The folks below use biodiesel. Here's what they have to say. Add your testimonial here.
Phoenix, Arizona resident Josh gets his biodiesel from Supreme Oil Company. He drives a 2002 VW Golf GLS TDI that has been sipping biodiesel since May of 2002.
How he likes it: It's great
What he feels are the key benefits and detractions: It's amazing how quiet and smooth the engine is with even a small amount of biodiesel added. It doesn't smell. The only problems for me right now are the location and limited business hours of the fueling station and the high cost of the biodiesel.
Ventura, California resident Kent gets his biodiesel from GP Resources, Oxnard CA. He drives a 1984 Mercedes Benz 300D that has been sipping biodiesel since January of 2002.
How he likes it: Just fine
What he feels are the key benefits and detractions: Benefits: Emissions & Environmental Benefits.
Negatives: Availability, Cost, Not Locally Produced (working on that).
Have been using B100 @ work for 2 years in 56' boat, generators and forklifts and for 9 months in new 58' boat.
Ukiah, California resident Kumar gets his biodiesel from his company, Yokayo Biofuels. He drives (all B100) - 2006 VW Golf GLS TDI, 1990 Ford F250 pickup truck, 1996 Ford Super Duty (F450) flatbed, 2002 Ford F-450 flatbed, 1996 Freightliner FL 70 bobtail, 1998 Freightliner FL 70 vacuum truck since 2001.
How he likes it: Well, let's just say it's become my life.
What he feels are the key benefits and detractions: I really see it as a transition fuel. That is its main benefit- that people can use it now, easily. This makes massive opening of minds possible. So we can get off petroleum- what a huge thing! Detractions: well, modern means of supply are limited, despite its renewability, and I have yet to see algae being used. It may be much less pollution, but it's still pollution, and driving is still a gigantic problem in and of itself. The continual production of more cars scares the hell out of me. We have a lot of work to do!
Burbank, California resident Lisa gets her biodiesel from L.A. Biofuels in Santa Monica. She drives a 2005 VW Passat Wagon GLS TDI that has been sipping biodiesel since October of 2005.
How she likes it: Smells great and is a terrific conversation starter.
What she feels are the key benefits and detractions: Benefits: Emissions & Environmental Benefits.
Negatives: So far no detractions. The price is a bit more but, the benefits out weigh the cost. I like being able to sleep at night knowing that I am not polluting, helping the local farmers who produce the biodiesel and not contributing to the greed of the oil companies. Plus, if there were some sort of disaster/emergency and they had to close the gas pumps, I have 55 gallons of my own fuel in my backyard!
Davis, California resident Charles gets his biodiesel from Olympian Cardlock station on Northgate Blvd. next to
Fry's in Sacramento. He drives a 1999 VW Golf TDI that has been sipping biodiesel since January of 2002.
How he likes it: The TDI engine delivers the power of a 6-cylinder and the fuel economy of a 3-cylinder.
What he feels are the key benefits and detractions: I love the fact that by doing nothing more than filling up the tank, I'm cutting my CO2 emissions by 15%. I wish the station offered B100 so that I could make an even greater contribution.
Maui, Hawaii residents Bob and Camille get their biodiesel from Pacific Biodiesel. They drive a 2001 VW New Beetle TDI that has been sipping biodiesel since May of 2001.
How they like it: Great!
What they feel are the key benefits and detractions: Benefit: Environmental. Detraction: None
Cape Porpoise, Maine resident Bill gets his biodiesel from Solar Market, Arundel, ME. He drives a 2000 VW New Beetle TDI that has been sipping biodiesel since December of 2002.
How he likes it: It's the best part of continuing in the VW diesel line. He wishes that biodiesel was around when he had his earlier diesel rabbit.
The vanity license plate (BIOBUG) has increased public interest in biodiesel. Lot's of questions: "What's BIO stand for?" "Biodiesel," he says. "Haven't you heard of the cleanest fuel around?" Here it is seen in front of their solar house - http://www.solarhouse.com.
