What is biodiesel?

Biodiesel fuel is a naturally oxygenated fuel produced from organic feed sources such as soybeans, cooking oil and animal fats. Biodiesel in its pure form, B100, contains no petroleum diesel fuel but can be blended at any ratio with regular petroleum diesel to achieve cost efficiency and improve cold weather performance. Biodiesel is commonly used as B20 which is a blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel. Soy biodiesel is produced from soy beans. “Yellow Grease” biodiesel is produced from cooking oils and animal fats that are usually produced as a by product at restaurants and processing plants.


  Biodiesel at the pump?

Most biodiesel fuel sold at your local fueling center is a 20% blend of biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel (B20). Blends of 20% biodiesel have demonstrated significant environmental benefits with a minimum increase in cost for consumers. In some markets, B20 biodiesel actually cost less per gallon at the pump than regular petroleum diesel fuel. B20 blends of biodiesel can be used in regular diesel engines without any modifications. Biodiesel has a cleaning affect on older diesel engines and may release some deposits that have gathered inside tank walls and other areas from regular diesel fuel usage. These deposits may end up in the fuel filter and may produce a few additional filter changes in the early stages of the biodiesel use. Although this might sound like a negative affect, it is actually a positive since the biodiesel is working to clean out the older engine and the fuel system. This cleaning process will actually save money through less tune ups and fewer repairs to the engine’s fueling system.

  Why should I use biodiesel?

1. Biodiesel is a cleaner burning alternative fuel produced from domestic renewable sources such as soy beans, animal fats and vegetable oils.
2. B20 works in any diesel engine without any modifications to the engine.
3. Biodiesel works as a cleaning agent that will reduce engine wear and repairs.
4. Biodiesel offers an easy and immediate transition to an alternative fuel for today’s fleets and consumers.
5. Biodiesel use is better for the environment and reduces our dependency on foreign oil.

  FAQ

Q. Is biodiesel more expensive than regular diesel fuel?
A. Prices per gallon will vary in different markets. Federal tax incentives will help reduce the cost of biodiesel blends. Many fleet managers will discover that biodiesel is the least expensive route to comply with state and federal regulations for petroleum fuel reductions. It is also a very easy way for individual consumers to contribute to the reduction in petroleum use and work to improve the environment.

Q. Does using biodiesel affect my engine?
A. Biodiesel in a B20 blend, 20% bio and 80% petroleum diesel fuel, will not have any negative impact on a regular diesel engine. On the contrary, biodiesel will actually work as a cleaning agent to remove deposits leftover from previous diesel fuel use. This may create a fuel filter change soon after biodiesel use begins. This filter change usually occurs in older engines and will add only 1 or 2 additional filter changes at the beginning of the B20 use.

Q. Does it take more or less energy to produce biodiesel fuel?
A. Biodiesel actually has the highest energy balance of any transportation fuel. Taking into account planting, harvesting, fuel production and fuel transportation to the end user, biodiesel returns 3.2 units of energy for every one unit of fossil energy used to produce it.

Q. How well does biodiesel work in cold weather?
A. Pure B100 will gel faster than regular petroleum diesel fuel. However, B20 blends experience a slight increase in the gel flow properties of about 2 to 10° Fahrenheit. Solutions for these winter issues are the same as used with conventional #2 diesel fuel. It has been recorded that B20 was used in upper Wisconsin and in Iowa during –25° F weather without any usage issues. Cold weather additives and other cold weather solutions commonly in practice today should be used in B20 biodiesel blends to improve cold weather use.


Our Biodiesel fact sheet contains information gained from a variety of sources. We ask that when using biodiesel, be sure it meets the ASTM D 6751 specifications for biodiesel. This is usually a given at most public biodiesel fueling centers. Remember that most diesel vehicles can run on biodiesel blends of 20% or less and not B100 - pure biodiesel fuel. As more biodiesel fueling centers enter the marketplace and as more studies and consumer responses are made public, TPC will strive to provide our website customers with the latest and the most accurate information concerning biodiesel fuel.

It is the belief of Thomas Petroleum Company that the use of biodiesel fuel in any form will greatly help reduce America’s dependency on foreign oil, improve the quality of the environment and improve the economy of the American farmer.

1. National Biodiesel Board, www.biodiesel.org.
2. Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition, www.4cleanfuels.com.
3. North Carolina Solar Center, www.ncsu.ncsu.edu.