How do I Convert Diesel to Bio Diesel?

Biodiesel is available from reputable distributors nationwide.

Biodiesel refers to a renewable fuel sourced from natural oils, such as soybean oil, intended to fuel diesel engines. Biodiesel has been refined and meets standards set by the American Society of Testing Materials.



Biodiesel can be mixed with petroleum diesel fuel at any ratio. Blends of bio-diesel and petroleum diesel are designated by a B followed by a number representing the volume percentage of biodiesel in the blend. For example, a blend of 80 percent petroleum diesel and 20 percent biodiesel would be B20. Opposed to materials like raw vegetable oil that can be used to power modified diesel vehicles, biodiesel blended up to B20 is generally safe to use in any standard diesel engine.



Petroleum diesel can not be converted to bio diesel, but it can be converted to a blend by mixing the two types of fuel.

Things You'll Need

• Petroleum-based Diesel
• B100 biodiesel
• Safe holding tank

Instructions

Creating a Diesel Blend

1. Purchase a fuel storage tank that is safe for storing flammable fuel and which meets your local environmental and safety regulations. Check to be sure that the tank comes with a gauge to allow you to monitor the volume of contents in the tank.

2. Determine the ratio of bio diesel/diesel blend that you would like. Remember that most manufacturer's specifications recommend using no more than B20, or 20 percent biodiesel with 80 percent petroleum diesel in unmodified engines.

3. Purchase petroleum diesel and fill your storage tank with the desired percentage of the fuel. Monitor your gauge to ensure that you end up with the correct amount of petroleum-based diesel, to achieve the desired percentage ratio with biodiesel.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not want to blend fuel on a large scale, you can do so in your vehicle's fuel tank by referring to your vehicle's instruction manual to determine the capacity of your tank and filling it with petroleum diesel and B100 bio diesel to the appropriate ratio.

• Although diesel and bio diesel have a high flash point, dealing in any type of flammable liquid is dangerous. Do not store any fuels without first consulting your local regulations and always take proper safety precautions.

• Most modern day diesel motors are not warrantied by manufacturers to run properly with any biodiesel blend greater than B20. Mixing bio-diesel and petroleum diesel and any higher ratio may cause significant damage to your vehicle.

References

• National Biodisel Board What is Biodiesel?
• Journey to Forever Make Your Own Biodiesel