Biofuels an overview

Biofuels is a broad term used to describe both the use of vegetable oil and Biodiesel, and often confused between the two.

Mechanisms by which vegetable oil can be burnt in a diesel engine, in order of safety

• Biodiesel
• Twin-tank
• Blending
• Use directly

Biodiesel

Biodiesel is vegetable oil that has been chemically converted. It is a much thinner liquid than vegetable oil, and suitable for use in most diesel engines.

Twin-tank

The engine is started on diesel, run until hot, and then switched over to vegetable oil. The oil is pre-heated before entering the injection system by the vehicles hot engine coolant. This thins the oil and helps prevent ring gumming.

Blending

Vegetable oil is mix with Petrol or Diesel to thin the resulting liquid. This technique is considered unsuitable for direct injection and common rail engines.

Direct

Suitable for only the toughest fuel injection systems and engines (those with indirect injection and Bosch rotary mechanical pumps). Long term problems with piston ring gumming and loss of compression may occur.

PLEASE NOTE
Biopowered wiki is aimed at an international audience. To this end all aspects of Biofuels are included. As a result some fuels may not be legal for use as road fuel in some countries without payment of duty. The reader should satisfy him or herself as to the legality of use in a specific country. See Rules and Regulations for details pertaining to the UK.