 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway, according to EPA tests.
Can Americans buy it? Yes
3. Ford Fiesta ECOnetic
Click picture to enlarge Ford's ECOnetic Fiesta packs a 1.6-liter Duratorque turbodiesel engine that offers more than 60 mpg.
If you were to drive Ford's snappy little Fiesta ECOnetic, you might easily find yourself spending less for fuel each week than you do for coffee. It employs a clean, efficient 1.6-liter Duratorque turbodiesel motor and low-drag body design to achieve a combined city/highway fuel-economy rating of 63.6 mpg, based on European Union standards.
Can Americans buy it? No. Ford says that importing the Fiesta ECOnetic from Europe, where it's made, would be too pricey and wouldn't be met with enough demand. Modern diesel engines deliver roughly 30 to 35 percent higher fuel efficiency than gas-powered engines, and are often just as clean as hybrids. The problem is that diesels must meet the most stringent emissions standards in the world to be sold here in the U.S., and thus automakers are reluctant to go through the costly process of modifying them to be greener and bringing them into a market that is simply lukewarm on diesel power. Folks, diesel is no longer the dirty bird of fossil fuels. We need to give them a closer look.
4. Mercedes-Benz C 250 CDI
The Mercedes-Benz C 250, part of the BlueEfficiency diesel line, offers up 45 mpg and a top speed of 155 mph.
Getting past the 40 mpg mark doesn't have to leave you yawning, as evidenced by the Mercedes-Benz C250 BlueEfficiency. According to Mercedes, the C250 can get 45 miles from a gallon of diesel and has a top speed of 155 mph. It also features a slick, luxurious interior and an impressive features package. In addition to the specially designed 2.2-liter diesel powerplant, the C250 BlueEfficiency boosts its mpg with features such as an electric power-steering motor that deactivates when not needed, and a 7-speed automatic transmission that decouples when the car is in idle.
Can Americans buy it? No. It's a diesel issue.
5. Smart fortwo
Click picture to enlarge The fortwo CDI makes the efficient smart car even smarter. The diesel version delivers more than 70 mpg.
As tiny as it is, the smart fortwo available in the U.S. earns an EPA combined fuel economy of only 36 mpg. Over the Canadian border and across the pond in Europe, smarts are sipping diesel fuel to the tune of 70 mpg.
Can Americans buy it? We're afraid not. The diesel fortwo doesn't yet meet U.S. emissions standards. Passionate patriots have struggled unsuccessfully to bring these diesel-powered mites down from the Great White North, and saddened Canadians have had to leave theirs behind at the border. To make American green-car enthusiasts even more jealous, smart is beginning the release of an electric fortwo in Germany. Learn to love diesels, folks. Lawmakers should look closely at this list, too, when they are deciding how to reduce our carbon footprint.
Some you can buy; some you can't — not yet, anyway.
By Jacob Gordon of TreeHugger
Perhaps you've noticed the phenomenon of the incredible shrinking car. Yo-yoing gas prices and a stumbling economy have had a visible downsizing effect on the types of vehicles Americans are choosing to buy these days. Small cars are simply cheaper to run than bigger ones, and no one believes that this price reprieve at the pumps will last very long. Now that there is a demand for small cars, however, we need to find the cars to fill it. For that, we need to turn to our more fuel-efficient neighbors across the ponds for help.
Discuss: Do you think that Americans can accept smaller, more fuel-efficient rides?
According to a recent study from Jato Dynamics, a leading provider of automotive business intelligence, U.S. cars emit 85 percent more carbon dioxide and consume twice as much fuel as European and Japanese cars. The average year-to-date fuel consumption figure for cars, minivans and SUVs in the U.S. market stands at 22.6 mpg, compared with 40.3 mpg in Europe and 40.6 mpg in Japan. Those are staggering differences, and they make us wonder why it will take American automakers until 2020 to reach a mandated average fuel-efficiency rating of 35 mpg, when European and Japanese automakers already do. (That's food for thought, folks.)
