FAQ

From GoBiodiesel

Frequently Asked Questions

1 About GoBiodiesel Cooperative
2 General Biodiesel Questions
3 Biodiesel in Cars
4 Vegetable oil powered cars
5 Biodiesel for Home Heating
6 About this Website
- 6.1 This web site is confusing. How do I find things?
- 6.2 What is this Wiki thing?
7 Other Questions

About GoBiodiesel Cooperative

What is the GoBiodiesel Cooperative and what do you do?

We collect used oil from restaurants, process it into biodiesel and sell it to members. We also do outreach to the general public on the benefits of biodiesel.

Our members contribute time and effort in exchange for the right to buy co-op made biodiesel at a great price and the opportunity to work alongside great people in a fun atmosphere.

Check our Mission Statement if you like those kinds of things.

You can also get a good feeling for what we're up to by browsing around the pages of our site. The best way to find out more is to join us at one of our meetings (see the next question...)

When do you meet?

Check our Monthly Event Calendars at the bottom of our home page.

I want to buy co-op biodiesel. How much is it and how do I get it?

You need to join the co-op and put in some work. Check the Work Hours page for more details. Approved work hours entitles you to buy co-op fuel at a price substantially less than commercially-produced biodiesel.

I want to join!

Great! Go to our Sign up page for information on membership dues, and the membership benefits.

I want to join, but I don't have time to help! Can I still buy biodiesel from the cooperative?

Unfortunately, biodiesel doesn't make itself. =) So at the moment, we require that members contribute time towards collecting oil, making fuel, or any number of other tasks to be eligible for purchasing biodiesel.

I have some vegetable oil I'd like to contribute to the co-op.

If you are a restaurant or other establishment and you'd like to set up free regularly scheduled pickups of your waste veggie oil, please contact our "Minister of Oil," or Collection Coordinator, Richard Bruno at rabruno AT gmail DOT com.

If you have a smaller or one-time donation, the best bet is to follow the instructions below. If for some reason this is not helpful for you and you need more help, contact our "Minister of Oil," or Collection Coordinator, Richard Bruno at rabruno AT gmail DOT com.

Waste Veggie Oil Donations: Thanks for your interest in donating waste veggie oil. We welcome irregular donations of oil from folks who are not greasemaster collectors, on Saturdays during a work party when the coordinator for that work party is available and ready to receive oil donations. To see if this coming (or any particular) Saturday is one of those, check our calendar from the main co-op web page (scroll down and click the "Work Party" link for the Saturday you are interested in). If there is a phone number listed, it's the number for the collector for that work party. You must call in advance, and the coordinator can tell you whether or not we can accept donations that day.

Thank You!

I want to join, but I can't make your meetings!

Meetings aren't mandatory. There are many ways you can help. Check the Open Tasks page for a list of things we need help with right away. Contact gobiodiesel.newmembers@gmail.com for further information about membership and helping out.

How can I contact the various co-op committees, such as the Mixmaster group, or Oil Collection?

Review the list of our committees. Contact gobiodiesel.newmembers@gmail.com to join the Coop and become a member of a committee. If you contact a committee lead directly, please be aware: No committee contacts are paid, so please respect their time and understand they might not be able to respond as quickly as you'd like.

If the co-op gets oil from waste oil collected from restaurants, how long will that supply last?

Portland, Oregon generates at least 15,000 gallons per month in waste vegetable oil. However, the co-op is not the only consumer of waste oil. There is at least one commercial biodiesel producer and many 'homebrewers' plus rendering companies that collect and use waste oil.

The following quote was contributed anonymously. The site administrator requests links to the data that backs up these calculations. Also, what time period does this cover? One gallon per day? Month? Year? "According to our best current estimates, if all of the waste vegetable oil in the U.S. were collected and used for biodiesel, approximately .83% of our diesel fuel use in the U.S. could be met. (approx one gallon per person)"

I need (some amount) of biodiesel. Can you help me?