What he feels are the key benefits and detractions: No question about it, the TDI is a smoother, cleaner engine with biodiesel. He runs 100% from spring through fall and then mixes in petrodiesel as the weather gets cold. He's doing his part to make driving cleaner and more efficient. He's particularly pleased that his fuel dollars are going to American farmers and not OPEC.
Key detraction: None, really, other than the small number of stations carrying the fuel. But he's sure that availability will continue to grow.
Berlin, Maryland residents Ron and Katherine get their biodiesel from World Energy B100, distributed by Tri Gas and Oil in Federalsburg, Md. They drive a 1996 VW Passat TDI Wagon that has been sipping biodiesel since January of 2001.
How they like it: Except for the winter blending,(and we are working on ways to get around that) we will never again fuel any of our internal combustion engines or home appliances with the Devil`s Tea.
What they feel are the key benefits and detractions: Key benefit: Liberation from Petoleum Madness.
Key detraction: The only detraction is the time and energy spend attempting to get biodiesel to become a mainstream fuel. But heck, we need something to do with our time here on this blue/green ball spinning through time and space.
Westport, Massachusetts resident Nate gets his biodiesel from Burke Oil in Chelsea, MA. He drives a 1996 VW Passat TDI that has been sipping biodiesel since March of 2002.
How he likes it: I love it. The car loves it. Mother earth loves it. OPEC doesn't love it.
What he feels are the key benefits and detractions: Key benefit: Hmm. Good for the US in so many ways. Keeps our air cleaner, our economy stronger, and helps us achieve just a little bit more energy independence.
Key detraction: Cost and winter useage. Cost prohibits it from use by casual diesel car/truck owners. And I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to do in 6 months when it gets cold.
Sterling, Massachusetts resident Jonathan gets his biodiesel from Solar Market, Arundel, ME. He drives a 1996 VW Passat TDI that has been sipping biodiesel since October of 2002.
How he likes it: Run on biodiesel since October 2001, B50 winter, B100 remainder of the year
What he feels are the key benefits and detractions: Pluses: Less smoke, less unpleasant odor (fuel and exhaust), biodegradable, nontoxic, environmental smugness. Minuses: Purchase cost, 10% drop in mileage or performance, availability, cold weather operation paranoia. None of the minuses are enough to make me switch back, petroleum diesel fuel has become my alternative of last resort
drawback: inconsistent quality from some still developing their transesterification. Widely scattered locations of ASTM certified fuel
Plymouth, Massachusetts residents Phil and Stephanie get their biodiesel from Burke Oil, Chelsea, MA. They drive a 2001 VW Jetta TDI that has been sipping biodiesel since August of 2001.
How they like it: I couldn't be happier with it.
What they feel are the key benefits and detractions: Key benefits are too numerous to list here... but we all know what they are. Key detration is that it's wildly inconsistent in pricing, and often difficult to come by.
Northboro, Massachusetts resident Derek gets his biodiesel from Solar Market, World Energy. He drives a 1996 VW Passat TDI that has been sipping biodiesel since February of 2002.
How he likes it: I like it a whole lot
What he feels are the key benefits and detractions: Key benefit: knowledge of environmental benefits/smell, key detraction, loss of mpg and ability to smoke tailgaters
Medfield, Massachusetts resident Tom gets his biodiesel from Burke Oil in Chelsea, MA. He drives a 1996 VW Passat TDI Wagon that has been sipping biodiesel since February of 2002.
How he likes it: We like it since we like limiting the amount of $$ sent to the terroristas and helping the American farmer all at the same time.
What he feels are the key benefits and detractions: Benefits: cleaner exhaust emissions, non-hazardous, non-toxic nature of the product, higher cetane rating, less fouling of engine's intake, french fry exhaust odor, slightly smoother engine operation, novelty of the product - - having something no one else has on the street, can fill my TDIs 24X7 and never have to travel to the watering hole, excellent and consistent quality of the WE product which meets the ASTM criteria.
Negatives: strong solvent characteristic could be a problem for an older car, cost is too high, fuel economy is off by at least 10%, performance is down a bit, availability, VWoA's position on domestically-produced BD, cold weather operation may be a concern.
