28 March 2007

Who's making biodiesel?

| johnboy
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The following turned up in the FAQ comments today, I thought it deserved a wider read:

Hi

I’m an ABC reporter looking for people in Canberra who make Biodiesel in their backyards. I would to interview them about how they do it.

Someone called “r5e” posted a comment on your website stating they do this. Is their any way you could contact this user on my behalf & ask them to contact me?

Warm regards

Claire

Anyone got any experience they want to share? Email it in if you’re unwilling to commit it to a comment and I shall pass it on.

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I’ve happened to read about it on some 4WD forums, I’ve never done it myself.

The oil is waste and would otherwise be thrown away, so I guess they think they’re recycling or saving land fill or something.

Apparently in the long term, growing canola, or whatever the oil is, is a cheap and renewable alternative to fossil fuels.

VYBerlinaV8 now_with_added grunt12:51 pm 30 Mar 07

So it would seem.

VY, that’s rarely the point of any of these “green” ideas.

They are generally all about boosting the smugness quotient.

VYBerlinaV8 now_with_added grunt12:21 pm 30 Mar 07

Is it really any better for the environment?

I get the impression that those who make their own mainly do it for the environment, the cost saving is a bit of extra.

Yeah VYberlina, the thought of making a slight error and ending up with 20 or 30 litres of fish n chip scented soap is just not worth thinking about.

you shouldnt have problems making your own ethanol, as long as the still is no more than 5 litres capacity, and you dont sell the output.

VYBerlinaV8 now_with_added grunt2:03 pm 29 Mar 07

Given how little fuel most modern diesels use, and how much hassle it is to make your own (not to mention the costs, including that of your own time, space and equipment), I am amazed anyone would bother – I sure wouldn’t. I would definitely consider a modern diesel vehicle, but having shelled out substantial $$ to get one, no way would I risk damaging it with a dodgy brew.

VYBerlinaV8 now_with_added grunt1:56 pm 29 Mar 07

Both, I suspect…

Utah – backyard ethanol? Are you talking about for your own drinking or for use as automotive fuel?

What annoys me about this “Backyard Bio-Diesel” is the double standard involved. Make “Bio-Diesel” and you’re some kind of hero, but when I ran my “Backyard Ethanol” project, the meddling law enforcement officers couldn’t shut me down fast enough.

Those modern diesels will have their warranty voided if run on biodiesel. That aside, when your car will do around 1000 kms on 55 litres (around $70) why would you waste your time brewing it. The economics would be different for an old landcruncher of course.

nothing wrong with pounding text then editing later.

just try not to hit the send key before doing so.

Danman – the other ‘their’

“Is their any way…

mmmm fish and chips…..

Just stand on the side of the road and wait for a hippy to drive past in a kombi with the fish & chips exhaust aroma.

There is locational – big hint = t(here)
Their is ownership

They made their (ownership) biodiesel over there (locational) in that corner of their (ownership) back yard.

I blame the Hawke Government for my use of punctuation.

I suggest no– any reporter should

You seem to be confused about the usage of hyphens and full stops, and the capitalisation of new sentences.

I agree with Nik. I’m highly educated, and I still screw-up ‘their’ and ‘there’ in the heat of the moment 🙂

the bio-diesel is made in their backyard, and there the bio-diesel is made.

Not if a product of the current uni system. Anyway, you’re telling me you have never typed the wrong thing when typing fast?

I suggest no– any reporter should know when to use ‘their’ or ‘there’.

interested in biodiesel? Have a look at http://www.biofuelsforum.com/

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