I am not sure if this is in the right place but I will give it a shot. With the huge increase in diesel over the past years I have seriously been considering trying to make my own biodiesel. I was wondering if any of you have tried it, and if so what type of luck have you had? I know there is several different manufucatuers of do it yourself biodiesel kits, if you have any experiences good bad or indifferent I would love to here about them. I am also curious in where and how you are getting your oil supply, and an estimate of how much per a gallon this is costing.

Thanks
Jared

It costs me about $1 a gallon. I use extreme biodiesels kit. Its very simple to make but it takes lots of time

It costs me about $1 a gallon. I use extreme biodiesels kit. Its very simple to make but it takes lots of time


That is the kit I was looking at, its more expensive than most but it looks to be good quality. Which of there kits are you using, and is it hard to track down used oil?

Im using the standard. My uncle cleans hoods at restuarants so he just picks up the oil from there. Its not hard to find the oil. Go over to burger king or some place that goes through alot of oil

Does the oil make your truck smell like french fries or fried foods? Can you tell the defense in biodiesel or #2 (i.e. Performance)?

Jrad - I use a FuelMeister system and I believe their manufacturing facility is in Sparks. I see you are from Reno. I've had mine for 2 1/2 years and love it. The oil source is the hardest to come by. Franchise type resteraunts (Burger King, McDonalds, etc) usually won't give you their oil and have to go through head quarters (pain in the @$$). Look for "mom and pop" cafe's. Before buying a system, you should secure an oil source.

gmduramax--what blend bio are you using in your LMM, do you make any modifications and how many miles have you been using it?

Thanks

Jrad - I use a FuelMeister system and I believe their manufacturing facility is in Sparks. I see you are from Reno. I've had mine for 2 1/2 years and love it. The oil source is the hardest to come by. Franchise type resteraunts (Burger King, McDonalds, etc) usually won't give you their oil and have to go through head quarters (pain in the @$$). Look for "mom and pop" cafe's. Before buying a system, you should secure an oil source.

Cool I will look into it. I have a few places I think I can get oil from but I am going to talk to the managers, and see what I can line up.

FWIW, I've looked into a few. One that sparked my attention was the BioPro. Basically, you give it the intredients and hit "Start". when it's done you have BioDiesel. Problem is they're expensive, but if I get into it, that would be the best system for me since I don't have tons of time to to it.

do any of you guys own other systems? What is the best processor for the money? I have looked at the BioPro(mucho denero) and some other systems in the 3-5k range.

I built an appleseed processor, my problem was finding oil. not enough mom and pops near me to get more then 30/gals a month.

Where are you guys getting your methanol, and how much are you paying?

Anyone making biodiesel using unused plant oils? As opposed to using used fryer oil?

Where are you guys getting your methanol, and how much are you paying?

Race shops

Anyone know what methanol is going for.

Try here,good info on subject.http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/719605551/m/4531064311

Heres a few pics of what I'm building. An Appleseed Processor and a few wash and dry tanks,,, So far I have about $700 into it, and some time,,I have found Meth for $165 for 55Gal barrel. and Noah is about a $7.69 for 2Lbs at Lowes,, I am looking for a supplier that I can go to and pick it up as the Hazaradous shipping fees are high. If your interested in the process, Look up Dr Pepper Method, and do a few small test batches to get you head wrapped around the process. Then go find some oil. ( It looks as if the big wheels and tires and lift kit in the original posters avatar,,could of bought aLOT of fuel ) :D Now off with you to go read.

http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/4/11608444565.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic/8049869)

http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/4/11608444540.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic/8049866)

Heres a few pics of what I'm building. An Appleseed Processor and a few wash and dry tanks,,, So far I have about $700 into it, and some time,,I have found Meth for $165 for 55Gal barrel. and Noah is about a $7.69 for 2Lbs at Lowes,, I am looking for a supplier that I can go to and pick it up as the Hazaradous shipping fees are high. If your interested in the process, Look up Dr Pepper Method, and do a few small test batches to get you head wrapped around the process. Then go find some oil. ( It looks as if the big wheels and tires and lift kit in the original posters avatar,,could of bought aLOT of fuel ) :D Now off with you to go read.

http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/4/11608444565.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic/8049869)

http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/4/11608444540.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic/8049866)

Haha believe it or not I am getting 16.5-17 MPG with my race tune, not all that bad, but diesel is $4.30 in my parts and I am over it. I actually went to a bio-diesel workshop put on by fuel miester they are manufactured locally, and I learned alot. It helped me realise how duable this really is. I also went and tracked down some oil sources that seem promising. I think I should be able to get somewhere between 30-50 gallons of waste oil a week. Now I just need to track down a good supplier for methanol. There is a place locally that wants over 500 a drum, and apparently there is some places down in sac that are under 300.

well im very glad to see a bio fuel thread going, after several hours of internet researching, A buddy and I are going full ahead into bio-d now.

Our plan is to copy the 3k-4k dollar kits you see online, like the evolution bio,extreme bio and the fuel miester.

If you look at plastic-mart.com you see they sell the cone bottom poly tanks and stands for a bio kit for $240. Then all you need is tubing,valves,55gal drum,and the harbor freight motor which is $30,

We were amazed at what those fancy kits go for and within an hour we found everthing needed to replicate on, for under $1000.

Has anyone else done this yet?

Say NO to Plastic!!!! That and heat don't go well together if you aren't careful....:eek:

thanks for the warning on the platic tanks, the website it just called plastic mart, but all they sell are poly tanks for chemical holding and what not. And on the site it is marketed for a bio kit. So Id assume it should handel the chemicals.

