Just saw this on Trucks! (www.freedomfuelamerica.com) opinions? - Diesel Forum

tpendergraft · 06-11-2005, 01:03 PM

Hey guys, I just saw a show on Trucks! that featured a do it yourself bio-diesel brew machine from a company called Freedom Fuel America. This machine says to combine WVO, lye, and racing fuel to make your own biodiesel. The combination of valves, detailed instructions, and "chemistry" equipment they include in their kit makes it seem like it could actually work!

Have any of you used this kit and/or have comments on the feasibility of their product by drawing on your own bio-diesel experiences?

girlmark · 06-11-2005, 01:12 PM

Unfortunately that's a Fuelmeister-

it's CRAP.

Here's a thread at biodieselnow forums. The administrators of the forum, who are EXTREMELY knowledgeable about biodiesel, made this thread a 'sticky' just so as to warn newcomers not to buy the machine:

http://www.forums.biodieselnow.com/t...?TOPIC_ID=6791
If you go to that forum and do a search for 'fuelmeister' you'll hear a LOT of reasons why you shouldn't buy one.

IT's quite easy to make biodiesel without spending the $4,300 that they charge for the full unit.

For some details of how, see www.localb100.com/cbt and for some vendors of equipment (if you dont' want to buy it locally) go to www.biodieselwarehouse.com, www.utahbiodieselsupply.com and www.b100supply.com

They all sell gear to make 'Appleseed' processors which are safer and cheaper to build (and work better) than Fuelmeisters.

Mark

coolfords · 06-11-2005, 01:38 PM

Hi

Does your book list and tell me all I need to know?
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]
Are there others ...books and such, you recomend?

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

tpendergraft · 06-11-2005, 01:50 PM

What about taxes and home-made fuel? Is there some small print I should be aware of before investing in any bio-diesel solution?

johndeerefarmer · 06-11-2005, 02:29 PM

Looks like its $3000 for the basic unit, then you have to buy the lye and racing fuel.
Then, I don't think that you can run 100% biodiesel in your truck. I believe that 20% is the max. Even if you could make it for 70 cents a gallon, if you can only use it at a 1:5 ratio, it would take forever to pay for it.

Let the commercial companies make it..............

Ford_Forgotton · 06-11-2005, 02:43 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Then, I don't think that you can run 100% biodiesel in your truck. I believe that 20% is the max. Even if you could make it for 70 cents a gallon, if you can only use it at a 1:5 ratio, it would take forever to pay for it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Uhm, where are you getting your information? The only rigs I know of to have trouble with 100% bio-D was a handful of 6.0's (and I think that was later blamed on poorly made fuel).

The 7.3 trucks LOVE 100% bio-D.

Why let the commercial joints have all the fun! Its easy to make, cheap to make, and our trucks run great on the stuff.

Use Girl-Mark's appleseed processor, and you can make for a couple hundred bucks, what that other site is asking 3 grand for!!

Please check out the other threads in this section and see how much time and effort folks have put into these systems, and you will find that your statements are poor at best.

girlmark · 06-11-2005, 03:07 PM

Free information on how to build a biodiesel processor , and how to make biodiesel:

www.localb100.com/cbt

(processor page is www.localb100.com/cbt/appleseedprocessor )

Below are some companies who sell some of the parts to build a processor in case you dont' want to do the local hardware store runaround (Their prices are very close to what you'll pay at Home Depot, therefore a very good deal) They also sell complete processors and all the other equipment you need, cheap:

www.biodieselwarehouse.com
www.b100supply.com
www.utahbiodieselsupply.com

the company who Fuelmeister got the idea from , who made the original 'kit'- theirs takes a while (compared to biodieselwarehouse.com etc) to get built and shipped, but it's a much better product with better components than Fuelmeister: www.biodieselgear.com

***************

The point about how long it takes to get a 'return on investment' (ie get your $3,000 or $4,300 back ($4,300 is what the Fuelmeister actually costs when you buy a wash tank and a heater) is a very good one. If your goal is to save money on fuel, spending thousands of dollars up front and then doing the labor every time you make fuel, doesn't save you much money. Same goes for SVO kits if someone else installs it for you- you have to look at what your goals are. For many people it's more than the cost.

