Biodiesel almost sounds like something out of a bad SciFi movie, but it is very much for real. In many places you can even buy it at the pump.

All diesel engines (OK... maybe not those horrid gas to diesel conversion engines that GM made back in the 80s) can burn biodiesel with absolutely no issues whatsoever. Well, there is one caveat: it does like to eat rubber, so if you have an older vehicle you will need to get new fuel lines so that they don't disintegrate. Though if you want to try it out and your lines aren't already cracked with age one tank won't hurt.

It's important to note that there are two types of biodiesel. One is refined and contains additives so that it won't gel in the cold. Trying to run your car or truck with a solid block of fuel in the tank won't work so well. There are a lot of guys making this in their garages, selling their excess to their friends. There are also many stations selling it, though in our experience they are mostly still cardlock locations.

The other type that has probably gained more exposure in the press is the fry oil burners. You've probably seen it on the news, or watched a youtube video. Some guy goes around to all the fast food restaurants and cleans their deep friers in exchange for the old oil. This stuff works just as well as the refined biodiesel (provided you strain the fries out of it), but it is much, much thicker.

A lot of big proponents of biodiesel will run the refined bio in their main tank and after starting their car, a heater warms the fry oil. Once it is warmed, they switch the tanks and drive on the fry oil. Before turning the vehicle off they switch back and burn through any of the fry oil in the system.

OK, we admit it, that sounds a bit hokey, but it also sounds really cool. You'd be all set for a conversation piece for some time.

Stay tuned as we'll be adding more articles and information on biodiesel soon!