How to Make Diesel Fuels
Diesel fuel is burned in most all transfer trucks and some passenger cars. At one time, diesel fuel was less expensive than regular gasoline; however, recently the price of diesel fuel has risen tremendously. The cost of the chemicals determines the price of diesel fuel, not the equipment. Diesel fuel may be processed at home for much less than purchasing diesel fuel at the pumps by following these steps.
Items Needed:
- Automobile allotted to burn diesel fuel
- Blender
- Container for storing lye
- Distilled water
- Gloves
- Lye
- Measurement devices
- Metal spoon with long handle
- Methanol
- Mixing containers
- Old vegetable oil
- Protective eyewear
- Respirator
- Rubbing alcohol
- Strainer
- Syringe
- Store lye in a dry, airtight container in a cool location.
- Trap all contaminants in the old vegetable oil using a strainer.
- Heat the vegetable oil to 450 degrees to thoroughly clean the oil. Oil and water do not mix, so the water will rise to the top.
- Utilize a metal spoon with a long handle to spoon off the water.
- Apply gloves to both hands and protective eyewear to cover eyes.
- Mix 35/100 of an ounce of lye with 1 6/100 of a quart of distilled water until dissolved. This must be measured accurately. Many people find the metric equivalent measure easier, which is one gram of lye to one liter of distilled water.
- Mix 2 2/10 teaspoons of rubbing alcohol, which is equal to 10 milliliters, with 2/10 of a teaspoon of strained vegetable oil, which is equal to one milliliter.
- Empty the dissolved lye mixture into the container with the oil and alcohol mixture, stirring in 2/10 of a teaspoon at a time with a syringe.
- Utilizing litmus paper, test the pH level of the mixture. The pH level should measure between eight and nine and turn the paper pink.
- Wear a respirator correctly. The mixture is dangerous if inhaled, so this step is very important.
- Mix the lye with methanol for a small test batch to create sodium methoxide. Use one measurement of methanol to 20 measurements of lye for the correct ratio. If the mixture comes in contact with skin, wash immediately.
- Multiply the amount of lye solution times the amount of oil to be converted. Most people suggest mixing 21/100 of an ounce of lye per 1 6/100 of an ounce of a quart of oil.
- Utilizing a blender, mix the solution for no more than 15-20 minutes.
- Heat the vegetable oil to 150 degrees, and then add the sodium methoxide mixture.
- Mix for 30 minutes or longer, and then allow the mixture to sit for eight hours.
- Spread water in equal amounts on the surface of the fuel to emulsify the glycerin particles.
- Allow the diesel fuel to sit for 12 hours to allow it to separate from the water, then scoop the water off. The diesel fuel is ready to be burned in a diesel engine.