What is Biodiesel?
Biodiesel refers to a diesel-equivalent, processed fuel derived from biological sources (such as vegetable oils), which can be used in unmodified diesel-engine vehicles. It is thus distinguished from the straight vegetable oils (SVO) or waste vegetable oils (WVO) used as fuels in some diesel vehicles.

What is the history of Biodiesel?
The original Diesel engines were designed to run on vegetable oils. Rudolf Diesel is credited as inventing the diesel engine in 1892. Diesel intended the engine to use a variety of fuels including coal dust and vegetable oil. He demonstrated it at the 1900 Exposition Universelle (World's Fair) using peanut oil. It was later in the early 1900's that petroluem became so abundant that it was most commonly used to run the diesel engine.

How much of a Biodiesel blend should I use?
Biodiesel can be used in pure form (B100) or may be blended with petroleum diesel at any concentration in most conventional diesel engines. Blends of 20% biodiesel with 80% petroleum diesel can be used in unmodified diesel engines. Most engine manufacturers even offer a guarantee up to a certain limit of blended Biodiesel, check with your engine manufacturer for their guarantee.

What are the environmental benefits of using Biodiesel?
In the United States, biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have successfully completed the Health Effects Testing requirements (Tier I and Tier II) of the Clean Air Act (1990).

Biodiesel reduces emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) by approximately 50% and carbon dioxide by 78% on a net lifecycle basis.

Biodiesel is nontoxic, biodegradable. It reduces the emission of harmful pollutants (mainly particulates) from diesel engines (80% less CO2 emissions, 100% less sulfur dioxide).

Biodiesel is easy to use, handle, store and blend. It is biodegradable and non-toxic. It is an ideal fuel for environmentally sensitive areas and for diesel applications that have emissions considerations

Biodiesel has a high cetane number (above 100, compared to only 40 for diesel fuel). Cetane number is a measure of a fuel's ignition quality. The high cetane numbers of biodiesel contribute to easy cold starting and low idle noise.

The use of biodiesel can extend the life of diesel engines because it is more lubricating and, furthermore, power output is relatively unaffected by biodiesel.

What are some applications of Biodiesel?
Biodiesel can be used as a replacement of petroleum diesel in a number of applications, including;
Overland Trucking, Public Transit, Marine, Construction / Industry, Agriculture, Power Generators, Home Heating and Passenger Vehicles among others.