Of course if you spend $200-$600 to build an Appleseed processor and buy a scale and simple lab gear from one of those other companies or at the pawn shop, it's a lot quicker to "get your money back" compared to the cost of diesel.

My biodiesel book has lots of info about all this, but there's also lots of free info on the www.localb100.com/cbt website also (the site is written by many others as well as me). I've been running out of copies of the book a lot these days, so it takes me 10 days to fill orders these days- I'm working in a town "out in the sticks" and only get to the print shop to print them once a week.
thanks for the plug for this, Darryl.

Mark

97f250RED · 06-11-2005, 03:21 PM

yea i saw the show then tried to go to their website and it didnt work lol

sagebel · 06-11-2005, 04:12 PM

HEAT AND PLASTIC DO NOT MIX!!!!!!!!!!! I have bought girl_marks book and have built an appleseed processor. It cost me just under $450 to get everything together including collection barrels at restaurants, storage, pumps, fittings, piping, water heater(used), and her book (I would pay triple what she asks for). I now run 100% bio-diesel with no problems. I actually had to put some #2 in yesterday because I've been busy with the new baby and the truck is louder and idles rougher. The bio really runs great. I just saw the trucks episode and it is a shame that they won't come to my house and film my set up.

Scott

coolfords · 06-11-2005, 04:20 PM

[ QUOTE ]
it is a shame that they won't come to my house and film my set up.

Scott

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you have any pics of your setup?

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

johndeerefarmer · 06-11-2005, 04:23 PM

My 05 PowerStroke Diesel owners manual states on page 29:

"Diesel fuel containing no more than 5% biodiesel can be used"

How do you interprete what this means?

ToddT · 06-11-2005, 04:28 PM

Sadly, Johndeerfarmer, the 6.0 PSD's don't like the 100% biodiesel as our 7.3's do. It has something to do with the higher injector fuel pressure. Others here will be able to guide you regarding the highest percentage of bio to dino to run. You can bet whatever the factory indicates is a VERY conservative number and can be expanded by a fair bit.

Todd T

johndeerefarmer · 06-11-2005, 04:48 PM

Uhm, where are you getting your information? The only rigs I know of to have trouble with 100% bio-D was a handful of 6.0's (and I think that was later blamed on poorly made fuel).
FORD MOTOR COMPANY.............. See my reply a few responses above.......

Please check out the other threads in this section and see how much time and effort folks have put into these systems, and you will find that your statements are poor at best.

[/ QUOTE ]

My statements are true. Seems like most of your other posts are full of crap.
Both Ford and John Deere recommend no more than 5% biodiesel. I know because I own a new 05 Ford and two John Deeres, one being an 05 model. I am not going to buy a $40k truck and a $60k tractor and run 100% biodiesel in in because some idiot like yourself thinks that it's allright, that is unless YOU want to pay the repair bills.
If you want to run it in your 7.3 that's fine, but keep your mouth shut about what you know nothing about. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

brahamfireman · 06-11-2005, 05:45 PM

we don't need to start another shouting match. personlly I question everything ford says. why, cuz IH makes the motor. I go by there specs.

higher injection pressures, and the rubber lines in the fuel system is why 5% is recomended. although most have run higher ratios, for alot longer, the rubber lines will eventually need to be replaced.

Daryl, You out of new orleans yet????

Diesel Rod

sagebel · 06-11-2005, 06:03 PM

There are no manufacturers that are backing bio diesel. What ever the reason be politics with big oil or the variance in fuel quality. If you really want to help, run B100 in that new equipment, so we ALL can get an idea of what can safely be run. Maybe start with a couple tanks of B5 and then B20, 50 and so on. I don't have any pictures of my set up yet, I just bought a digital camera yesterday. When I get some I will post them on my webshots.

Scott