Biodiesel Education and Training

Learn how to make biodiesel and then make it work for you

Biodiesel fuel is good for the environment and it can save you money over traditional petroleum based diesel fuel. However this will only work if you know how to make it and use it correctly.

Biodiesel education and training is important because it can save you from damaging your car or truck's engine. A few things you need to learn before you go green are:

1. How to make biodiesel from common vegetable oils or find it available commercially;

2. How to convert a traditional diesel engine to run on biodiesel;

3. What impact biodiesel will have on your vehicle's engine and how to care for it properly.

 

Compare biodiesel's environmental impact to that of traditional fuel

Before you get started, you may wonder why you should even bother with biodiesel in the first place. If you do some reading it can help you understand just how helpful it can be to Mother Earth.
Try: Visit the Biodiesel website for a wealth of information on the environmental impact. Also, try to attend the National Biodiesel Conference and Expo. This will be your best chance to learn about all aspects of biodiesel in just three days.

Learn how to make or buy biodiesel

While you may think that making biodiesel is as easy as driving up to the nearest Burger King and asking for the leftover French fry grease, this is actually not the case. Using straight grease will clog your engine. There is a lot of skimming, straining and mixing involved.
Try: Visit Journey to Forever. This site has a comprehensive tutorial on making biodiesel, including information on biodiesel production equipment. Then go to Biodiesel and read the Guide to Buying Biodiesel. It will teach you all about commercial purchasing options.

Learn how to convert your engine from petroleum diesel to biodiesel

Some people start pouring biodiesel into their fuel tanks without the proper biodiesel equipment. This can shorten the life of their vehicles and ultimately lead to engine failure. Smart biodiesel users will first outfit their cars or trucks properly, making the biodiesel conversion run smoothly.
Try: Read Wired's step-by-step article on how to convert your engine with biodiesel kits. Then visit Golden Fuel Systems and consider ordering their educational DVDs. They cover everything from how your diesel engine works to additives and other biodiesel supplies you need to keep it working right. If you live in California, consider taking an equipment training class at the Solar Living Institute.

 

• If your vehicle doesn't have a diesel engine, don't try to convert it to biodiesel. First of all, it won't work without a total and complete overhaul. Secondly, it will probably be much cheaper to just buy a new car that has a diesel engine.

Copyright © 2011 Business.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

---