I'm gonna say bullshit too.
Not about the "race" because I didn't even watch the video
About a diesel running on used cooking oil running "smoother"
It's a diesel, it runs like a diesel.
The "slipperyness" of the fuel is IRRELEVANT!
For the others who keep talking and proving their ignorance
It isn't "biodiesel", it's "Waste Vegetible Oil" from which Biodiesel
CAN be made, but to make biodiesel from Vegetable oil (waste or fresh)
requires caustic and ALCOHOL, and it isn't THAT efficient a process.
(Running an engine in "SVO (straight vegetible oil) or WVO" cuts out a lot of steps and
eliminates hazardous byproducts)
But engines running on Bio, WVO or SVO, DO NOT make more power,
they usually make LESS power, and they almost ALWAYS run slightly
"dirtier", because the higher viscosity oil doesn't atomize as easily
and so doesn't burn as completely.
Hyperbole and sensationalism generally piss me off
People repeating hyperbole and sensationalism
(other than as a vehicle for delivery of deserved sarchasm)
piss me off even more.
Bio Diesel and even Vegetable oil is NOT an economically viable alternative to dino oil, simply because there is not and NEVER will be enough of it.
People have NO CLUE how many acres of oil seed crops must be
grown simply to cover the fuel needs of the tractor that plows the fields!
And after you deal with that the tractor needs MORE fuel to harvest the crop!
And a TRUCK needs fuel to transport it to the processing plant.
es, they can come out ahead, but when you start counting ALL the thirsty trucks and figuiring out how many acres are required to grow enough oil to run them ALL you realize you come up short, WAY short.
AD
Ok to address a few points in your reply, I think that the article was refering to the mpg/horsepower gain in the biodiesel engine as opposed to the gas engine that it replaced, ie the mentioned Hummer and the 68 Impala.
Biodiesel is much better for the atmosphere as it does not put out near as much hazardous products.
This is taken from
www.biodiesel.org:
"The lifecycle production and use of biodiesel produces approximately 80% less carbon dioxide emissions, and almost 100% less sulfur dioxide. Combustion of biodiesel alone provides over a 90% reduction in total unburned hydrocarbons, and a 75-90% reduction in aromatic hydrocarbons. Biodiesel further provides significant reductions in particulates and carbon monoxide than petroleum diesel fuel. Biodiesel provides a slight increase or decrease in nitrogen oxides depending on engine family and testing procedures. Based on Ames Mutagenicity tests, biodiesel provides a 90% reduction in cancer risks.
Biodiesel is 11% oxygen by weight and contains no sulfur. The use of biodiesel can extend the life of diesel engines because it is more lubricating than petroleum diesel fuel, while fuel consumption, auto ignition, power output, and engine torque are relatively unaffected by biodiesel. "
So in addition to being more environmentally friendly, it is better for the engine and does not affect the power output of the engine. The slipperyness actually extends the life of the engine. I would imagine that this is a big factor in the valve seals and stems.
The production of biodiesel according to the freedom fuel site linked to earlier requires three items: vegetable /animal oil, methanol (100%) and lye. so yeah, you are right, it does use some nasty stuff. but the output is the biodiesel fuel and glycerine, which is completely non toxic and can be disposed of by putting it in your compost for your garden to biodegrade, or you can use the glycerine for hand soap with a little more processing.
Your argument on whether or not biodiesel can be made in enough quantities to replace dino diesel is where you have validity. I agree that there is not going to be enough farmland to support hungry diesel trucks and machinery AND support hungry people as well. But even if we can't replace it, it does give us something to cut the consumption of the dino diesel, even if it is only by 10%. biodiesel will blend with dino in all proportions.
also, you can produce biodiesel from waste vegetable oil as well as refining it fresh from vegetable parts. this is better for environment to as it takes care of recycling used vegetable oil in the form of fuel.
anyways, just my thoughts
AJ