[Hidden-tech] Biodiesel

[Garth Shaneyfelt]

>Frank,
>
>Thanks for your questions! I'll reply to the HT list, as well, in 
>case others may have the same questions.
>
>1 - Biodiesel is vegetable oil which has been chemically reacted 
>with methanol and lye (potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide)to 
>replace glycol chains with ester chains.  .........
>
>3 - I appear to be getting roughly the same mileage with the same 
>acceleration/performance.  My engine has almost 250,000 miles on it, 
>however, so a little computer tweaking of my engine probably 
>wouldn't hurt at this point.  :)
>
>If you're looking to pick up a used diesel vehicle, you'll probably 
>want to find one manufactured after 1995 - biodiesel is quite 
>a  solvent and will literally EAT rubber hoses/seals/gaskets in the 
>fuel system.  The vast majority of diesel vehicles manufactured 
>after 1995 have synthetic rubber in their fuel systems, so it won't 
>be a problem.

In addition, in the Pioneer Valley area, a new biodiesel plant (that 
will use waste veggie oil as the feedstock) is in the works [breaking 
ground this spring/summer] in the Greenfield Industrial 
Park.  http://www.northeastbiodiesel.com   They will only be selling 
wholesale, but a cooperative group, CoopPower 
(http://www.cooppower.coop) is a major investor and hope to maintain 
local control of this sustainable energy resource.

Locally, you can get biodiesel blends at the pump in Greenfield and 
Brattleboro (at the Flemoil Stations) and also in Holyoke (at 
Alliance Energy).  Yellow BioDiesel is available in 5 gallon jugs in 
many stores and service stations in the region as 
well.  http://www.yellowbiodiesel.com/

I have been successfully running my 1978 Mercedes Benz 300 sedan on 
biodiesel for the last 6 months.  Runs great and I get the same 
(poor) 27mpg as on petro-diesel.

Ebay, Greasecar classifieds, and Craigslist are all good options for 
finding a diesel (in Mass).  In other states (and when the 
low-sulphur diesel requirements go into effect in Sept), you can buy 
a new diesel car or truck.  Already 22% of VW sales are in the diesel segment:
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/05/us_sales_of_vw_.html

hope this helps
-Garth