How to make "Biodiesel" on Trucks TV show

[guest]

If anyone is interested. Stacey David is doing a show on how to make biodiesel on "Trucks" right now.

http://www.truckstv.com/show_details.aspx?iid=4996

[farmallmaniac]

I watched it and i think that'd be cool to be able to do but heard that little set up he has cost quite a pretty penny

[guest]

I think the kit they showed on Trucks lists for around $3,000. Might be worth it if enough of a group pitched in and spread the cost out and shared the biodiesel or if you have the time and enough WVO, I guess you could recoup costs by selling excess biodiesel.

[bontai Joe]

What the show didn't touch on was what do you do with the residue left over from making the fuel?

[mbkerk]

I didn't see the show, but I am aware of the process and the expense. If I were ever to invest in something like this, I'd buy the wife a Dodge / Cummins and the fuel bills would disappear! Maybe even put a fuel oil furnace back in the house!

One thing makes me re-consider the idea. With fuel prices on the rise and showing no signs of ever coming down again... How long will it be before a a lot of people start doing this and the restaurants start selling their WVO? I am sure it would still more economical that the pump price of diesel, but the government(s) would not get the .46 tax per gallon they currently do! As soon as they figure that is cutting in to their collections too much, they'll make some kind of laws to make it illegal.

I don't mean to be a pessimist, but I don't want to spend the 3K and then not be able to use it for any of the above reasons.

[Olds455]

I would tend to agree with Mark. They'll either ban it, tax it, or get the EPA involved. The restaurants selling the grease would start to jack up the price, too. If you read the details, it says that cooking oil that fried anything other than fish or vegetables wouldn't work as well. Down here in the South, we're screwed! Only down around the coast will you find enough oil used to cook fish. McDonalds may sell some of their fry grease, though. But in either case, you've got to come with a way to get it from the restaurant to your house. I don't think this system is going to work until a larger producer gets into the game and can distribute large volumes of it.

[itsgottobegreen]

I want to make some to run in my kubota tractor and two new kubota powered grasshopper mowers. (coming soon) $80 to fill my diesel dump truck, makes it temping. But I would build my own system to make it.

[draddogs]

l, but the government(s) would not get the .46 tax per gallon they currently do! As soon as they figure that is cutting in to their collections too much, they'll make some kind of laws to make it illegal.

I don't mean to be a pessimist, but I don't want to spend the 3K and then not be able to use it for any of the above reasons.

mbkerk, why would that stop you. If you are using $100 of diesel a week then it would pay for itself in one year. So what if the gov steps in and makes it illegal Its never illegal unless you are caught.

[bontai Joe]

Once you have the equipment, assuming you don't have to register it with some govt. agency, who is to know that you are making your own fuel. Just like buying ammunition reloading tools, or a typewriter. Once owned, you can make you own bullets to your hearts content with no govt. interference, a typewriter allows you to write a dissenting opinion of any govt. That is why in less than free countries, reloading tools, photocopiers, typewriters, computers are all licenced and registered and subject to inspection by the police without warrant or probable cause. I could see the BATF possible being interested in someone making alcohol for fuel, but used french fry oil isn't on anyone's radar yet. So if you buy now, you will be getting in before the big brother registration and tax plan goes into effect.

[mbkerk]

mbkerk, why would that stop you. If you are using $100 of diesel a week then it would pay for itself in one year. So what if the gov steps in and makes it illegal Its never illegal unless you are caught.

I guess my bigger concern is the price of the WVO. Lord knows I have have not always obeyed ever little law, and the really lousy laws I still blow off, especially when it comes to... never mind...