16 Bits about Biodiesel

1. Biodiesel fuel is a natural fuel made from renewable sources such as new and used vegetable oils and animal fats.

2. Biodiesel fuel is a cleaner-burning replacement to petroleum or other fossil diesel fuels.

3. There are no petroleum or other fossil fuels in biodiesel, even though "diesel" is used in its name.

4. Biodiesel fuel can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines, such as generators, commercial diesel equipment, vehicles and watercrafts.

5. Biodiesel can be operated in any diesel engine with little or no modification to the engine or the fuel system.

6. You can pour biodiesel straight into the fuel tank of any diesel engine.

7. Auto ignition, fuel consumption, power output, and engine torque are relatively unaffected by biodiesel.

8. Biodiesel is registered as a fuel and fuel additive with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and meets clean diesel standards established by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

9. Biodiesel is biodegradable, nontoxic, free of sulfur and other aromatics, reduces tailpipe emissions, visible smoke and noxious odors.

10. Biodiesel reduces major greenhouse gas components in the atmosphere, including the emissions of carbon monoxide, ozone forming hydrocarbons, hazardous diesel particulates, acid rain-causing sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide.

11. Biodiesel can be made in the USA from renewable resources such as soybeans.

12. Continued use would decrease dependency on foreign oil and contribute to the economy.

13. Biodiesel is non-flammable, making handling and storage safer than conventional petroleum diesel fuel.

14. Biodiesel can be used in existing engines and fuel injection equipment without negative impacts to performance.

15. Biodiesel is more lubricating than diesel fuel, so it increases the life of engines.

16. Biodiesel is the 'original' diesel. Henry Ford designed his first engines to run on biodiesel, supporting the crops of farmers in the Midwest.

Special thanks to Circle of Life and Sustainable Life for facts on this sheet. (Visit Circle of Life for a growing collection of quick-guides on ways to live more sustainably).