But we digress. This article is about vehicles that get 40 mpg or better on the road. Sadly, only two are currently available in the U.S. Here's the top 10:
1. Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is still the reigning mileage champ in the U.S., earning an EPA rating of 45 mpg highway, 48 mpg city for 2009.
The Toyota Prius is the reigning champion for fuel efficiency in the U.S., and has been since 2007, when the Honda Insight hybrid was put to sleep. The Environmental Protection Agency rates the 2009 model at 45 mpg highway, 48 mpg city. This kind of efficiency is achieved by pairing up a gasoline engine with an electric motor and a large storage battery. In addition to saving you lots of dough at the pumps, the Prius ranks as one of Consumer Reports' most reliable cars. In fact, three of the six most reliable family cars are hybrids (the Prius, Camry and Nissan Altima).
Can Americans buy it? Yes.
Greenest Cars of 2009
12 vehicles for sale in the U.S. with the least environmental impact..Powered By Mother Nature
Best Family Cars for Downsizing
One Future, Many Fuels
Read more advice-related articles
Civic delivers 40 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway.
Like the Prius, the hybrid Honda Civic has an electric motor that shares the work of the gasoline engine. Though not quite as miserly as the Prius, the gas-electric Civic still reaps a respectable 40 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway, according to EPA tests.
Can Americans buy it? Yes
3. Ford Fiesta ECOnetic
Click picture to enlarge Ford's ECOnetic Fiesta packs a 1.6-liter Duratorque turbodiesel engine that offers more than 60 mpg.
If you were to drive Ford's snappy little Fiesta ECOnetic, you might easily find yourself spending less for fuel each week than you do for coffee. It employs a clean, efficient 1.6-liter Duratorque turbodiesel motor and low-drag body design to achieve a combined city/highway fuel-economy rating of 63.6 mpg, based on European Union standards.
Can Americans buy it? No. Ford says that importing the Fiesta ECOnetic from Europe, where it's made, would be too pricey and wouldn't be met with enough demand. Modern diesel engines deliver roughly 30 to 35 percent higher fuel efficiency than gas-powered engines, and are often just as clean as hybrids. The problem is that diesels must meet the most stringent emissions standards in the world to be sold here in the U.S., and thus automakers are reluctant to go through the costly process of modifying them to be greener and bringing them into a market that is simply lukewarm on diesel power. Folks, diesel is no longer the dirty bird of fossil fuels. We need to give them a closer look.
4. Mercedes-Benz C 250 CDI
The Mercedes-Benz C 250, part of the BlueEfficiency diesel line, offers up 45 mpg and a top speed of 155 mph.
Getting past the 40 mpg mark doesn't have to leave you yawning, as evidenced by the Mercedes-Benz C250 BlueEfficiency. According to Mercedes, the C250 can get 45 miles from a gallon of diesel and has a top speed of 155 mph. It also features a slick, luxurious interior and an impressive features package. In addition to the specially designed 2.2-liter diesel powerplant, the C250 BlueEfficiency boosts its mpg with features such as an electric power-steering motor that deactivates when not needed, and a 7-speed automatic transmission that decouples when the car is in idle.
Can Americans buy it? No. It's a diesel issue.
5. Smart fortwo
Click picture to enlarge The fortwo CDI makes the efficient smart car even smarter. The diesel version delivers more than 70 mpg.
As tiny as it is, the smart fortwo available in the U.S. earns an EPA combined fuel economy of only 36 mpg. Over the Canadian border and across the pond in Europe, smarts are sipping diesel fuel to the tune of 70 mpg.
Can Americans buy it? We're afraid not. The diesel fortwo doesn't yet meet U.S. emissions standards. Passionate patriots have struggled unsuccessfully to bring these diesel-powered mites down from the Great White North, and saddened Canadians have had to leave theirs behind at the border. To make American green-car enthusiasts even more jealous, smart is beginning the release of an electric fortwo in Germany. Learn to love diesels, folks. Lawmakers should look closely at this list, too, when they are deciding how to reduce our carbon footprint.
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