Medfield, Massachusetts resident Tom gets his biodiesel from Burke Oil in Chelsea, MA. He drives a 2000 VW Jetta that has been sipping biodiesel since February of 2002.
How he likes it: We like it since we like limiting the amount of $$ sent to the terroristas and helping the American farmer all at the same time.
What he feels are the key benefits and detractions: Benefits: cleaner exhaust emissions, non-hazardous, non-toxic nature of the product, higher cetane rating, less fouling of engine's intake, french fry exhaust odor, slightly smoother engine operation, novelty of the product - - having something no one else has on the street, can fill my TDIs 24X7 and never have to travel to the watering hole, excellent and consistent quality of the WE product which meets the ASTM criteria.
Negatives: strong solvent characteristic could be a problem for an older car, cost is too high, fuel economy is off by at least 10%, performance is down a bit, availability, VWoA's position on domestically-produced BD, cold weather operation may be a concern.
Arlington, Massachusetts resident Sam gets his biodiesel from Burke Oil, Chelsea, MA. He drives a 1999 VW Jetta TDI that has been sipping biodiesel since May of 2002.
How he likes it: I love it
What he feels are the key benefits and detractions: Key benefit of BD for me are mostly environmental (somewhat better than regular diesel) and political (reduced reliance on OPEC). No detraction--to me, the benefits outweigh the higher price for B20.
Keene, New Hampshire resident Mary gets her biodiesel from WE product from World Energy, Chelsea, MA. She drives a variety of vehicles that have been sipping biodiesel since 2002.
How she likes it: We use the B100 in the summer and B20 in the winter.
We really like it.
What she feels are the key benefits and detractions: Key benefits are from less toxic fumes (overall) on a small campus where we are usually working near buildings and air intakes. Workers are getting fewer headaches and are less fatigued. No loss of power or problems with equipment.
Detraction: lack of vendors, expensive delivery and difficulty getting timely deliveries.
FYI. The City of Keene, NH is also using B20 year round in multiple vehicles.
Plaistow, New Hampshire resident Jeff gets his biodiesel from WE product from Solar Market, Arundel,ME. He drives a 2001 VW Jetta GLS TDI that has been sipping biodiesel since July of 2001.
How he likes it:
What he feels are the key benefits and detractions: Benefit: High quality fuel,low emissions, and US made.
Negative: Cold weather performance and price of fuel
Haddonfield, New Jersey resident Rob gets his biodiesel from Amoco in Easton, MD. He drives a 2000 VW Golf TDI that has been sipping biodiesel since July of 2002.
How he likes it: It's way cool.
What he feels are the key benefits and detractions: It's great for the environmment (both inside & outside my engine), & it makes my wife very happy.
Driving 120 miles to get BD is a PITA. I filled up the car with 15 gallons of B100 today and also filled up 5 5-gallon containers. Until I can get B100 closer to S. Jersey, I'll probably mix in 3 gallons of B100 with 12 gallons of Amoco premier that I can get in Philly.
Rich, from Cincinnati Ohio, owns a couple Volkswagen Jetta TDIs. His daily driver is a 2003 (daughter drives the 2001) and has been running various blends of Peter Cramer BQ9000 biodiesel since for several years. As a DOE Clean Cities steering committee member, Rich supports several retail facilities pumping the Cincinnati produced and Ohio grown soybased fuel. He runs the B20 blend most of the time convinced that biodiesel is one of our nation's most promising alternative fuels.
How he likes it: Appreciates the fact that biodiesel is a clean, domestic and renewable fuel. He has experienced 'zero' problems over the past 100,000 miles. The only glitch has been using B100 in a small older John Deere diesel having to replace the original rubber fuel lines after a couple seasons. After replacing the original rubber with a combination of Viton and metal the tractor is back running on the 'bean.'
What he feels are the key benefits and detractions: - Being clean and renewable are two outstanding attributes, as well as being domestically grown and produced. Detractions are limited number of vehicles capable of running biodiesel, the weak manufacturer warranties and limitations that currently exist in colder climates.
