Biodiesel vs. Ethanol as Fuel

[calphi27]

Originally Posted by ThePookieBear

Honestly, I think that you are correct about the supply for biodiesel possibly drying up. But, from an enviromental and ecnomic standpoint both, biodiesel is better. Plus, with running a toyota diesel, you have the options of also running propane in with the diesel. Either way, diesel is going to get better economy than unleaded. I think that diesel is the best way to go. I can talk all day about how many problems there are with ethanol and how it wouldn't even be profitable without government subsidies, but that has been covered. Diesel all the way.

I totally agree and would rather have a diesel. I just worry about supply in the future.

[M John Galt]

Originally Posted by calphi27

I totally agree and would rather have a diesel. I just worry about supply in the future.

Good reason to worry. Even if VO production was maxed out, assuming there is enough land, water and fertilizer, it could only meet less than 10% of the total demand for diesel fuel. When the sweet crude is depleted diesel fuel will be made from heavy oil, oil sand, and coal, and there's hundreds of year's worth just in N.America.

[redandtootall]

I believe ethanol is completely worthless and does take food from our mouths. First of all, who hear would like their fuel economy to be cut in half? I didn't think so. Ethanol has half the BTU potential as regualar unleaded gas which is why your LC will get only 6mpgs on it if your getting 12mpgs on gas. In additon, it takes 400lbs of corn to make 20 gallons of ethanol. This is enough corn to feed a starving man for a whole year. Biodiesel is the way to go. your fuel economy will drop off only 5-7 % your fuel system will last longer because of the better lubrocation. Also, if you make from used fry oil your avioding the food chain and can produce it for only around 90cents. Look on youtube.com for people who can show you how to easily make it.
James

[calphi27]

Originally Posted by redandtootall

I believe ethanol is completely worthless and does take food from our mouths. First of all, who hear would like their fuel economy to be cut in half? I didn't think so. Ethanol has half the BTU potential as regualar unleaded gas which is why your LC will get only 6mpgs on it if your getting 12mpgs on gas. In additon, it takes 400lbs of corn to make 20 gallons of ethanol. This is enough corn to feed a starving man for a whole year. Biodiesel is the way to go. your fuel economy will drop off only 5-7 % your fuel system will last longer because of the better lubrocation. Also, if you make from used fry oil your avioding the food chain and can produce it for only around 90cents. Look on youtube.com for people who can show you how to easily make it.
James

next time please read the whole thread before you comment, everything has been discussed. oh and your numbers are off.

[torslinning]

This thread has lots of good opinions, and I enjoyed reading it. I'm in the process of converting an fj60 to diesel, and it's a concern of mine to predict where I will be getting my fuel 5 years from now.

I am going to canvass restaurants in the area for WVO, and hopefully I can get a steady supply to start producing Bio Diesel ;-)

[ThePookieBear]

Good luck with your conversion. If I may make one tactful recommendation, if you find restaurants that will give up the WVO, try to set up some sort of long term contract. And don't be afraid of to offer extra stuff like power washing their grease area and stuff. Anything to keep them happy and still giving you the oil. Also, talk up how environmentally friendly this will make them. Flatter them. There is a nice guy north of Wichita in Sedgewick, KS that has contracts with over a hundred places and he has a company that makes biodiesel only from WVO. Unfortunately, as the price of fuel increases, people have been cutting open his containers at the restaurants and stealing the oil. He is only at like 50% capacity. Neat set up though.

[FrankJames]

I also have enjoyed reading this post, having often thought about the differences between ethanol, gas, petrol diesel and bioD. I may get e-lynched for it, but I think we also need to examine our choice of vehicles? Yes, our diesel Landcruisers are more efficient gallon for gallon than their gas brethren, but not nearly as efficient as say a diesel VW Golf? High 40 MPG?
I love loading up my rig for camping trips, doing some wheeling and being able to cart around all my junk, but at the end of the day, I don't NEED this vehicle. It is a luxury, and I have decided that when I can not afford the fuel to go in it, I will have to move on.
I have not seen it here, but people seem to have some entitlement around the cost of their fuel. Why should any fuel be cheap? Veggie oil was a garbage item and now people are paying for it. At the end of the day, they all come from limited resources; oil, corn, soy, algae. Our society is consuming more and more and it feels like the earth is straining to accomodate the needs and desires.

[uzj100]

The Green Gas is most interesting because it can be used in existing vehicles.