Biodiesel, is it worth it

[TexasKingRanch]

I've looked at some of these kits, and it looks like 40 gallons can be made at a time. Are there any kits out there that allow you to make a couple hundred gallons at a time?
Or at least one 55 gallon drum at a time?
I would want to have several 55 gallon drums full of fuel.

Is it worth the time??
How much time would I have to spend doing this and how labor intensive is it?

Where would I find so much waste oil to start with?


PS. I see mentions of a FAQ, I don't see any FAQ!

[CHenry]

Originally Posted by TexasKingRanch

I've looked at some of these kits, and it looks like 40 gallons can be made at a time. Are there any kits out there that allow you to make a couple hundred gallons at a time?
Or at least one 55 gallon drum at a time?
I would want to have several 55 gallon drums full of fuel.

Is it worth the time??
How much time would I have to spend doing this and how labor intensive is it?

Where would I find so much waste oil to start with?


PS. I see mentions of a FAQ, I don't see any FAQ!

For me, bio is not worth the time. It still cost you money to brew up each batch ....like maybe as much as 75 cents per gallon depending on your cost of Methanol.
I converted my rig to burn straight vegi oil...i filter it and put it in the tank and it is absolutely free. Takes only minutes of my time to process (filter) 50 gallons at a time. Jason Crawford of Vegistroke has been at my house this week doing conversions on my dads truck and a buddy of mines truck also. He upgraded my conversion with his newest advances in the design also. Today hes in my driveway again changing out his ring nad pinion before he heads back to OR. Needless to say we have had one heak of a "wrenching" party at my house the last 4 days!

[TexasKingRanch]

Where do you get your used oil from?
And how do you make sure you get LOTS of it?

[strokermann]

just go to any kfc a mom and pop fish house burger king all those places mexican restruants. all those places will give you oil just have a way to pump it in drums from the store.

[Sciulli]

TexasKingRanch, I have een down this path and actualy this week i'm going to crunch actual numbers on which system would be better for someone looking to run something off of bio. For our senior project(college) we are making a bio-diesel reactor and I would be more than happy to address whatever questions you might have. One of the other graduate groups is coverting a bus to run SVO, while were doing the Bio side.

[95PDXLT]

how many gallons a day do these restaurants throw out a week/day?

[Sciulli]

Originally Posted by 95PDXLT

how many gallons a day do these restaurants throw out a week/day?

It depends, some places unlaod a bunch( fast food joints) if you find a bunch of local restruants your more likly to get slightly better "quality" oil. With bio-diesel the entire process stems from how "used" the oil is.

[CHenry]

Originally Posted by 95PDXLT

how many gallons a day do these restaurants throw out a week/day?

What I have found is anywhere near the nicer business district in town, the resturants turn over more oil...they change it more often as this has a positive effect on the food quality. Stay away from fast food joints - you'll get alot of hamburger grease in the oil. Asian buffets use a ton of oil and they don't use it very many days before changing it out. Try to get a resturant to put the oil back into the plastic 5 gallon jugs they bought it new in and this will be the easyest and mess free collection process you can do. Otherwise, provide them with a 55 gallon barrel or 2 with lids that seal and locks to keep people out of it. Maybe weld in a fitting with a cam lock down low on the barrel so you can hook your hose to it and pump it without any mess. This proceedure is a problem in the winter but I have seen a guy with a 20 lb propane bottle and a hand touch that throws a flame about 3 feet long and he can heat one of those barrels in a couple minutes to make the oil easier to pump when its 20 degrees outside. Oil has a tendancy to become solid in those temps.

[therealdgh]

One thing that needs mentioning, though. Just be sure not to take oil out of those grease hauler tanks. Once the restaurant throws it in there, it is the grease haulers property.
I'm searching around for a few restaurants in my area to get oil from as well before I get the Vegistroke kit. Just to be sure. Some may have contracts with grease haulers and I want to put my name on there so that when the contract runs out, I'll be the one they call.

[Wilseya]

Are any of you in California? If so do you have a permit to haul WVO?
If not email me and I can give you the information that you need in order to get one. I am not sure what other states require so if any one here knows maybe they could reply as well.
Wilseya