I've been thinking about processing my own BioDiesel for my 1985 300D, but when I consider it, it seems to make sense to think slightly bigger and process this fuel for 2-4 vehicles at once.

Is there anyone here who would admit to being involved with a small (1-2 family) BioDiesel co-op? I could keep my car fueled, a friend's car and add to my fleet (Honey, I wouldn't have to pay for fuel).

My ultimate dream would be to use a restored MB diesel truck or van to pick up the WVO for processing!

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Mike Frederick
1986 300SDL, 240K+ miles
1985 300D KaliKar, 270K+ miles

I am involved with a few friends in collecting, settling WVO with the intent of exchanging for BioDiesel. We are members of a local BioDiesel Coop that isnt producing as they are searching for a proper location to operate. In the meantime, the oil we collect gets sold to other brewers in the short term while we wait for things to get going.

This is a great idea if you can make it happen easily. Many people involved to regularly participate will make it work.

Best of luck.

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83 300TD (need rear wiper assembly dead or alive)
84 300SD Daily driver
85 300TD almost 400k miles and driven daily.
98 E300D *sold
86 300SDL *sold and made flawless 10 hour journey to new home.

Yep

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When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.
Jimi Hendrix

This is what is stopping me from creating a small biodiesel project: I still work two jobs and have no help for anything.

A small biodiesel project would be a great thing.

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

After searching for a place local to me to buy biodiesel I finally came upon a co-op, it took a lot of searching but I found one. They aren't producing at the moment but it should be up again soon. Have you searched online for one in your state or area? Craigslist is a good place to look as well, check if anyone is selling biodiesel and contact them about donating WVO in exchange for fuel/lower price on fuel or starting something up.

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1985 300D (CA, 173K)

Dynamite Biodiesel Co-op, Phoenix,AZ

Do you guys have to inform anybody that your running on biodiesel? Also what is the duty rate or tax per liter? I'm in england, so we are supposed to inform revenue, customs and excise and then pay tax on it at a rate of twenty pence per liter. We also have a limit on how much fuel we can make for "personal use", or we get classified as a "commercial operation" and get hammered by the goverment.

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87 w124 zender 3.6 - 3.0 kompressor in progress!
96 w124 e300 diesel - slowly being modded
98 w208 230 kompressor - m103 testbed SOLD.
96 s124 om606 superturbo diesel 508bhp

You have to pay taxes on it here as well, or at least should. I'm not sure on personal production limits, how will they know?

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1985 300D (CA, 173K)

Dynamite Biodiesel Co-op, Phoenix,AZ

As I understand it, here in the US it depends on which state you live in. Here in NC there is no tax on biodiesel, WVO, etc. Others are different. Check with your local state authorities to find out...

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1987 300DT
2002 Ford F-250 7.3 Crew Cab Short Bed

Gentlemen,

I am presently consulting a small business on how to reuse their WVO. They use high quality soybean oil.

Does anyone have 1st person experience with manufactured biodiesel refiners suitable for 120 gallons a month?

Thank You,
Joe Marroso

I believe these are the Caddilac oops Mercedes of biodiesel processors. Not cheap but selfcontained and pushbutton operation. I built my own but it is crude compared to these babys.
http://utahbiodieselsupply.com/biopro380.php

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It's always something simple
91 300D 603.960 (from japan) 194K
92 Toyota Diesel Landcruiser HDJ81-t 116K
02 Golf TDI new head courtesy of PO
87 300D
97 BMW 525 TDS Wagon 5spd
bunch of Onan and other diesel generators

Thanks BigBlock,

Am I to infer that the $2k-$4k refiners are not satisfactory? The utah machines looks robust but the cost would require a larger fleet to amortize the costs.

Are there plans so we could wrench one together that could achieve "pushbutton" operation?

Thanks,
Joe Marroso

There are many companies who will be happy to take your 2-4K$ for a plastic conebottom processor worth less than the 1K$ it takes to build but it is still mostly a manual process requiring interaction from you. Getting to the level of sophistication for pushbutton operation necessary for reliable operation is not cheap. You can do some research on the biodiesel infopop forums about what people(including me) have put together. Some are dirt cheap steel drums or converted water heaters, some are plastic conebottom tanks but I have yet to see anything automatic (other than the biopro) that I would trust to make fuel I am putting in my fuel tank. I prefer to take control of the process manually, with a bit of experience it is quite possible to consistantly produce good fuel, just takes time. The best idea is to do some research for a while to get some ideas before spending money on a ripoff unit. The most difficult part of making bio is actually securing a good continuing source of oil. Crappy oil is not worth working with even if it is free so beware. Cheers Dan

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It's always something simple
91 300D 603.960 (from japan) 194K
92 Toyota Diesel Landcruiser HDJ81-t 116K
02 Golf TDI new head courtesy of PO
87 300D
97 BMW 525 TDS Wagon 5spd
bunch of Onan and other diesel generators

Thanks Dan,

My client has a source of good oil, but I don't think the amount (>150 gallons per month) justifies a $14k purchase.

Are there realistic plans for a "kit?"

Joe Marroso