Cognition

For the last 2 weeks, my Mechita has been running on B30 (a blend of 1 part biodiesel to 2 parts normal petroleum diesel), blended by pouring the biodiesel directly into the tank and with no modifications to the engine whatsoever. The B30 is enough to produce a strong aroma of french fries, characteristic of cars running on biodiesel produced using waste vegetable oil (WVO) as the feedstock and certainly beats the noxious odour of pure petroleum diesel.

 

Not only does it win on the odour score, but the harmful emissions associated with petroleum diesel are also markedly reduced (see this fact sheet on biodiesel emissions by the US Environmental Protection Agency). Most importantly to me, is the effect it has in reducing my personal carbon footprint.

 

However, adoption of biofuels on a mass scale begets supply of feedstock considerations and its associated effects on agricultural markets, land use, biodiversity and water use, particularly when these feedstocks are not derived from waste products, but instead are grown specifically for biofuels production. Once again, the notion of complex systems bonks us on the head and reminds us that free lunches are very hard to come by on this little planet of ours. For now, however, I will be comfortable in knowing that at least 30% (and hopefully a lot more in the coming months) of my engine is running on a by-product of someone's tasty fast food.

 

I will have to keep an eye on the fuel filter for the next few weeks as the biodiesel will have the effect of purging deposits from the from 20 years of petroleum diesel useage. After 2 filter changes, I should be home and dry. At a later point I might see fit to replace any natural rubber in the fuel line with synthetic rubber compound and will have to monitor for any degradation in the coming months. Mechita will have an increasingly cleaner and happier engine due to the cleansing effects and higher lubricity of the biofuel.

 

(thanks to Maarten Witjens for the photos)