Has anyone else tried to build there own coping expensive kits?

the problem with poly tans,, 1) No way to heat while processing,, 2) Over heating can melt them,,, and a few others. You could build a Great Processor that makes great fuel with and Appleseed unit. there are many plans online and pictures, that you can copy from. If you have your heart set on a poly tank, I would only use one for settleing your finished product for Glycerin seperation. After making it in an Appleseed unit. =D

And introducing an extremely flamable liquid on to a heat source is not exactly safe either (appleseed).

And introducing an extremely flamable liquid on to a heat source is not exactly safe either (appleseed).

It is ONLY a problem if someone empties the vessel with the heater on, the fluid gets below the heating element and exposes it. Oh and it does not care if the tank is plastic or steel. They could both be dangerous..Plastic melts and could seperate under the possible explosion. Steel could do it also if not of a sturdy construction. Your only as safe as you are since your in control.

Mako20c you will be fine with the plastic tanks. Trust me I know I have been using then for over a year now. Stay away from any water heater setups. Good luck and be careful.

Everything has risk, and the only true safety item is the operator! What ever you choose, ( I choose Appleseed after reading about 50 hrs worth of all the info an reading more on the forums, and for cost reasons as well.) Choose what YOU want, and do it carefully and you will be fine.



Talk is cheap as supply is usually greater than demand.

Pruitt is right where everything has a risk. The best is to be smart and do lots of research. His preference was what he did. My preference is what I did.

FWIW - I have had my plastic tanks for well over 2 1/2 years and no signs of melting or degrading. I have had oil as hot as 160* in it before with no ill effects.

Hey Guys this discussion is great Im glad we are getting a bio home brew discussion.
My plan is to copy a system like fuel meister, evolution bio kit. I choose not to go with an appleseed kit because I didnt see any cost savings after making each. (i dont have a spare water heater) I like the poly tanks so you can see what is going on.

My plan is do have my oil collection tank (settle tank) then take upper half from settle tank to my oil heater tank that would be collected to my system.

Using a 55gal metal drum as an oil heater tank, I plan to install one or two water heater elements into the sides of the tank. So the oil would be 120-140 range then pumped to the poly tanks for the reaction.

Right now that is the plan, Im researching as many pictures online as I can to get the plumbing from tank to tank.

Thanks all

make sure you post pics and blue prints of your setup when you get it working

Methanol is going for about $2.95 a gallon right now in 55 gallon drums.

This is through my supplier and is a TORCO fuel.

Methanol is going for about $2.95 a gallon right now in 55 gallon drums.

This is through my supplier and is a TORCO fuel.

WOW that is cheap I am still in the 4 dollar a gal here.

It is $6/gal around here

I found it near sacramento for 4.45 a gallon. I think I am going to pick up a drum next week, and get my processor.

worst case scenario, if you cant get any/enough waste oil can you buy it from the company's that take it from Macdonald's, burger king, ect for cheap?

$3.21 per gallon in NJ

$3.21 per gallon in NJ

damn thats not very cheap

Seattle it is $4.45 but supplys are tighting up.

$5/gal around L.A.'s Southbay.

Just checked locally again and it is down to $4.67/gallon here

Is anybody brewing in the southeast around Atlanta? I have been contemplating this as well.
I work in the wholesale produce industry and have quite a few customers at work who own restaurants. I thought these might be good possible sources for oil.

I was also looking at the Elite All American Bio kit. Any opinions or experience with this?

One last question - do you guys make bio in your garages attached to the house - or is it better to do it in a free standing garage or shed? I was just wondering about that from both a safety (potential fire? or fumes) and smell (?) standpoint.

Great tread it's helping to open my eyes up alittle. $400-$600 bucks more in my pocket is worth it.

I located methanol for $290 a drum but I havent found many prics on Lye. I did find a place in the sacramento area that wants $1.95 lb for a 50lb bag. Not sure if thats high nor not? I figure the lye int hat quantity will last a while. What are you guys paying? where is a good place to get it in the reno/sac area?

Have you tried Lowes? It is in the plumbing section in a white bottle labeled crystal drain opener by Roebic and is $7.96 for a 2 lb bottle. That is alot more $$$ but easier to handle and will work in a pinch on the weekends or something.

For lye you might want to try texas natural supply (dot com). I was ordering in 2lb containers, around $10 a lb AFTER shipping but it came in those smaller sealed containers so I didn't have to worry about a whole 50lb bag absorbing moisture and ruining it.

I have moved recently and am deploying soon so I will revisit my processor in 2009, however I was planning to take the 2lb cans and breaking them down instantly into smaller containers/baggies for ease of use during batch making. Lye absorbs water from the atmosphere very quickly, you need to be fast with the spoon.

Stay safe Dan Brown and thank you.

I didn't even think about lye absorbing moisture. How would this affect the mixing? I found a source locally for it but when I told them what grade I needed, they asked solid or liquid! I didn't even know it could be a liquid. I wonder if this would mix with the methanol easier.

Thanks.

It will throw it off because added moisture is added weight. So if you're looking for 3.5 grams of lye lets say, and you put it on the scale, as it absorbs moisture it'll start to weigh more and you wont actually have the amount of lye you need. I have to put a disclaimer out there saying that I was only making 2-liter sized batches as a proof of concept, I don't have experience making usable quantities. Hopefully others can chip in there.

In my opinion, liquid lye would be easier. All you need to know is the concentration, and there is math on the web telling you what volume you need for your particular batch. I would much rather measure out liquid lye in a graduated cylinder than screw around with powder lye on a balance/scale, but that's just me. Like I said, hopefully others can chime in here.