Do you drive a diesel car or heat your home with heating oil? By now you’ve likely heard there’s a safer, cleaner-burning alternative to petroleum diesel. Known as “biodiesel,” this fuel is derived from waste grease or vegetable oil from crops like soybeans or canola grown right here in the United States.

Pure biodiesel (B100) can be used undiluted in a diesel engine or blended in any proportion with petroleum diesel. The most common blend is B20 (20% biodiesel, 80% petroleum diesel).

Biodiesel is catching on in Oregon. You can purchase biodiesel at retail locations across the Pacific Northwest. You can join a co-op, like Go Biodiesel, where members make their own fuel. Some diesel car owners have even gone so far as to convert their car to run on straight vegetable oil, pulling into fast food restaurants to fill up!

Biodiesel is better for our health and our environment. B100 emits 30-50% less soot, half the smog-forming compounds, and 75-90% fewer carcinogens than petroleum diesel. Biodiesel is far less toxic than petroleum diesel, safer to store and transport, and biodegrades rapidly in water.

It takes energy to produce fuel, whether it comes from underground reserves or is converted from plant materials. A lifecycle analysis conducted by the U.S. Departments of Energy and Agriculture found it takes more energy to drill, transport and refine petroleum diesel than it produces when combusted, resulting in a net energy loss of 19.5%! Biodiesel produces 3.2 units of fuel for every unit of energy used to produce it, creating a net energy gain of 220%.

Biodiesel Q&A

What is biodiesel?

Biodiesel is a safer, cleaner-burning alternative to petroleum diesel. Produced from vegetable oil or animal fats, biodiesel is a “homegrown,” renewable fuel.

Where can I use biodiesel?

You can use biodiesel or a biodiesel-diesel blend in any diesel engine (car, truck, home heating oil tank, generator, etc.)

Will biodiesel hurt my engine?

No. Engines built before 1994 may have natural rubber seals or hoses, which will need to be replaced with synthetic materials. When you first burn biodiesel, or switch back from burning petroleum diesel for many miles, you will probably need to replace your fuel filter a couple of times. Biodiesel’s solvent effects will clean out deposits left in the system by petroleum diesel, clogging the filter.

Can I switch between biodiesel and petroleum diesel?

Yes, switching back and forth between biodiesel, diesel and any blend of the two causes no ill effects, though filter replacements may be necessary.

Will biodiesel lower my fuel economy?

Biodiesel contains less energy than petroleum diesel, but biodiesel’s higher lubricity increases engine efficiency, effectively canceling out the difference. Users of biodiesel have reported little or no noticeable changes in engine performance.

Will using biodiesel void my warranty?

Engine manufacturers warranty engines, not fuels, but if they can attribute an engine problem to the fuel that was used, they won’t honor the warranty. If you buy your biodiesel from the pump or another ASTM-certified source, you are purchasing a high-quality fuel that should not cause engine problems and therefore not void your warranty. Using fuel from non-certified sources is more risky.

Where can I buy biodiesel?