org/web/20190122033915/http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_SVO.html
Vegetable oil is a common ingredient in almost every kitchen. It’s used for cooking, baking, and frying. But have you ever thought about using it as fuel for your car? While it might seem like a good idea, there are several reasons why we don’t use vegetable oil as fuel. In this blog post, we will explore why vegetable oil isn’t a viable option as fuel and why we should stick to traditional fossil fuels.
Viscosity and Flow
One of the primary reasons why vegetable oil isn’t a viable option as fuel is its high viscosity. Viscosity is the thickness of a fluid, and vegetable oil is much thicker than diesel fuel. This thickness means that it doesn’t flow as cleanly, and the engine will have a hard time burning it effectively. Diesel engines operate at high pressure, and the fuel needs to atomize and mix with air for efficient combustion. Vegetable oil doesn’t mix well with air, and it can cause clogging in the fuel injectors. This clogging can lead to engine damage and reduced performance.
Regulations and Legal Issues
Using vegetable oil as fuel might seem like a good idea, but it’s not that simple. In most countries, vegetable oil isn’t regulated or tested according to environmental laws. In fact, using vegetable oil as fuel could be illegal in some states, as state and federal revenue agents in the U.S. require special licenses to drive converted cars, as well as payment of motor fuel taxes. Vegetable oil doesn’t undergo the refining process that diesel fuel does, which means it doesn’t meet the same standards that diesel fuel does. The lack of regulation and testing makes it difficult to ensure that vegetable oil is safe to use as fuel.
Health Concerns
While vegetable oil is a healthy option for cooking, over-consumption and certain production processes may lead to health problems. Some vegetable oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids, which may cause inflammation and increase the risk of heart disease. Using vegetable oil as fuel means that we would need to produce more of it, leading to more consumption and production processes. This increased production could lead to further health concerns and environmental damage.
Alternative Fuel Sources
There are alternative fuel sources that are more viable than vegetable oil. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel source that can be made from a variety of sources, including vegetable oil. Biodiesel is a cleaner-burning fuel that produces fewer emissions than traditional diesel fuel. It’s also more compatible with diesel engines, so there is less risk of engine damage. Other alternative fuel sources include hydrogen fuel cells, electric vehicles, and hybrid vehicles. These options are more efficient and produce fewer emissions than traditional fossil fuels.
Conclusion
While using vegetable oil as fuel might seem like a good idea, there are several reasons why it’s not a viable option. Vegetable oil is much thicker than diesel fuel, which means it doesn’t flow as cleanly and can cause clogging in the fuel injectors. It’s also not regulated or tested according to environmental laws, which makes it difficult to ensure that it’s safe to use as fuel. Additionally, there are health concerns associated with over-consumption and certain production processes. Alternative fuel sources like biodiesel, hydrogen fuel cells, electric vehicles, and hybrid vehicles are more efficient and produce fewer emissions. We should focus on these options instead of using vegetable oil as fuel.
