Biodiesel Conversion: Is It Right For Your Truck?
With the popularity of fuel efficiency and renewable energy, some diesel vehicle owners have opted to convert their diesel engines to biodiesel. If you've been considering it for your own truck, you might be wondering if it's really worth it. In order to make any kind of decision, you need to fully understand the benefits of this type of conversion. Here are a few of the reasons why you might want to make the investment:
Simplicity
If you've been dismissing the idea of the conversion because you worry that it will be too complicated, you might be surprised to find out that it's actually pretty easy to do. You won't need to make any major changes to the engine itself. The only thing you'll want to do is replace any rubber fuel lines with steel.
The first few weeks after the conversion may be a little bit rocky. When you first start burning biodiesel, you may struggle with clogs in your fuel filter. These clogs are the result of petroleum deposits inside the fuel tank. The biodiesel fuel will cause those deposits to break loose, and they'll flow through the fuel lines to the filter. Once you've flushed those deposits out and replaced the filter, you will be able to switch the fuel between biodiesel and petroleum-based fuel with ease.
Economy
When you make the conversion to biodiesel, you'll get the benefit of fuel efficiency as well as maintaining the same energy output from your engine. There's no sacrifice in either case against petroleum-based fuel. You will, however, need to warm the fuel on particularly cold mornings. The best way to minimize the risk of the fuel thickening in the cold, consider using a mix of petroleum-based as well as biodiesel fuel to cut down on the temperature sensitivity.
Reduced Risks
One selling point for biodiesel conversion is the safety factor. In fact, it's safer than traditional petroleum-based fuels. If your car has a leaky fuel line, you won't have the same combustion risk as you do with traditional diesel fuel. The fumes and vapors of biodiesel aren't flammable.
In addition, the biodiesel isn't as toxic as traditional fuel, so it's more environmentally friendly. Since biodiesel breaks down quickly, leaks aren't as big a concern. There's less risk of water table contamination.
As you can see, a biodiesel conversion may be a great idea for your truck. There are many conversion kits, and you can even work with diesel mechanics in your area to do the installation for you if you're not confident in your own ability.
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