What’s the Difference between Bio Diesel and Traditional Diesel?

Posted: Jan 06, 2013
Author: Bumgarner Oil

Bio diesel and traditional diesel come from very different sources, but they can perform the same function. Both can power diesel vehicles such as tractors, trucks and cars, as well as lawnmowers, etc. The major difference is that bio diesel is extracted from animal, seed and plant oils, whereas diesel comes from petroleum – a non-renewable fossil fuel.

Although, to some extent, traditional diesel is more efficient than gasoline, the main drawback is its detrimental effect on the environment. When it burns, it emits high levels of nitrogen and soot, which cause smog and air pollution.

Moreover, like gasoline, diesel emits greenhouse gasses – specifically carbon dioxide – which contributes to ozone damage and global warming. Another issue with diesel is that, because it is non-renewable, overuse can expend or completely annihilate natural resources. Although diesel emits a lower level of greenhouse gasses than gasoline, environmental experts still consider it to be a serious threat to the environment and air quality.

Bio diesel, on the other hand, is a renewable resource and is made of biodegradable oils. When it’s mixed with certain alcohols, the fats create chains of chemical substances called esters which enable the oil to be used as fuel. You can use bio diesel in just about any diesel engine, after a few modifications, without causing engine damage. Another advantage is that it releases negligible amounts of pollutants.