As to the solvent nature of methyl esters, I can attest to that. We've had the car only 4 months and have replaced the secondary and primary fuel filters two times. Both time they were black with non descript crud. Any of you using biodiesel, be aware that prolonged contact of biodiesel 100% with a painted surface will relieve said surface of its paint.

Does algae grow in biodiesel?

JohnM 1983 240D 4sp 152K

When I first switched to biodiesel in my 1982 240D I went through about 3 filters before I finally pulled the tank & cleaned it out. There was a lot of sludge in the bottom of the tank from 20 years of diesel! Ever since I've had NO problems with it. I filter my biodiesel through a 10 micron stationary fuel tank filter before I put it in my tank. It cleaned my fuel system out pretty well & I think the injectors too, because it seems to run quieter & smoother now.

Yes, Algae can grow in biodiesel, but only if there is water in it. I haven't had any problem with it, but have heard of it. There is algicide that you can get for that if you have a problem with it.

I have some information and pictures of my processor on my site if anyone is interested. It's at http://www.emeraldisleforge.netfirms.com/Biodiesel.html

Here's some other good sites:

www.veggievan.org

http://biodiesel.infopop.net/2/OpenTopic?a=cfrm&s=465094322 This one is a good discussion group like this one. Lots of good information and helpful members.

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Michael Roth

1982 300TDT Wagon
1982 240D Euro!, 4spd manual-Parts car now, dead engine
88 Jeep Grand Wagoneer-fixing up for offroading
1989 Ford F150 (rust bucket) For Sale!
1953 Dodge B-4F, 1 1/2 ton Stake Bed (new restoration project)

Interesting setup. MUCH more complicated than mine. Mine is a 55 gallon barrel, trolling motor, 12 gallon mixing bucket, paint stirrer (to mix the lye and methanol), and 12 volt submersible pump. I mix the sodium methoxide in the 12 gallon bucket (mix it in 8 gallon batches, to react 40 gallons of oil), and just pour it in. I don't heat the process, so I'm limited to warm weather. The trolling motor is my mixer, and I mount it to the side using a block of wood as a spacer. I store finish product in clean 55 gallon drums with lids. My 12 volt submersible pump is slow, but gets the job done, and I can use cheap in line fuel filters while transferring finish product to the storage barrels, and then eventually into the truck and tractor. I've made 200 gallons of the stuff over the last 12 days.

My next step is to use higher flow pumps for fuel transfer. I have to replace the pump that got trashed when methanol was run through it inadvertently.

What is your cost per gallon so far?

I'm currently at 60 cents per gallon, and am now looking into buying my methanol by the barrel. This will get my cost down to 45 cents per gallon.

DieselPower,

Sounds like you have a pretty good setup too. I need to get some spare drums for fuel storage too. Right now I have to use up my last batch before I can make another. I'm not really sure how much good the prefilter does, the oil I get seems pretty clean already, so I may be able to get rid of that step. I like to build things, so I had fun making my processor, but you are right, it doesn't need to be nearly so complicated.
I make mine for about $.30/gallon, not counting my time. I work at a paint factory so I can get methanol by the drum for $1.22/gal. I found a chemical supply place around here where I got NaOH for $60 for a 50# bag. I've heard of other people getting 50#'s for $40-$50. Either way it's MUCH better than $5/lb for Red Devil from the hardware store!
What do you do with your glycerin? I'm working on making soap bars with scents and oatmeal & cornmeal to sell. It's pretty time consuming though, so I haven't made much yet. It works really good though.

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Michael Roth

1982 300TDT Wagon
1982 240D Euro!, 4spd manual-Parts car now, dead engine
88 Jeep Grand Wagoneer-fixing up for offroading
1989 Ford F150 (rust bucket) For Sale!
1953 Dodge B-4F, 1 1/2 ton Stake Bed (new restoration project)

Like the cost of the lye. Getting in bulk is awesome. I'm generating alot of interest with some of the more intuitive people where I work over my fuel costs per gallon.

As for the glycerin, I just burn it with my trash. I've found that if you burn it off immediately after seperating the fuel, it burns fairly readily, and goes away almost completely.

I may look into using this stuff to heat my batches of oil in the future.

Right now, I have the capacity to store 165 gallons of fuel. I have another 40 gallon batch that is waiting for me to seperate now, and I'll be doing this when I get back from running errands. I'm preparing for a road trip, and will be carrying 100 gallons of fuel with me. I have one plastic barrel empty, one full, and my metal barrel is nearly full. I'm going to load up the empty barrel, fill it from the other plastic barrel, then fill it from the metal one. Filter the new fuel from the process barrel to the metal barrel. Top of plastic barrel, and then fuel tank. Methinks 135 gallons of fuel will get me to Colorado and back.

I hus Veggy Oil, Used stuff filtered and left to stand for 2 months.
Before filling tank, its passed through a standard Bosch fuel filter just to be on the safe side, then in it goes, with nothing added in the warmer weather, and 10 % Gasoline in the winter to help cold starts.
When there is a shortage of used oil, I use fresh bought from the supermarket, which has the advantage of not having to filter it.
Hopefully, later this year, Ill be making BioD from used oil, with a friend who uses his oil to fuel his off grid small-holding.---That is, if I ever get a couple of hours to myself!!

Alsatair At The Time is an illusion, Lunchtime -Doubley so!--Div. SWC.

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http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...0TDnoplate.jpg

Alastair AKA H.C.II South Wales, U.K. based member

W123, 1985 300TD Wagon, 256K,
-Most recent M.B. purchase, Cost-a-plenty, Gulps BioDiesel extravagantly, and I love it like an old dog.

W114, 1975 280E Custard Yellow,
-Great above decks needs chassis welding--Really will do it this year....