Is it legal to brew your own biodiesel?

[jbach36]

Just wondering, I'd seen a few posts where people are making their own biodiesel, then they say, "Just make sure the feds don't find out you're making it". I'm guessing you can't SELL it to anyone, but seems like it's got to be legal to make and use for yourself, so many people are doing it.

Also, from what I gather, it costs about $.70/gallon to make biodiesel (not wvo), is that about right?

jeff 1991 300d, 103k

Technically, its not legal because you are not paying road taxes.

What state are you in? California has paperwork in place to let you pay the ~$0.18 per gallon.

[log673]

I'm not so sure I want to tell you. You sound like you might be working undercover for these "Feds" and are just trying to coerce one of us into admitting that we make biodiesel.

[Chas H]

I think you can make all you want. Using it or selling it without paying the appropriate taxes is illegal.
So is lots of other stuff we do.

[GRIESL]

Originally Posted by jbach36

Just wondering, I'd seen a few posts where people are making their own biodiesel, then they say, "Just make sure the feds don't find out you're making it". I'm guessing you can't SELL it to anyone, but seems like it's got to be legal to make and use for yourself, so many people are doing it.

Also, from what I gather, it costs about $.70/gallon to make biodiesel (not wvo), is that about right?

jeff 1991 300d, 103k

It's not illegal. I pay VA tank tax at .22/gal. I believe the feds let you get to 400 gallons of fuel used before you have to pay an excise tax. I've not gotten that far yet in one calendar year, so I've not researched that a whole bunch. My cost is a little more than .82/gallon, but I'm paying 4.25 for methanol. Once I get my methanol recovery system going, my cost will go down to about .40 / gallong. Yaaaahoooo! Besides, the car loves the bio--runs smooth and smells sweet!

[jbach36]

Yep, I'm with the Feds.

I'm sure it had something to do with not paying tax tribute. I'm in Georgia. What do they have for us? I wonder what they do with you if they find out you're not paying taxes? There's been a slew of people on TV who went WVO that they interviewed how they do it, how they filter french fries out of the grease, etc., and it looked like they had nothing to hide. There has to be some way of doing it above board. Figures the govt would be upset if you didn't buy the very oil they are saying we're "too addicted to".

jeff

[greasybenz]

ive read that homebrewed biodiesel was exempt from taxes. But wvo wasnt and cali ehas paperwork for th taxes, as forced mentioned. But if i remember correctly from reading on the greasecar forum it was 25cents a gal for wvo.

Hadnt heard anything about biodiesel but im sure there are paperwork for it.

[greasybenz]

Originally Posted by jbach36

Yep,

I'm sure it had something to do with not paying tax tribute. I'm in Georgia. What do they have for us? I wonder what they do with you if they find out you're not paying taxes? There's been a slew of people on TV who went WVO that they interviewed how they do it, how they filter french fries out of the grease, etc., and it looked like they had nothing to hide. There has to be some way of doing it above board. Figures the govt would be upset if you didn't buy the very oil they are saying we're "too addicted to".

jeff

Come to think of it, i remember reading on the greasecar forum that brian miller (aka forrestgump) had been reported for not paying road taxes on his wvo usage. Not sure what happened to him, maybe a fine but he is still active on the forum and not in jail.

Let me see if i can find his post on being reported to the feds...

http://www.dieselearth.com/notebook/vegetable-oil-fuel-is-illegal.html
Vegetable Oil Fuel is Illegal

A few things to consider before installing your own vegetable oil conversion kit:

According the Environmental Protection Agency (the EPA) operating a vehicle with a non-approved fuel delivery system is a violation of Federal regulations. Although the EPA has never prosecuted anyone for operating a vehicle powered by vegetable oil, the regulations in 40CFR state that alternative fuel systems must be approved by the EPA in passenger cars and light trucks before they can be used on-road.

In addition, before installing a veggie fuel conversion kit, consider that alternatively fueled vehicles are subject to state emission requirements as well as Federal regulations which may prohibit the use of vegetable oil as a fuel source. California residents should take extra precautions as their laws are the most stringent.

A primary consideration for the EPA in aftermarket alternative fuel conversions is that they must not interfere with existing OBD II systems on a vehicle.

OBD II systems are required to monitor

* Engine misfires
* Oxygen sensors
* Evaporative leaks
* Other emission-related power train components that might impact emissions

Biodiesel (also known as B100, B20, etc.), as opposed to pure vegetable oil, is approved for use in motor vehicles by the EPA. It seems the sticking point for pure vegetable oil is the delivery system, simply because no one has applied for and been approved to sell a secondary fuel source conversion kit for vegetable oil.

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http://www.bio-power.co.uk/tryit.htm

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It is illegal in Taxation Law to blend an excisable fuel and a nonexcisable fuel.

Diesel is an excisable fuel.
WVO is a non excisable fuel.

The rules no doubt would have come about to stop fuel station owners mixing cheaper and possibly substandard fuels to their tanks, however it also applies to vegie burners who blend.

[300SD81]

If they do catch you, just go to every reporter in town and tell all about it It'll make them look so bad that they'll probably make a law exmpting bio from tax..

[Sopal]

I know that you can produce 300 gal of ANY fuel for personnal use per person ,TAX FREE ,, FED standard. ANYTHING over that your obligated to pay FED and them STATE tax , depending on the state LAW. My wife and yself can produce 600 gals per year TAX FREE ( yes , we have been inspected , record keeping a MUST ) WVO is NON TAXABLE because there is NO standard for WVO/VO as a fuel ,,, they CANNOT tax what is not standardized

all this info taken from the national biodeisel boards website

[Hit Man X]

Tis only illegal if you're caught.

[probear]

As for the Feds, you can make up to 400 gallons without any problem EXCEPT if you intend on selling it. For personal usage, you should be OK. Besides, all pollutants except NO2 are much lower with Bio-D, including the carbon side. It is much more environmentally friendly than straight #2. Even a blend as low as B5 is much better.
As to the actual out of pocket cost, $0.80 is about right, considering the cost of the alcohol and sodium/potassium hydroxide. I am going with potassium hydroxide the next time. It is easier to deal with.

BTW, PM me as I am also in Jawja....I know a number of people that do Bio-D.