If you're willing to work and have some patience, please join us! Our co-op's biodiesel production is small and dedicated exclusively to our members. There are many biodiesel sources every day. See Biodiesel Sources for places that can help you if you need fuel right now, or you need it in large quantity.

Whom should I contact for information regarding setting up my own biodiesel co-op?

We're still getting our own co-op together but hope to be providing lots more information soon. In the meantime, scour this website, there is a lot of helpful information buried within.

Can I buy waste vegetable oil from the co-op?

Yes. We sell WVO to non-members for $0.75/gallon and to members for $0.50/gallon.

Here's the basic information on how to go about purchasing WVO:

Thanks for your interest in our sales of waste veggie oil. We sell surplus oil from our processing site, on Saturdays during a work party when the coordinator for that work party is available and ready to process WVO sales. Note that the oil has been screened but not thoroughly filtered, and quality may vary from batch to batch. It's generally good quality, but we can't make any guarntees.

To see if this coming (or any particular) Saturday is available, check our calendar from the main co-op web page (scroll down and click the "Work Party" link for the Saturday you are interested in). If there is a phone number listed, it's the number for the collector for that work party. You must call in advance, and the coordinator can tell you whether or not we can sell WVO that day.

Thank You!

General Biodiesel Questions

What is biodiesel?

Biodiesel is a safe, efficient fuel made from vegetable oil. In contrast, "traditional" diesel is made from petroleum oil (also known as non-renewable "fossil fuels"). See BiodieselBasics.

Biodiesel is not the same as vegetable oil, although it is commonly confused with vegetable oil powered (SVO) vehicles.

Using biodiesel requires no modifications to your vehicle, unlike SVO power.

Where can I find some biodiesel in Oregon?

Check out the Biodiesel Sources page.

What kind of oil can you use to make biodiesel?

Any kind of vegetable oil at all. ANY KIND. Canola/Rapeseed, Palm/Copra, Hemp, any kind. You can also make biodiesel from animal tallow, algae and even oil from yeast.

I read that biodiesel doesn't contribute to global warming. Could you explain why that's so?

Biodiesel is made from oil that comes from plants. CO2 is the only greenhouse gas that you get when you burn biodiesel. Plants absorb CO2 and convert it to O2. The amount of CO2 coverted while the plant was alive offsets any CO2 that is released when biodiesel is burned. Thus there is no new CO2 added to the atmosphere. Neat!

If I already have a diesel engine, when can I start using biodiesel?

Today!! See Biodiesel Sources, or ask us on the GoBiodiesel mailing list.

What's the difference between B20 and B100?

The number after the B is the percentage of biodiesel in your fuel. So B20 = 20% biodiesel, 80% petroleum diesel. B100 is 100% biodiesel.

How much does biodiesel cost?

Just like gasoline prices, the cost of biodiesel fluctuates. It depends on where you live, time of the year, etc. Currently, 100% biodiesel costs about $3.25 per gallon in the Portland, Oregon, USA markets (5/28/2006). Of course our co-op sells B100 to members for much less than our commercial competitors in the Portland area.

Another thing to keep in mind is that diesel engines offer 30-40% better fuel mileage than gasoline vehicles. So even if you pay 30-40% more per gallon, your cost-per-mile is much less than a gasoline car. For example, if gasoline costs $3.00/gallon, then biodiesel at $3.25/gallon will result in a lesser cost-per-mile for fuel. For more comparisons, see Fuel Types.

Of course, we think the environmental cost of biodiesel is vastly less than petrodiesel or gasoline.

Can B100 or B99 be used in the winter in Portland (Oregon in general)? Are additives necessary (like kerosene or something else)?

Yes, you can use pure or high blends of biodiesel in the winter if you follow *one* of these three guidelines:

You don't drive when the temperature drops below 32F.
You add an approved-for-biodiesel anti-gel agent. Be sure to test it in your freezer first.
You add in-line fuel heaters and fuel tank heaters.

Only one of those three things needs to be done. Or you can blend in petrodiesel during colder periods.

