John Melendez
Cibola International ™
The Scam on Biodiesel Engine Conversion (First Edition)
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Cover photo: Author’s home brewed biodiesel contains a common additive which
renders so-called biodiesel “engine conversion” unnecessary.
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The Scam on Biodiesel Engine Conversion
Usually about once a week, I get into a “healthy discussion” that has something to do
with biodiesel. This week, once again the fave topic was about biodiesel engine
conversion - whether it’s really necessary to buy loads of fancy gizmos and hoses to
“convert” a regular diesel engine to run on biodiesel.
1
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/257618/homebrewed_biodiesel_yep_it_can_be.html
Biodiesel is an alternative fuel commonly made from natural biological sources (thus the
“bio” prefix). Crop seed like corn, canola, rapeseed, olives, etc., all carry an oil content
commonly used as the raw chemical base for making biodiesel. There is a lot of
controversy about how using crop seed screws up our food chain, which I explain in the
footnote2. Thankfully there are some folks making biodiesel from non-food stock like
palm oil, animal fat, and algae.
The diesel engine, patented by Rudolf Diesel in the 1890s, originally ran with peanut oil,
a vegetable-based fuel source. Many of us know Henry Ford as an automotive pioneer.
However, few of us know that he held one or two patents
As we know, soon afterwards petroleum came online as the main fuel source, and most
diesel and gasoline engines were purposed to work with this. Surprisingly, little to no
modification was needed to get a diesel engine to run on petroleum diesel fuel. The
changes was made, and over these last several generations people have forgotten the
diesel engine’s more organic origins.
Beginning with the energy crisis of the 1970s, environmentally sensitive and cost-
conscious individuals have pushed for the “rediscovery” of the diesel engine’s ability to
burn organic fuel. The rise in fossil fuel prices these last few years have led to yet
another push in awareness for biodiesel.
Fortunately biodiesel fuel shares such similar combustion properties with regular
petroleum diesel that little to no modification need be done on your engine to it to have it
run your car’s diesel engine. Regular vegetable oil bought off the shelf will run a diesel
engine just fine (I go buy some once in a while just for fun). For long term use, however,
most folks make an effort to remove the glycerol content from raw vegetable oil, thus
leaving a more pure vegetable oil content - chemically called methyl esters – which is
considered “pure biodiesel”.
2
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/320448/unethical_biodiesel_and_the_human_food.html
There will always be certain exceptions to any statement. In the biodiesel case, if any,
someone would usually only need to change some o-rings, seals and hoses in older
diesel engines as these have been shown to degrade due to biodiesel’s non-petroleum
chemistry. By replacing such antiquated rubber-work, most diesel engines will generally
run just fine on biodiesel afterwards.
I have driven my unmodified 2003 Volkswagen Jetta TDI4 on biodiesel for almost three
years – including during the winter. At 175,000 miles, nearly all on biodiesel (or blend),
it’s doing just fine.
Your ignorance + solution inundation = you perceive a need = you will buy
It has to do with the buyer’s ignorance, and the fabricated perception about what a
diesel engine car “needs”.
Next there’s…
3
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/363213/is_it_really_necessary_to_convert_your.html
4
http://www.associatedcontent.com/image/107480/index.html
Solution Inundation
The whole scam behind the argument that one needs to convert a car to run on
biodiesel is that its sales pitch is so exclusive. The seller will inundate you with
information, and so convincingly that it leaves no room for the thought that there might
be cheaper alternatives.
In the end, the guy who wants to sell you $4000 worth of non-factory-approved
“conversion equipment” for your car isn’t really converting your car. He’s certainly selling
you equipment that gets toted around in your car. It looks good (maybe), but it doesn’t
convert the car. All that this horrendously expensive equipment does is heat your
biodiesel fuel.
This is not converting the car. This is called heating the fuel.
The conversion guys are selling you a heating system that makes sure your biodiesel
doesn’t goo. It uses tubes, wires, may require cutting your fuel tank, adding another fuel
tank, fancy valves and gizmos. This is all a load of bunk that could break down later on
– just to keep the fuel thin enough to pass through the fuel line.
What if there was an alternative that would cost only pennies, and was just as reliable?
Would you be interested in looking at that?
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/363213/is_it_really_necessary_to_convert_your.html
Instead of getting ripped off by some guy who sells you some fancy trash, why not
spend a few pennies and convert the fuel without heat. In my article5 I propose this by
simply adding no more than 5% paint thinner during the winter The paint thinner (or
similar chemical) serves as an adjuvant6 that enables better fuel atomization without
heating. That’s it. Easy!
When I do this with my biodiesel stock, it does not begin to freeze until about -15°
Fahrenheit. Just to be on the safe side, one can always blend the vegg mix with a little
bit of regular diesel fuel or kerosene – further enhancing the fuel’s atomization
properties and avoiding the dreaded gelling.
During the summer I run my car on 100% biodiesel without any chemicals. Again, doing
this has not harmed my car in 175,000 miles.
Tell you what: If it’s winter, make or get some biodiesel. Then go to the hardware store
and mix in a 5% solution (by volume) of paint thinner. Then leave a sample outside in
the cold (or freezer). If it gels, then add some diesel or kerosene, shake it up and see if
it still freezes up.
Chances are it won’t. If it doesn’t – go with that mix. Shove a few gallons in the tank and
let ‘er rip. (Make sure your car was made for diesel fuel before you do this!)
5
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/363213/is_it_really_necessary_to_convert_your.html
6
http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/B1319/B1319.html#Howdoadjuvantswork
P.S…Word of Caution: Biodiesel is greasy. Grease clings to dirt. If your fuel tank has
any suspended dirt floating around in there, biodiesel will grab onto it and send it on
through to your fuel filter, where it should stop. If you have loads of dirt floating around
in your fuel tank, after trying out biodiesel your fuel filter may clog. If this happens, don’t
panic. Just replace your fuel filter and try again. You may need to go through one or two
filters until your tank clears out. After it’s cleared, rest assured the biodiesel will keep
your tank and lines dirt-free afterwards.
Have fun!