How to Buy Biodiesel

Buying alternative fuels like biodiesel may seem difficult at first glance, but once you learn how to find biodiesel retailers and distributors and understand how biodiesel differs from normal diesel, the process of purchasing biodiesel becomes as easy as pulling up to a diesel pump. Follow these steps to quickly and effectively buy biodiesel.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Check out Biodiesel America's online interactive biodiesel resource map. This map not only provides detailed contact and travel information about U.S. alternative fuel retailers, but it also includes separate maps of biodiesel distributors and suppliers as well as a biodiesel co-op guide.

2. Explore the National Biodiesel Board's (NBB) detailed biodiesel maps. The NBB not only has retailer and distributor maps, but also provides site users with the ability to key in any locations that they discover or know of that were not on a map. Roll your cursor over the "Buying Biodiesel" link at the top of the page to open a drop down menu to explore the maps and other pages linked to buying biodiesel.

3. Speak with you local diesel merchant or vendor. As with most merchants and vendors, diesel retailers, suppliers and distributors keep up with changes in their products and market and can discuss with you how they plan to stay current with new trends including alternative fuels.

4. Ask questions before buying. Biodiesel comes in both blended and unblended forms. Blended forms higher than 20% (B20) do not work in normal diesel engines and most consumers have great difficulty "self-blending" to the right amounts.

Tips & Warnings

• Never self-blend biodiesel and always seek pre-blended B20 biodiesel from a reputable company as improperly blended biodiesel can severely damage normal diesel engines.

Resources

• Find biodiesel hotspots courtesy of Biodiesel America
• Additional biodiesel hotspots courtesy of the NBB
• Biodiesel