I have been using bio-diesel for approximately three months now. It is cleaner and carbon neutral. There is no difference in performance, power or economy. My car has not been modified in any way whatsoever. Moving over to bio-fuel was simple. I stopped filling up with "Dino" diesel and started using Bio. The only difference is the fumes from my exhaust smell nice. I would describe it as the aroma of a fish and chip shop. After about 3,000 miles I may have to change my fuel filter. This is a quick and easy job requiring a screwdriver, pliers and five minutes. The reason for the change is that bio-diesel is a solvent and will clean the debris and dirt in my fuel system. My injectors will have been fully cleaned also. No need to use expensive fuel solvents every 6,000 miles.

Bio-diesel can be produced very easily from vegetable oil. It involves heating vegetable oil together with methanol and caustic soda. The liquids are mixed together at a temperature of 60 °C for approximately one hour before being allowed to cool down and settle. A layer of glycerine forms at the bottom. Once the glycerine is removed, the bio is washed to get rid of the caustic soda. The final phase involves removing any residual water from the washing process. The resulting liquid is a eco-friendly, sustainable, carbon-neutral and non-toxic fuel ready to run in most diesel vehicles produced after 1998.

Bio-fuel has tax breaks. It incurs less fuel duty than Dino diesel and hence it should be cheaper. Most bio-diesel producers will actually collect vegetable oil from local restaurants for "re-cycling" into bio-fuel. My car runs on fuel sourced from such outlets. The next time you are tucking in to your fish and chips, give a thought for the oil it was fried in. Perhaps people like me will be using that waste oil to get to work in the morning. My source of bio-diesel is approximately 10 to 15 pence per litre cheaper than Shell or Esso. Suppliers are easy to find. I found mine on E-bay. Those of you living in London might use Express Biofuels that delivers to your door, VAT and duty fully paid. Why not be a green Muslim? Help the environment and save money.

WARNING! DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MAKE BIODIESEL BY YOURSELF. THE CHEMICALS INVOLVED ARE HARMFUL AND/OR CAUSTIC. THE PURPOSE OF THIS ARTICLE IS TO HELP PROMOTE THE USE OF ECO-FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVES. LEAVE FUEL PRODUCTION TO THE PROFESSIONALS. BUY INSTEAD.

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