Homebrewed Biodiesel? Yep, it Can Be Done!

A Success Story from a Midwestern Bachelor Pad

Beloved Friends,

Heard about biodiesel but think it's a bunch of hogwash? Heard about folks making this stuff at home and wondering whether it was for real?

Take some time to read this. This is a real-life Big Johnny story about free fuel for your (diesel) car or truck.

FIRST... MAKE THE JUMP TO A DIESEL ENGINE

Before you can use biodiesel, you gotta have a car (or truck) with a diesel engine. If you're in the market for buying a new car: get a fuel-efficient diesel.

Some years ago, Big Johnny moved away from Los Angeles, its freeways, pollution, and all that sprawl, to enjoy the more peaceful climes of endless corn fields and summer tornados (Dorothy, where are you?). When I arrived, I was driving a sofa-on-wheels - a Lincoln Mark VII I bought from my friend Moose - and it came with the size and appetite of an oil tanker, which got about 12 miles to the gallon. It gave me a cozy ride across the country while I drove here. But soon after arriving, the old moose wagon soon became the property of the Easter Seals Auto Donation program and I was left as the proud owner of a car I had been researching and coveting for years: a VW Jetta with a diesel engine. (SEE PICTURE 2).

WHY GO WITH DIESEL??? (and other silly questions)

Many of you may ask the following questions:

"Doesn't diesel smell when it gets on your hands?" Yes, it does smell. That's why many gas stations provide those fashionable see-through plastic gloves to wear when you fuel up. Next silly question!

"Isn't diesel expensive?" Maybe. Do the math. A few months ago, it used to cost anywhere from 5% to 20% more than regular gasoline. Now, with the 2007 mid-summer gasoline price hike, it's the other way around. When you consider that a small diesel car gets upwards of 45-50 mpg IN TOWN (even if you drive like a maniac) - you are generally getting a 30% to 300% increase in miles-per-gallon efficiency. Most SUVs get around 20 mpg. This means my Jetta delivers more than twice (200% increase) as many miles for one gallon of gasoline. Maybe more expensive, yes - but do the math. It's well worth spending more up-front because you are actually saving money in miles delivered to your wheels.