Make 'Biodiesel'? Let’s find out! Diesel vs Biodiesel, Used Motor Oil, Vegetable Oil, MPG

Biodiesel vs diesel, used motor oil, diesel, and hydrodiesel. I bought a diesel engine for testing different alternative fuels. We’ll see how it runs on straight diesel, used motor oil with 10% gasoline, biodiesel, vegetable oil, and hydrodiesel. Please let me know if you'd like to see a comparison of MPGs / fuel efficiency. A BIG thanks to Matt from the Warped Perception YouTube channel for sending the hydrodiesel to me for testing. Also, thank you for supporting the channel, which allows me to decline all sponsorships to ensure unbiased testing.

➡ Products Tested In This Video (in no particular order):

Videography Equipment:

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This video is only for entertainment purposes. If you rely on the information portrayed in this video, you assume the responsibility for the results. Project Farm LLC

[chrisconley]

I've worked for a major engine producer for 15 years, 10 years in engine development. I tested fuels many times with injector changes, piston changes etc. Your method is very similar, power/consumption, corrosion to materials, viscosity with wear components. Awesome work, love the content.

[ThatKiltedGuyDIY]

As the author of a book about bio diesel, called “The do it yourself guide to biodiesel”, I’ll add some interesting notes here. As always, a good video. Even though I wrote the book 15 years ago and haven’t mastered biodiesel in about six years, I think I can still remember most of it, LOL.

Cooking oil is a triglyceride, meaning it is a large glycerin molecule attached to 3 fatty acid molecules. When the methanol and catalyst (either Lye, or potassium hydroxide also known as KOH) are mixed together They form a very caustic solution. When that is added to heated up cooking oil and agitated it breaks the bonds causing the glycerin to drop out. You don’t want the glycerin because glycerin doesn’t burn well and eventually gums up engine parts. That’s why SVO, or straight vegetable oil is less than ideal (Because the glycerin is still in it). And biodiesel is not just cooking oil with chemicals added, it’s actually a new chemical substance because of this whole process.

Water washing works really well, but you actually need to remove the remaining water from the bio diesel which is why it still looks cloudy in the video. I used to do it by spray drying. When it’s truly clean it will be very clear, although it will still have a tint anywhere from Amber to yellow.

I ran biodiesel in multiple engines for years with not one problem. It can’t be winterized like petroleum diesel and will gel as shown in this video. That and the fact that due to the way modern diesels are designed, you can only use a maximum of 20% in the engine if at all, so I finally gave up on using it because I like to drive modern vehicles.

I never liked the idea of straight vegetable oil, known as SVO, because the glycerin is still in it which causes problems with sensors, and general gumming up. And you had to have an oil heater to get it to flow properly, and then switch over once it warmed up, and that was even more difficult in the winter so it has huge drawbacks.

But I used to make it for $.35 a gallon which was great in 2008 when fuel prices hit $4.00 a gallon. But what actually determines the price is the methanol. You can usually find cooking oil for free, but the price of methanol is what will determine the final price. I used to buy 55 gallon drums of it from my supplier for a good price. My diesel truck as well as my fathers and our tractor all ran smoother and quieter on biodiesel so I miss it.

My current channel focuses on teaching home-improvement skills with a focus on drywall. I just recently received my silver play button for 100, 000 subscribers so I don’t get too involved with bio diesel anymore.

[Jerry-pkxw]

Been making Bio-diesel since 2007. Very easy to make. Tip : pre-treat your next batch of WVO (60 deg c for 1 hour) with the glycerol of the previous batch. Will lower Titration, increase yeild and clean out most of the glycerol from the remaining methanol and KOH ( I use KOH).

[adamstanley]

Thank you for making such a succinct script: quick and direct no waffle OMG you made my day. Instead of opinions and repetition, you smacked straight in on the start the line and ran right through to the flag. Love your work. Informative, scientific and NO FLUFF. - kind reg Adam

[Ethan-vekb]

Haven't seen the friction tester in a while, it's nice!

[shawnchong]

This guy is the "learn DIY from me" hero for home improvement, engine equipment, and vehicular stuff. Oh, he's the best tester on the internet!

[FL.AirBoater]

I drove otr years ago and ran out of fuel in Louisiana in the middle of nowhere, Put 3 gallons of motor oil in the tank and drove my Kenworth several miles to the nearest truck stop, That old Cummins ran great all the way there! Enjoy your videos from central Florida!!!

[mothernrth]

“I think we should try rolling some French fries with this biodiesel” 🤣🤣🤣

[davemcdaniel]

I have a friend that has been running his 2nd gen 12v cummins, and 2 Mercedes 290d's on used fry oil from the local restaurants for the last 20 years. He gets the oil free as the state charges to pick it up for recycling. He does nothing other than filter the chunks out. You know he's nearby when you smell french fries in the air. His total cost per year for fuel is like $50 in filters.

[jdsr]

I set up an old Ford pickup with dual tanks for my dad years ago that ran used vegetable oil. The trick was starting it with diesel and then switching to the vegetable after it warmed up. Then switching back to diesel for a bit before shutting it down to get an easier start next round. The vegetable oil didn't seem to give the same power on the highway but free is good lol

[Absolutely_Nobody]

The type of vegetable oil used does seem to make a difference in the lubricity of the fuel product. I remember reading some very detailed studies from Canada a few years ago where biodiesel made with canola oil, and different percentages of canola oil as feedstock produced a very high quality fuel with enhanced lubricity. Interesting study. I'm sure it is out there somewhere on the Internet if a person did a search for it. Great video, thanks!

[ryanfarthing]

Our friends ran a transmission shop and they mixed a 30/30/40 used filtered transmission fluid, old filtered fry oil, bio diesel blend in their 24v 5.9cummins. Engine ran great and on day it blowed the front main seal like most Cummins at when they tore it apart it looked brand new inside from the detergents in the trans fluid!

[larrysutton]

My 80 year old neighbor gets used cooking oil, lets it settle, filter through paint filters, and mixed it half and half with diesel. He was a trucking Company mechanic for 45 years.

[RubyByte]

Sounds like you're balancing audio so the engine sounds aren't so loud now. I watch these videos late at night and really appreciate that extra effort for my ears.

[arnoldr]

You have no idea how much I love your videos, you dont miss any single detail

[-Card]

I fully appreciate your review of these in a comparative format. I have been wondering. I made biodiesel in the mid 2000’s and found it to work very well, and it smells a lot better! Thank You!

[smallgamesplays]

I have been watching this guy for about 5 years and I these experiments he does never fails to surprise me. Love what you do dude.

[Michael-]

Long term testing idea: wood weather sealing treatments.

[randomhuman]

Loving the super high speed format! So thorough. Leaves no question unanswered.

[stargasm]

This was a great video. It would be neat to see the torque and power curve of a diesel engine running on each different kind of fuel. I know that running such a test would be a tall order but it would be neat to see.