How long does biodiesel last if I want to store it?

Just as long as gasoline or petroleum diesel -- it's recommended to keep no longer than six months but can be safely stored for a year.

How long does it take for biodiesel to degrade?

About the same amount of time as petroleum diesel -- one year. Both are recommended not to be stored longer than six months.

How much biodiesel can I store on my property?

This depends on where you are storing the fuel, and how you store it. Locally, the fire marshal in Portland has told us that a 55 gallon drum of biodiesel is okay, but you should check yourself-- also look at your city's zoning laws.

How does biodiesel compare to ethanol?

This is an ongoing discussion and there are many ways to frame the debate, so please take a look at and contribute to the Biodiesel vs Ethanol page.

How many gallons of biodiesel can be grown per acre per year?

According to Journey to Forever between 60 and 500 gallons, depending on the feedstock.

Palm oil can yield thousands of gallons per acre, but there is worry that creating huge palm oil farms will destroy what little rainforest remains.

How can we get biodiesel from algae?

All algae have some amount of oil. Some species have up to 80% oil. You can make biodiesel from almost any kind of oil-- including animal tallow, coconut, palm, soy, canola, mustard seed, and even algae. Interestingly enough, we could create enough biodiesel to completely displace our petroleum use with algae farms with an estimated 11,000 acres of algae farms. The technology has been demonstrated, and biodiesel has been produced from algae oil. Put "biodiesel algae" into your favorite search engine for more.

I have questions about producing biodiesel.

Check our special FAQ Biodiesel Production.

Biodiesel in Cars

What do I have to do in order to convert my diesel vehicle to run biodiesel?

Nothing. If you have an older car the first time you switch to biodiesel, after about 20 hours of engine operation you should change the fuel filter.

In much older cars (older than 1997) you may need to change the fuel hose, as biodiesel may soften and eventually cause older rubber fuel hoses to degrade. Newer hoses do not degrade. This is a simple operation that can be done in minutes with a screwdriver.

For more benefits and drawbacks to biodiesel, see BiodieselBasics.

I just want to make sure about this, if I have a diesel engine I don't have to do any coverting to use biodiesel?

That's right.

I'd like to get a diesel vehicle. Are there very many diesel models to choose from?

Yes there are many to choose from. New diesel pickup trucks are very common as is the Jeep Liberty CRD. New Volkswagen and Mercedes passenger cars are also available.

For older models, especially around 1980-1990, many were made as diesels: Toyota Camry & Tercel, Nissan Sentra, Pontiac Grand Prix, Mazda 626, Jeep Cherokee, Ford Escort, Chevy Caprice & Impala, and Volvo 760. Used Volkswagen and Mercedes cars are the most popular.

Check out the Diesel Vehicle Sales page, or see our huge list of diesel vehicle models.

Do I have to pay road taxes on biodiesel or SVO I make or buy in bulk?

If you buy fuel from a retail pump, no. If you make or collect it yourself and use it in a vehicle that travels on public roads, yes. If it is delivered to you in bulk, probably. Check out Fuel Taxes for Oregon info. If you come across info for another state, please add to the page.

How do gasoline-powered vehicles compare to diesel or biodiesel vehicles?

Diesel vehicles typically have 30-40% better fuel efficiency than gasoline vehicles. Because of this per mile metrics are a better measure than per gallon. In other words, since a gallon of diesel will get you 40% farther than a gallon of gasoline will in comparable vehicles, you should look at fuel price, emissions, etc per mile instead of per gallon when comparing with gasoline vehicles.

Diesel vehicles cost less to maintain, but cost more to fix than gasoline vehicles. The diesel engine is less complex and has less parts prone to failure, but the parts that eventually may fail have higher tolerances and are thus more costly to produce.

Diesel vehicles typically have a higher resale value than gasoline vehicles. Diesel vehicles typically last longer (much longer) than gasoline vehicles. That and their better fuel efficiency mean higher value.

Diesel vehicles have more torque or "off the line" power than gasoline vehicles.

