We’ve all heard about the wonders that is biodiesel. Aside from being cheap and renewable, this alternative fuel is environment-friendly because it does not produce harmful smoke filled with poisonous chemicals, unlike traditional fuel. That is why so many people are just excited to make that big switch to turn green to be able to save money and save Mother Nature. And making that jump from traditional to biodiesel is not that hard. Here’s how you can convert your gas-guzzling car to an energy-efficient green machine. 

First step is to find a diesel car. Sorry for those who have gasoline-powered vehicles. The main component of switching to biodiesel starts with a diesel engine. Though it’s been a while since automakers manufactured this type of vehicles, many are already looking ahead and going back to making diesel-engine cars. In the coming years, this type of vehicle will be lining up in showrooms and purchasing them won’t be a problem anymore. 

Then next thing you do is to scout or look for places where you can get your fuel. Biodiesel is actually just vegetable oil, the type we often use to fry French fries and other yummy fried treats. So one place where you can find an abundance of this eco-friendly fuel, aside from your kitchen, are fast food chains who use up gallons after gallons of this greasy goodness. Better start warming up to the manager of the local fast food joint and ask them if you can pick up some of their waste vegetable oil. A good advice is to visit several business establishments in your neighborhood to secure a good supply of vegetable oil. 

After acquiring your fuel, you also need to purchase a biodiesel conversion kit. This is actually the most important element of going green because this will allow your car to smoothly run on just vegetable oil without causing problems to your car engine. This is going to be a large purchase. That is why a good advise is to hit up some biodiesel forum available online to be able to get a feel of how much conversion kits go for. Also, there are certain conversion kits that work best for a particular model and make of a car. Better do your research and maybe ask a professional to avoid any mistakes and wasted time and money. 

Next up is installation. Of course, you can have a professional mechanic do it for you. Just be sure to find someone who has experience when it comes to converting cars to run on biodiesel. But if you are the type of person who is a handyman by heart, maybe doing it yourself will be a lot more fun. And you can also save up some more money this way. Here are some of the common modifications you need to know to be able to accomplish the task: 

1. Vegetable Oil Fuel Tank

      The difference in viscosity of vegetable oil and diesel can be problematic to most engine. That  is why most conversion kits employ a two tank system to separate the fuels. This is achieve by  providing a second fuel tank specifically for the vegetable oil. A pumping system should also be  installed to be able to get the vegetable oil out of the fuel system when the car is not in use. 

1. Hose/Seal Overhaul for Fuel System

      Though vegetable oil is safe on diesel engines, it is still a toss up on whether the fuel system is  compatible. Rubber hoses and seals from older vehicles tend to break down when exposed to  heated vegetable oil. So to be sure, replace all hoses and seals and have them installed properly.  Also, make sure that what you put in there is specific to your make and model. 

1. Heating system

Because you are going to run in vegetable oil, you’ll need heat to activate it. That is why the heating system is a very important component when converting to biodiesel. Most conversion kits already include a heating system that will warm up the oil before pumping it into the fuel system. A common setup is a system that pumps waste heat from the radiator into the oil tank. If your kit does not include one, better find another with a heating system or find a way on how to install one. 

Lastly, you’ll need to prepare you fuel. And the most important preparation for the vegetable oil that you’ll use to run your car is filtering it before pumping it into the fuel tank. There are number of ways to do this, but the most common is by heating the oil and then using different filtration device to filter out the leftover food particles on the oil. Some effective filtering materials include large coffee filters and mesh strainers. This step is a bit messy but this will make sure that your new fuel system will last long. 

There you go. Now that you’ve learn how to convert your car to run on biodiesel, all you need to do is pump up some vegetable oil to the tank and drive off to the sunset. And this time, no more worries of burning you pocket with gas prices and destroying the environment. But remember, drive safely.

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