Press Page
Affordable machine makes environmentally-friendly biodiesel for less than a dollar a gallon!
Cain Monroe has owned his own electrical service company for about 10 years. Since July of 2007 he’s run his two trucks on biodiesel, using the Biodiesel123 processor he bought from Gary Johnson at Rend Corporation in Midland, TX.
Monroe cites the price of fuel (typically well over $3 per gallon in his area) and the environmental impact as the main reasons he decided to go to biodiesel. At an average rate of $3.49 per gallon, Monroe said his bioidiesel processing system took about 5-6 months to pay for itself.
“Since the Fourth of July I have not had to buy any diesel,” he says.
It has a lot of benefits:
While Congress wrestles with three seemingly different problems—reducing oil imports, reducing vehicular air pollution and reducing the amount of waste and trash that must be handled, Johnson’s Biodiesel123 processor does all three and more.
The processor’s feedstock is waste grease from restaurant fryers. Some of this grease is already recycled, but not all, so biodiesel is another good use for it. Fryer grease is also NOT imported from OPEC nations. In an engine, biodiesel greatly reduces particulate matter, sulfur or other pollutants associated with petroleum diesel, with overall emissions cut approximately in half. There is no choking diesel smell with this fuel. Some have said biodiesel’s exhaust smells like French fries, but Monroe says it’s more like a burning candle. To Johnson’s nose it’s more like fresh cooking oil.
Biodiesel is much kinder to the engine itself, in many cases greatly extending engine life. Monroe reports that his trucks also run quieter on biodiesel, with none of the clatter usually associated with diesel engines.
Probably the most immediate benefit to the end user is its cost. Feedstock is usually free, so the end user must pay only for the machine to make the biodiesel (a one-time cost) and for the methanol, a portion of which can be recovered and re-used. Because of this, a gallon of biodiesel typically costs between 45 cents and 85 cents per gallon to make. The lower cost is available if the user recaptures and reuses the methanol, according to Johnson.
Is it easy to make?
Cain Monroe says there are basically two steps to making his fuel. He collects the fryer oil from what he calls “five good restaurants” in his area and he has put out flyers in the community, hoping to get more. Then there’s the actual creation process. “Gary has done a great job on his recipe. You just follow the step-by-step instructions.” After loading the oil and the chemicals, Monroe starts the Biodiesel123 machine and with occasional attention afterwards, he gets a batch of biodiesel a few hours later.
Monroe says his cost is about 80-85 cents per gallon for the batches he makes, quite a savings over average pump prices.
The only even slight hiccup in biodiesel it is in its BTU level, which is actually only slightly lower than petroleum diesel. “Your mileage may go down slightly if you’re pulling a load,” says Johnson, “but if you’re not, your mileage may actually go up because of biodiesel’s greater lubricity.” In other words, because it makes your engine slicker, there’s less resistance, so it can send more power to the drive train.
It can also need some extra treatment in colder temperatures, according to Bruce Jeffcoat of Stanton, TX, another Biodiesel 123 owner. “In the winter I add a percentage of (petroleum) diesel to keep it from jelling.”
Part of the beauty of biodiesel is that it can be mixed in any percentage with its petroleum cousin with no problem. That way, if the user, in the start-up phase, hasn’t yet connected with enough restaurants to supply his total fuel needs, he can easily mix the two. This is also good for those starting on a trip with biodiesel, who will then have to fill up with the other type on down the road. Jeffcoat has another plan—he carries several gallons with him when he goes from Stanton to Dallas, about a 600 mile round trip.
Biodiesel is easily stored in opaque containers just like those used for petroleum diesel, says Johnson. If biodiesel is to be stored for months, it’s a good idea to mix a little of the petroleum variety with it for stabilization.
Other great uses for biodiesel:
While use in cars and trucks make up the majority of current biodiesel interest, Johnson says it can also be used to power generators. “It used to not be economically feasible to supplement grid power or live off the grid with a diesel generator due to fuel and maintenance costs. Because biodiesel is cheap and because it extends the life of your generator, now even someone who’s on the grid can benefit from supplementing their power with a generator instead of wind turbines or solar panels,” he said.
Why the Biodiesel 123?
Before buying the Biodiesel123, Cain Monroe did his research. “I was leery before I did my first batch. I did a lot of research before buying this one,” he said.
Even after buying the machine, he was skeptical until he made his first few batches. Now, he’s convinced he bought the right one.
“Our niche,” says Johnson, “is letting individuals make their own fuel at a low cost.” He has seen the push for mass-produced biodiesel, but sees drawbacks there. “When these big companies make biodiesel, they will buy large quantities of oil made from soybeans or other feedstock. When all is said and done, they’ll have a lot of money in a gallon of biodiesel, and will have to charge according to the going price. With our machine, no matter what the cost of diesel, your cost should stay relatively the same.”
He adds that his machines, which have been shipped to most states and overseas, are being used by ordinary people who are tired of the high price of diesel. “Our processors are designed to operate safely, and they include safety equipment like goggles, gloves, etc. Our chemical tank is sealed airtight and is vented to the outside away from people and animals. It’s easy to use, and the quality of our equipment is seen in the details.
“We make a machine that is easy to service and easy to find parts for. From the commercial grade pump to the large, one-inch fittings and hoses, we offer a one-year warranty on every part of our processors.”
For more information, contact Gary Johnson at Biodiesel 123 in Midland, TX by calling 432-683-7368, or contact them online.