Older diesels are noisier than gasoline engines. Newer diesel engines are nearly indistinguishable from gasoline engines.

Whenever you burn something in our atmosphere you get NOx. NOx is not a greenhouse gas, but it contributes to smog formation. Diesels produce less greenhouse gases but more NOx (nitrogen oxide) than gasoline. However, as gasoline cars get older they may start to produce more NOx than diesels, so NOx emissions may equal out over time. For NOx (__not__ greenhouse gases), a biodiesel powered VW Jetta puts out about 7.2 tons of NOx per year while a gasoline VW Jetta puts out 1.1 tons; more than 6 times as much! (That same diesel Jetta burning petrodiesel will put out around 7 tons)

See Fuel Types for more info.

Does biodiesel provide as much power as petro-diesel?

Generally the power output is the same as petro-diesel. Biodiesel has about 8% less BTUs than diesel. Retarding the timing on the engine can help make up for this slight power loss.

If I use biodiesel, will it harm my car to go back to petrodiesel? (e.g. in an area where biodiesel isn't available)

Yes and No. Using petrodiesel harms our planet and ourselves. But it won't harm your car. Biodiesel and petrodiesel are similar enough that they can be mixed in any ratio at any time. Your car won't notice the difference, but your nose probably will. :-) Also, with a bit of planning you can now find biodiesel sources in most major cities. And since many diesel cars get 400-800 miles per tank, you shouldn't ever have to switch back to petrol-diesel.

Is there a mechanic who could verify that I can use B100 with only a change of my fuel hose without repercussions greater than those experienced by a car 90's and newer?

Yes, but more importantly, many scientific studies have been done that show no harm to engines.

Unfortunately we can't make mechanic recommendations because of legal issues. We have heard of ill-informed mechanics making negative claims about biodiesel, mostly to save themselves from lawsuits. Often they confuse biodiesel with SVO. Please let us know who these people are so we can get them the facts. Join the general mailing list on the Members:Home page and send an email to the list, you'll find more help there.

Will the engine seals degrade quickly if I use B100?

No. Millions of gallons and millions of miles have been driven with biodiesel. If biodiesel was blowing out engine seals faster than usual we'd know about it by now.

I have a technical question about diesel engines -- like "what engines are IDI? What years and make of vehicles can you find then in?" or "Can a new TDI engine be used in a 4WD vehicle"

Try TDI enthusiast websites like TDI club or punch your question into your favorite search engine.

Where can I buy biodiesel-resistant fuel lines for my 1996 and older vehicle?

Grease Works sells Viton hose and kits for some vehicles. Or search the web for Viton hose. If your car is newer than 1996 you already have biodiesel-resistant fuel lines.

What kind of problems might I expect running biodiesel in my vehicle?

If you maintain your vehicle according to the standard manufacturer's recommendations, not much. Note that you don't have to do anything special beyond what you'd normally do to maintain your vehicle if it were running petrodiesel.

If your vehicle is several years old you might have to change the fuel filter, once, after you run the engine on a mix of biodiesel greater than 20% for 20 or so hours.

If your vehicle was produced before 1997 You might have to change a few feet of rubber fuel hose. Biodiesel-resistant hose is inexpensive and can be changed with a screwdriver in a few minutes by a non-mechanic.

From time to time people bring up worries about engine seals degrading, injectors needing rebuilding, and other strange biodiesel-related issues. We've never seen any actual documented evidence of this despite millions of miles driven on biodiesel. Keep in mind if you have an old car, these things can happen no matter what kind of fuel you use.

If my diesel won't pass DEQ emissions tests, will using biodiesel help?

Biodiesel produces vastly less emissions than petroleum diesel. We think everyone should use it. Using biodiesel just once to pass DEQ is not only wrong, it's probably illegal. If your vehicle can't pass DEQ, you should switch to biodiesel permanently or retire that vehicle.

Will using biodiesel void my vehicle's warranty?

