Brewing Bio Fuel
63According to the news, two students in Florida have discovered
that the best way to beat high fuel costs is to brew your own.
They take the used cooking grease from a local restaurant and
convert it into diesel fuel. The current cost of diesel in their area
is about $4.30 per gallon, while the cost to make their own
bio-diesel is 80 cents. Add a 29 cent state fuel tax imposed by
Florida, and the cost is still remarkably lower than what they
would pay at the pump.
So, how hard is it to brew your own bio-fuel? Well, these guys
manage to make enough for their needs using things bought at
local hardware stores.
Their home-made bio-diesel reactor consists of a water heater
with hoses and valves and filters. They add a few ingredients
found in any store that sells home-chemicals, and turn grease
into a cleaner-burning fuel.
Of course, their bio-diesel can only be used in diesel-engine
vehicles, and they do pay that tax Florida demands, but apparently
they are not alone in using this method to create cheaper
alternatives to buying $4.00 plus at-the-pump costs for fuel.
Just the same, this is one of those small, but powerful examples
of how people can use their creativity and imagination, with a bit
of sweat and time, to find a way to thrive in a fuel market gone wild.
Are any of you out there secretly creating your own mini-refinery?
If not, maybe you should consider the alternatives of home-brewed fuel.
Want to see someone making biodiesel at home? Here you go!
- Make your own biodiesel: Journey to Forever
Interested inmaking your own BioDiesel? Here is one website that will help you out!
CommentsLoading...
Thanks for the info! I am on the fence concerning food-based bio fuels. But the oil having already used should be put to good use. I have debated buying a diesel bio fuel system and diesel powered auto. The current economic crisis has put all my plans on hold, though.
Still, I find it odd that when I lived in Europe it was easier to fill my car with expensive gas, fuel is very expensive there! Yet here I am hard-pressed to put in half-a-tank of gas. Did I really make that much more in Europe than I do at home? Or did I spend more wisely? Hmmm?!?!?!
Since writing this hub I have discovered that there are also people making their own ethanol. Since that is an alcohol-based fuel source, I would imagine there is some sort of government oversight and taxation in place. BATF would most likely be involved, and yet people are creating their own ethanol at home, from what I have read.
Very interesting about how much people can actually do if they become self reliant... does this sound familiar? Middle-eastern countries raising prices of fuel we are so reliant upon...?
Anyways, keep writing hubs! I enjoy reading them through and through and gathering as much information from people as possible. Never know what new things you can learn on the world wide web ;)
We have designed communities in the US in such a way that we have to drive if we want to get our errands done. It's amazing that the government taxes home-brewed biodiesel.
I know, Minnow, and that is a shame. Strip malls replaced mom & pop stores tha tused to be a block or two from the people they served. WhenI lived in Spain we could shop for many necessities within an easy stroll of our apartment. Of course,now that Spain is "modern", these also are being replaced by Mega-Stores.
Still, you can get to almost anywhere in Madrid via bus, metro, or by walking.
Two communities near me geographically make access to bio diesel incredibly easy.
New paltz, my friends are active in a biodiesel co-op, everyone volunteers either time and money and the entire co-op of 100 people create enough bio diesel to easily fuel their cars.
They even get to drive Mercedes! as many older mercedes sedans can be found for around 1000 that have diesel engines.
Ithaca, one can have their car converted for 500.00 usd and bio diesel is easily available
Bio Diesel would be more accessable to all but NOCO owns teh rights to commercial distribution and only share for academic purposes.
Half the busses in BUffalo,NY run on 50% mix of diesel/bio diesel
Thanks for getting this info more into the public eye
SUNFORGED S.tudents U.nder N.ature FOR a G.reener E.nvironmental D.ynamic
Thanks, Sunforged - like the name! Biodiesel is not the ultimate answer to our energy needs but it's a start and it is helping! The only thing by me is that it still causes pollution. We need to plant more trees and stop tearing down our "green zones" like the Amazon, and also build back up the green zones in Africa that are rapidly being buried beneath the Sahara.
Good luck with greening the Earth!
Cheers!
Chef Jeff
gas has sure gone down now!
Yes, it has gone down, but don't be fooled - just as soon as they can the big oil people will be raising those prices again.
|
Bio Ethanol / Gel Fuel Fireplace Firebox Insert Burner 2.5 liter
Current Bid: $90.00
|
|
One way Check valve for Gas or Diesel fuel 1/4" Bio
Current Bid: $16.00
|
|
5 x LARGE IN LINE DIESEL BIO VEG FUEL FILTERS
Current Bid: $13.99
|
|
Bio-Blaze Pipes Liquid Fuel Fireplace - Tall
Current Bid: $872.99
|
 | Amazon Price: $87.91 List Price: $125.00 |
 | Amazon Price: $12.18 List Price: $24.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $17.82 List Price: $26.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $75.37 List Price: $90.00 |
dlarson 4 years ago
Grease Works makes a kit for diesels that allows direct injection of veggie oils that have been filtered. I've also heard that you can buy bulk peanut oil (3000 gallons) for about $0.79 per gallon. If you can't secure that much storage space, there is always waste cooking oil to be had for free OR buy 3 gallons peanut oil at K-mart for $10 - still cheaper than the pump!