FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q.1 What is Bio-diesel?

Bio-diesel is the name of a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources such as soybeans, sunflowers, canola, waste cooking oil, or animal fats. Bio-diesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a Bio-diesel blend. It can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines or oil-fired boilers or furnaces with little or no modifications. Bio-diesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.

Q.2 How is Bio-diesel made?

Bio-diesel is made through a chemical process called transesterification in which the glycerin is separated from the fat or vegetable oil. The process leaves behind two products-alkyl esters (the generic chemical name for Bio-diesel) and glycerin (a valuable byproduct usually sold to be used in soaps and other products)?

Q.3 Why should I use Bio-diesel?

Bio-diesel is better for the environment because it is made from renewable resources and has lower emissions compared to petroleum diesel. It is less toxic than table salt and biodegrades as fast as sugar. Since it is made in the USA from renewable resources, its use decreases our dependence on foreign oil, creates jobs, and contributes to our own economy.

Q.4 How do Bio-diesel emissions compare to petroleum diesel?

 

Bio-diesel is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed the health effects testing requirements of the Clean Air Act. The use of Bio-diesel in a conventional diesel engine or oil-fired furnace or boiler results in substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter compared to emissions from diesel fuel. In addition, the exhaust emissions of sulfur oxides and sulfates (major components of acid rain) from Bio-diesel are essentially eliminated compared to diesel.

Q.5 Can Bio-diesel help mitigate "global warming"?

A 1998 Bio-diesel lifecycle study, jointly sponsored by the US Department of Energy and the US Department of Agriculture, concluded Bio-diesel reduces net CO2 emissions by 78 percent compared to petroleum diesel. This is due to Bio-diesel's closed carbon cycle. Most of the CO2 released into the atmosphere when Bio-diesel is burned is recycled by growing plants, which are later processed into.

Q.6 Is Bio-diesel used as a pure fuel or is it blended with petroleum diesel?

Bio-diesel can be used as a pure fuel or blended with petroleum in any percentage. B20 (a blend of 20 percent by volume Bio-diesel with 80 percent by volume petroleum diesel) has demonstrated significant environmental benefits with a minimum increase in cost for fleet operations and other consumers.

Q.7 What is B100?

Full strength (100 percent) Bio-diesel is often referred to as B100 or "neat" Bio-diesel. A blend of Bio-diesel containing 20 percent Bio-diesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel is referred to as B20. The most popular blend of Bio-diesel in the United Sates is B20, which offers significant reductions in harmful emissions at an affordable price.

    Q.8 What is B2 Bio-diesel?

Pure bio-diesel or B100 Bio-diesel is a non-toxic, biodegradable, renewable, carbon-neutral, sulfur-free, home-grown fuel that replaces petroleum diesel.  When blended with equal parts of B100 bio-diesel, creates B50 bio-diesel, or 50% bio-diesel and 50% petroleum diesel. Therefore, B2 Bio-diesel is comprised of a "blend" of 2% Bio-diesel and 98% petroleum diesel.

Q.9 What is B5 Bio-diesel?

Pure bio-diesel or B100 Bio-diesel is a non-toxic, biodegradable, renewable, carbon-neutral, sulfur-free, home-grown fuel that replaces petroleum diesel.  When blended with equal parts of B100 bio-diesel, creates B50 bio-diesel, or 50% bio-diesel and 50% petroleum diesel. Therefore, B5 Bio-diesel is comprised of a "blend" of 5% Bio-diesel and 95% petroleum diesel.

    Q.10 What is B10 Bio-diesel?

Pure bio-diesel or B100 bio-diesel is a non-toxic, biodegradable, renewable, carbon-neutral, sulfur-free, domestic fuel that when blended with 9 parts petroleum diesel to one part bio-diesel creates B10 bio-diesel, or 20% bio-diesel and 80% petroleum diesel.

Q.11 What is B20 Bio-diesel?

B20 Bio-diesel is one the most popular bio-diesel blends presently available throughout much of the U.S., Canada and Europe.  Pure bio-diesel or B100 Bio-diesel is a non-toxic, biodegradable, renewable, carbon-neutral, sulfur-free, domestic fuel that when mixed with four parts petroleum diesel to one part bio-diesel creates B20 bio-diesel, or 20% bio-diesel and 80% petroleum diesel.

Q.12 What is B50 Bio-diesel?

Pure bio-diesel or B100 bio-diesel is a non-toxic, biodegradable, renewable, carbon-neutral, sulfur-free, domestic petroleum diesel when blended with equal parts of B100 bio-diesel creates B50 bio-diesel, or 50% bio-diesel and 50% petroleum diesel.

Q.13 What is B95 Bio-diesel?

Pure bio-diesel or B100 bio-diesel, is a non-toxic, biodegradable, renewable, carbon-neutral, sulfur-free, home-grown fuel that replaces petroleum diesel.  When blended with equal parts of B100 bio-diesel, creates B50 bio-diesel, or 50% bio-diesel and 50% petroleum diesel. Therefore, B95 bio-diesel is comprised of a "blend" of 95% Bio-diesel and 5% petroleum diesel.

Q.14 What is B100 Bio-diesel?

Pure bio-diesel is referred to as B100 bio-diesel, which is a non-toxic, biodegradable, renewable, carbon-neutral, sulfur-free, domestically "grown" bio-fuel. B100 Bio-diesel is refined from many American-grown fuel/energy crops such as soybeans, canola, rapeseed and even palm trees. 

Q.15 Can B20 Bio-diesel cause, or prevent problems for my diesel engine?

This depends on the age of the car. Bio-diesel is a solvent and may affect some seals, gaskets, and adhesives, particularly those made before 1993 and those made from natural or nitrile rubber. Most diesel engines manufactured after 1994 have been constructed with gaskets and seals that are bio-diesel resistant. Earlier engine models or rebuilds may use older gasket and seal materials and present a risk of swelling, leaking, or failure. Fuel pumps may contain rubber valves that may fail. B20 Bio-diesel cleans dirty engine deposits, which may result in you needing an initial fuel filter change. B20 Bio-diesel fuel is being widely used in various areas around the United States and Canada. Its production and distribution is expanding rapidly throughout the U.S. and Canada. Now that B20 Bio-diesel has been gaining wide-spread distribution and popularity, questions are being asked for which some of the more common questions are answered below.

Q.16 Does B20 Bio-diesel perform as well as regular petroleum diesel?

Yes! In most cases you will not be unable to tell the difference between the two fuels, although some notice the diesel exhaust lightening in color due to the reduced emissions. B20 Bio-diesel can be used in existing engines and fuel injection equipment with little impact to operating performance. In more than 30 million miles of in-field demonstrations, B20 has produced similar fuel consumption, horsepower, torque, and haulage rates as conventional diesel fuel. B20 Bio-diesel also has superior lubricity, which helps prevent engine wear, plus it has a higher cetane number than U.S. diesel fuel, which classifies B20 as a premium grade fuel.B20 has a BTU content that falls in the range between #1 and #2 diesel fuels.

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Last modified: 09/02/07