Work Truck reports that biodiesel's performance is also worse than petroleum diesel in cold conditions. That said, there are a number of biodiesel-compatible vehicles on the market today. According to Work Truck , the three major growth drivers for the biodiesel fuel market include:. While there are certainly disadvantages to making the transition to biodiesel fuel, most would agree that the benefits outweigh the potential problems. The market's growth is only going to continue as biodiesel becomes more readily available to consumers.
While most diesel passenger vehicles are already running on fuel that contains some biodiesel, you may want to consider an even higher blend to further help the environment and take advantage of the many other benefits, as well.
For any feedback or correction requests please contact us at research caranddriver. New Cars. Buyer's Guide. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. Future Cars Worth Waiting For: — What Is Biodiesel?
Global biofuel output needs to triple by in order to meet the International Energy Agency's targets for sustainable growth. There are various ways of making biofuels, but they generally use chemical reactions, fermentation, and heat to break down the starches, sugars, and other molecules in plants.
The resulting products are then refined to produce a fuel that cars or other vehicles can use. Much of the gasoline in the United States contains one of the most common biofuels: ethanol.
Made by fermenting the sugars from plants such as corn or sugarcane, ethanol contains oxygen that helps a car's engine burn fuel more efficiently, reducing air pollution. In the U.
In Brazil—the second-largest ethanol producer behind the U. Alternatives to diesel fuel include biodiesel and renewable diesel. Biodiesel, derived from fats such as vegetable oil, animal fat, and recycled cooking grease, can be blended with petroleum-based diesel. Some buses, trucks, and military vehicles in the U. Renewable diesel, a chemically different product that can be derived from fats or plant-based waste, is considered a "drop-in" fuel that does not need to be blended with conventional diesel.
Other types of plant-based fuel have been created for aviation and shipping. More than , flights have used biofuel, but the amount of aviation biofuel produced in accounted for less than 0. In shipping, too, adoption of biofuel is at levels far below the targets set by the International Energy Agency.
Renewable natural gas, or biomethane , is another fuel that potentially could be used not only for transportation but also heat and electricity generation. Electronic control module ECM : The ECM controls the fuel mixture, ignition timing, and emissions system; monitors the operation of the vehicle; safeguards the engine from abuse; and detects and troubleshoots problems.
Fuel filler: A nozzle from a fuel dispenser attaches to the receptacle on the vehicle to fill the tank. Fuel line: A metal tube or flexible hose or a combination of these transfers fuel from the tank to the engine's fuel injection system. If you are just switching to biodiesel after years of using petroleum diesel, you will need to change filters often at first, as the biodiesel loosens deposits from the inside of your fuel tank and engine. In extreme cases, you may need to have your fuel tank thoroughly cleaned or replaced before adding the next tank of biodiesel.
Not all diesel engines are the same. Each manufacturer's design includes some unique features that may affect its performance when using biodiesel. This issue is not clearly understood at present. However, modern diesel engines are sufficiently similar in that the differences in performance are expected to be minimal, provided that the materials used in the engine are all compatible with biodiesel. The same, however, may not be true of older engines, especially those that do not use the common-rail ignition systems that are almost universally used today.
Some tests have indicated that old, indirect injection engines experience fewer difficulties when using biodiesel fuel and even show promise for running on straight vegetable oil that has not been chemically processed into biodiesel.
The potential may exist for examining older engine designs for clues as to how to best create engines for biodiesel use. Some older engines use seals and hoses manufactured from "Buna N"rubber, which can be dissolved by biodiesel. Be sure to check on this and replace if necessary before switching to biodiesel. Generally, biodiesel fuel should be able to be used interchangeably with traditional diesel. However, some manufacturers recommend that you reduce the maintenance interval often by 50 percent to ensure that filters remain unclogged and the lubrication oil remains in good shape.
However, it is important to consult the manufacturer of your engine for specific recommendations. Also, because of biodiesel's tendency to oxidize, you should exercise care if you are planning to store your engine for any period of time. It may be appropriate to drain the engine of all fuel before storage, change back to petroleum diesel before storage, or alternately add a fuel stabilizer.
High-quality biodiesel fuel that is properly cared for should result in a lifetime of excellent performance. In general, it can be used in exactly the same manner as petroleum diesel fuel. The one notable exception is during cold-weather conditions, when biodiesel tends to"gel up"sooner than traditional diesel fuel. Many additives are available on the market that can help safeguard the quality and improve the cold-weather performance of biodiesel, and their use is one option for improving the performance of the fuel when using biodiesel.
However, using a "winter fuel blend" is the recommended approach for the severe winter conditions experienced in Pennsylvania. The quality of the fuel is extremely important, however, and poor-quality fuel can have many negative effects on an engine. To protect against this, any biodiesel fuel that you use should comply with the appropriate standard for use i.
For additional information, please refer to the following Penn State Extension fact sheets and reports:. Let's Stay Connected. By entering your email, you consent to receive communications from Penn State Extension. View our privacy policy. Thank you for your submission! Using Biodiesel Fuel in Your Engine. Pros and cons of using biodiesel fuel in your diesel engines, covering engine performance, fuel quality, and potential problems.
Introduction Biodiesel is an engine fuel that is created by chemically reacting fatty acids and alcohol. Engine Performance Using Biodiesel While we don't know everything about its performance, it is safe to say that good-quality biodiesel fuel generally performs well in engines. Several of the more important points to keep in mind are as follows: Engine power: engine power and torque tend to be 3 to 5 percent lower when using biodiesel. This is due to the fact that biodiesel fuel has less energy per unit volume than traditional diesel fuel.
Fuel efficiency: fuel efficiency tends to be slightly lower when using biodiesel due to the lower energy content of the fuel. Typically, the drop-off is in the same range as the reduction in peak engine power percent. Engine wear: short-term engine wear when using biodiesel has been measured to be less than that of petroleum diesel. While long-term tests have not been published, engines are expected to experience less wear in the long run when using biodiesel.
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