I would first like to introduce myself to the lookers of this thread. My name is shawn and I have recently bought my first idi diesel. Its an 85 f-250 with a 7.3 out of an 88 truck. I have been debating for a while on trying to make bio-diesel for my truck being as my father in law bought an entire system off of the internet a couple of years ago. He started to make it and use it in his cummins 3500 24 valve. Something about the fuel messed up the ip and he has not used the system since. But he does have a lot of virgin veggie oil and other chemicals for making it. I was wondering as I have been reading though this forum, which of the 2 forms of bio-diesel is best, the veggie oil kind or the kind made from motor oil. Also I was hoping to get some information as to anything that I need to do before starting a project such as converting to this kind of fuel. I have already gotten some good information such as making a separate fuel system and what not. Any information would be helpful. Thx

 

Welcome to the forum! Lot's of people seem to be using veg-oil conversion kits or run WMO. I run biodiesel myself and have made about 1500 gallons so far without much issue. Running bio you just pour in the tank & go, no separate fuel system or any of that stuff. Only issues: cleans the crap out of your fuel system / keep extra filters. slight loss of power / I only really notice towing the boat up steep hills. Lose about 1 or 2 mpg on the highway, but at less than $1.25 a gallon, I'll deal with it... It also smells funny and runs quieter...

 

One quick question, is veg-oil not the same as bio. If its not what is the difference? I reckon that is 2 questions actually.

 

Biodiesel basically is made from adding methoxide (methanol and either KOH or NaOH) to vegatable oil and heating it to 125 degrees. the resulting chemical reaction produces Biodiesel and Glycerol.
Biodiesel can be added directly to the fuel tank without modification, while running veg oil requires a two tank fuel system where in a nutshell you start the engine on diesel, switch it over to vegatable oil when the engine warms up, and switch it back once you are about to shut it off.