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What is the difference between SVO and BioDiesel?
Wait? I can run my car on this??
How long does this take to build?
How difficult is this to build?
What kind of maintenance is required?
What about water in the oil?
- What is the difference between SVO and BioDiesel?
Biodiesel
A clean burning fuel which runs in any unmodified diesel engine. This fuel is an environmentally-friendly alternative to the higher emission petroleum diesel used in large transport vehicles and some cars and trucks. In addition, biodiesel can be made from renewable resources such as vegetable oil or animal fat and even from used cooking oil, an abundant waste product. Biodiesel is currently being manufactured at an industrial scale by large companies but can also be made on a small scale with simple technology. We hope to be a clearinghouse for biodiesel information, especially the information, skills and technology necessary for making it on a small scale.
Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO)
Diesel engines can also be run on unmodified vegetable oil, if the oil is heated or mixed with other fuels. Using waste vegetable oil this can be an amazingly inexpensive and ecological alternative fuel. The main problem is that vegetable oil is much more viscous (thicker) than conventional diesel fuel. It must be heated (thinned) so that it can be properly atomized by the fuel injectors. If it’s not properly atomized, it won’t burn properly, forming deposits on the injectors and in the cylinder head, leading to poor performance, higher emissions, and reduced engine life. Nonetheless, experience is showing that SVO systems are a practical proposition with a lot of advantages to offer, not least of all that using SVO can be cheaper than turning it into biodiesel and uses less energy than making biodiesel does.
- How long does this take to build?
The Home Filtration Unit takes about a weekend to build.
- How difficult is this to build?
The Home Filtration Unit is considered a "weekend build." We have seen people with very little experience create some very nice filtration setups. You will be doing some work with PVC and a couple power tools. Some people call their neighbors over if they don't have the Jigsaw or don't want to do all the work alone.
- What kind of maintenance is required?
Depending on how much oil you filter, you will need to change the filters about once every 100 gallons or so. Aside from that, every few hundred gallons you will need to clean out the inside of the dirty drum. This also depends on the amount of oil you filter.
- What about water in the oil?
It is highly recommended that you choose a source of oil that is water free, but to prevent any water from getting into your car, we use a heat and settle filtration method.
- Wait, I can run my car on this?
Yes!! If you have a diesel car or truck then biodiesel or SVO is a viable option for you. If you are considering the conversion for SVO, check out www.greasecar.com or www.frybrid.com. If you are thinking about running on biodiesel, please send us an e-mail.
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