Frequently Asked Questions

Equipment cont’d

How long will it take to recoup my investment in a FuelMeister II processor?

Depending upon what part of the country you live in, petroleum diesel sells for about $1.70 per gallon today.  Your cost of making your own biodiesel is about 70¢ (assuming free used oil).  At $2.00 per gallon savings, it won’t be long before your processor pays for itself.  Gather a few friends and family members and your investment is repaid even quicker!

 

Wouldn’t it be cheaper for me to just make my own processor?

Some people choose to build their own processor, but find it takes a LOT more time and effort than they expected.  Ask yourself this question: Would you prefer to invest your time in building a processor or making biodiesel?

 

Supplies

How much will the supplies cost and where can I get them?

Used liquid cooking oil is widely available for free from your local restaurants.  You want oil that is liquid at room temperature when new.  Racing methanol is around $1.50-$3.00 per gallon, but you only need 8 gallons to make 40 gallons of biodiesel.  Lye is about $3.00 per pound at the hardware or grocery store, but closer to a $1.80 per pound in 50 pound bulk bags.  You need abut 1.2 - 2 lbs per 40 gallons.  Methanol can be purchased from chemical supply companies, racing suppliers, bulk oil suppliers and even farmer’s co-op’s.  Lye is commonly known as a caustic soda or sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and can be purchased as Red Devil Lye or in bulk bags from chemical supply companies.  Use beaded or granular, avoid liquid and flakes.

 

What exactly do I need to make biodiesel, besides what’s included with the FuelMeister  II?

You’ll need: a barrel with at least 20 gallons of vegetable oil, a barrel of at least 10 gallons of 95%+ of methanol, a clean empty barrel to store your biodiesel, an AC outlet, a water hose attached to a faucet and a water hose led to a drain.

 

What are the regulations regarding storing methanol and biodiesel?

If you treat y our barrels of methanol and biodiesel as you would a barrel of gasoline, you’ll be safe.  Check with your local Fire Marshall about your local safety regulations for storing gasoline (such as for use with an emergency generator).

 

 

C & E Biodiesel

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