Most warranties do not cover fuel use. If your car is damaged by something in the fuel system, be it bad petroleum diesel or bad biodiesel, the dealer will still say "fuel is not covered by warranty."

Your warranty may differ, so contact your warranty representative to be certain, and expect them to give you an answer that minimizes the possibility they can get sued, meaning something like "don't use biodiesel." Let us know what you find out.

See also the Biodiesel Board fuel fact sheet for a more complete discussion on this topic.

Are the Portland-area VW dealers friendly toward biodiesel?

Increasingly so. VW hasn't yet come out officially and endorsed biodiesel but they're getting there. Biodiesel is a federally approved fuel so they can't complain about you using it.

There are so many great diesel vehciles only available in Europe or other countries. Is there a way to import one?

There's always a way, but we haven't done it. Here area couple of links to get you started:

Importing FAQ

Importing if you are a foreigner

Can you switch back and forth from bioiesel to petroleum diesel? (This might be necessary if traveling and unable to locate biodiesel in the area where you are at)

Yes! You can mix and match any blend of biodiesel and petroleum diesel at any time.

I'm looking to buy a smaller diesel truck. What are the best models to look at?

Unfortunately there are no small diesel trucks sold new in the United States. Write the automakers and demand them here -- they sell them in other countries. For used light trucks there is the old VW Transporter and the Isuzu pickup (aka Chevy Pup). Look at the complete list of all diesels ever made for more.

Can I convert my gasoline-powered vehicle to use biodiesel?

While possible, the costs are generally prohibitive (upwards of US$4,000-10,000). Not only must the entire engine be replaced, but usually the transmission must be adapted as well as new electrical systems installed for proper glow plug operation. However, if you have the experience and equipment, it is a reasonably straightforward operation. (e.g. see a converted diesel Corvette that gets 48 mpg!)

How long does a diesel engine/car typically last? (an 80's gas car would generally be on its last legs, but this doesn't seem to be so for a diesel)

If you take care of your diesel, it should far outlast a typical gasoline engine. 300,000 - 400,000 miles wouldn't be at all unusual for a diesel car.

Not enough people take proper care of their diesels. Here are the two most important things you can do to prolong the life of your diesel:

Change the oil without fail every 3000 miles (for vehicles not using synthetic oil)
Let the engine warm up thoroughly before gunning it

Well maintained diesels could last a million miles or more. Heavy duty diesels like tractor trailers have a duty cycle in the millions of miles. There's a reason diesels are used in most ships, trucks, generators and city vehicles!

I'm looking to buy/sell a diesel vehicle.

Great, check Diesel Vehicle Sales for both. Feel free to add your request/pitch for a vehicle.

What full size domestic 3/4 ton diesel PU's (post 1990) are favorites in the biodiesel community or conversely ones that should be avoided?

We know of people running biodiesel in all brands domestic diesels with no issues whatsoever. Opinions vary as to which is best, but we'd recommend the one with the highest fuel economy.

Vegetable oil powered cars

What is the difference between biodiesel and straight-vegetable-oil (SVO) powered cars?

Biodiesel runs in any diesel without modifications, while SVO systems usually require a second fuel system and other significant fuel system modifications to work.

Biodiesel is made from vegetable oil, but it requires some simple chemistry and additional ingredients to create. One of these ingredients, methanol, usually comes from natural gas (although it can be made from wood).

Biodiesel powered vehicles are significantly more reliable than SVO powered vehicles. However, if you are mechanically inclined and like to tinker and don't care about the life of your engine, SVO power might be a good option.

SVO conversions are not recommended for newer direct inject "TDI" engines because of the high pressures and computer controlled injectors. Biodiesel however, runs very well in new and old diesels alike. Yes, there are a handful of intrepid people who have gone ahead and converted TDI engines to SVO anyway and they swear by them, but these conversions are few, recent, and expensive. Send us your stories!

Most SVO conversions are two-tank systems. That is, you have two kinds of fuel in the vehicle, veggie oil and either biodiesel or petroleum diesel. You have to start the engine up using biodiesel/petroleum diesel. Once the engine is warm you switch to veggie oil. Before you stop the engine, you have to switch back to biodiesel/petroleum diesel to flush the engine of all veggie oil.

SVO powered cars can suffer from fuel filter clogging if the veggie oil is not properly filtered. (Fuel filters for older VWs can cost $30)

Handling veggie oil can be messy and waste vegetable oil can be rather smelly.

While running biodiesel probably doesn't void your engine warranty (see the related FAQ question), doing an SVO conversion certainly does.

Is it safe to run my vehicle on straight-vegetable-oil (SVO)? (as opposed to biodiesel)

We know that biodiesel is safe to use. We don't know for sure that SVO is safe to use.

There are advocates for SVO with strong opinions but we have seen no scientific studies to back up claims that SVO is safe. The scientific studies that have been conducted are disputed by SVO advocates. There is a huge amount of conflicting information out there.

Do your own research. If anyone can point us to scientific studies that show positive scientific results we will be happy to list them in this FAQ. We will not link to articles, opinions, or any other anecdotal evidence.

An extensive FAQ can be found here: http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_svo.html

[edited (twice) to remove anecdotal reports submitted 11/01/2006 and 11/02/2006, links to disputed scientific studies removed.]

How much does it cost to convert my diesel vehicle to SVO?

Kits are available starting at about $300 going up to around $3,000, not including labor.

You can save some of this cost if you already have a vehicle with two tanks. Several pickup trucks have this feature.

It generally takes about a day to convert a vehicle. There are occasional SVO conversion classes held throughout the Pacific Northwest. Join our mailing list for updates.

If my engine is converted to SVO can I revert back to using diesel or biodiesel in that same fuel tank?

You must drain out the SVO before filling it with biodiesel.

Do you know anyone who does SVO conversions in Portland?

From time to time there are SVO conversion workshops, but there aren't any dedicated SVO conversion mechanics in the Pacific Northwest that we're aware of. Join our mailing list to find out about upcoming SVO workshops.

Biodiesel for Home Heating

Can biodiesel be used for oil furnaces?

Yes. You can safely use B20 in an oil furnace. We do know people using B100 (100% biodiesel) in their home heating systems without any modifications.

Are there B100 Biodiesel suppliers for my oil furnace? Is it harmful for my furnace? Will it store well in my underground oil tank?

You can get B100 delivered for your oil furnace, just check our [Biodiesel Sources] page. If your oil tank is in good condition it should store well.

Is there a conversion necessary to make an oil furnace into a biodiesel furnace?

It depends. There are so many different oil furnaces that it's impossible to give anything more definitive than that.

If you find out more please let us know!

Are there any resources to convert a home heating furnace's seals and hoses to handle B100, or is B20 currently the only viable option?

Our experience with home heating systems is limited, but our experience is that hoses are metal and don't need to be replaced, and there are no seals. A home heating system isn't an engine, which burns fuel to create energy (in the process creating heat). Home heating systems just burn fuel for heat. They're quite simple. Unfortunately, newer systems seem to use 'electric eye' technology to sense heat that won't work with high blends of biodiesel. Older systems that use mercury switches should be adaptable.

It should also be possible to use SVO without ill effects in home heating.

About this Website

This web site is confusing. How do I find things?

The Wiki takes some getting used to, but it does have its advantages. When in doubt, use the navigation links on the left, or use the Search function. If you have specific suggestions, edit the GoBiodiesel Wiki page.

What is this Wiki thing?

A "Wiki" is a collection of web-pages which can be edited by anyone, at any time, from anywhere. No log-in or password is required (simply hit the "Edit" button). This freedom encourages an open exchange of information. We're currently using it as a community "white-board" for brainstorming, news, to-do lists, etc. Feel free to contribute.

Some of our pages are not editable. This FAQ and our home page are a couple of examples of this.

To find out more about how to edit a Wiki page, visit Help:Contents.

FAQ