Cincinatti, Ohio residents José and Arlette get their biodiesel from Export Fuel in Delmont, PA. He uses it in drive a 2001 Jetta GLS TDI - blend; 1982 John Deere 330 - B100; 1987 Bobcat (Kubota)- blend. They have been sipping biodiesel since the spring of 2002.
How they like it: How you like it: So far it has been great! I'm slowly increasing my blend from the B20 Retail pump to the 'jerry jug' B100 mixing on the go.
What they feel are the key benefits and detractions: - Biodiesel is one of the few energy alternatives that is clean, renewable and do-able today using current engines and distribution channels. It is great to boost our US economy and clean the environment at the same time. I will support the future 2016 fuel cells car research, but believe biodiesel will be the logical fuel for trucks, locomotives, and ships ... and a few 'radicals' running BD in their cars!
Most people I talk to wonder why they haven't heard more about it.
- As for the 'few' negatives, Biodiesel will have a uphill political climb in combating large oil companies death grip on fossil fuels, its distribution and retail control. Production/useage will have to rise for the price to become cost effective in the short term and the increase in biodiesel NOx emmissions output needs to be improved. I contend that standards need to be enforced to gain engine manufacture support as well as creating a trouble free fuel in all climates. None of these are insurmountable problems.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania residents José and Arlette get their biodiesel from Export Fuel in Delmont, PA. They drive a 2002 VW New Beetle TDI that has been sipping biodiesel since December of 2001.
How they like it: Can't possibly feel better about it, we love the bean juice! We still very much enjoy walking and taking public transport, but it's great not to have to depend on petroleum when we choose to drive.
What they feel are the key benefits and detractions: Key benefit: We get to tell our (future) grandchildren and students (we're both teachers), that you can overcome petroleum addiction. Nothing is worth more than a clear conscience.
Key Detraction: None really. Availability is still an inconvenience, eased by the fact that BD is safe to store anywhere in any amount.
Rumford, Rhode Island resident Geoff gets his biodiesel from REC Fuel in Providence, RI. He drives a VW Golf GL TDI 1999.5 that has been sipping biodiesel since 2001.
When he started using it: I first used it on a trip to Maine (Summer 2001). I stopped at Solar Market and filled up the tank and my extra cans. Then there was the sporatic trip to Manchester, Michigan to fill up at the B20 pump at G.E. Wacker. At the 2002 TDI fest I started burning the bean every tank in some % or another. Sometime in the fall of 2002, Coyne Oil started selling B100 at retail, and since then i've never had less than B15 in the tank. Mostly somewhere between B25 and B40. Even through the Michigan Winter, Power Service BioDiesel Anti-gel REALLY works, not a single problem with gelling or mixing at the pump with Amoco Premier Diesel Fuel.
How they like it: I love it. Car has performed flawlessly. I put on 40,000 miles a year on the car.
What you feel are the key benefits and detractions: First Benefits, supporting farmers rather than foreign oil, using plant/solar power (as a botanist that is particularly important), and reducing the emissions. The benefits are quite significant. The only detractions are price and availibility, but both are not insurmountable obstacles and with increasing exposure we can hope those two become more favorable.
Not to advertize but this article from the Lansing State Journal appeared on the AP press wire and nearly all of the Michigan papers picked it up and ran it.
Knoxville, Tennessee resident Jonathan gets his biodiesel from a number of stations in the Knox/Blount County area, but mostly fills with B100 at the Blount Farmers Co-op in Maryville. He drives a 2001 Dodge Ram 2500, the "Biodiesel Brigadier," that has been gurgling everything from B20 to B100 since November 2004 (roughly 50,000 miles).
How he likes it: I just feel better knowing I'm using a renewable fuel. Runs smoother, no change in fuel economy (because my right foot's full of mercury), no problems other than having to replace an injection pump about 10,000 miles ago. Not sure, but think the zinc ring in the Bosch injector (Cummins, of course) got eaten!
What he feels are the key benefits and detractions: I run a nonprofit that promotes biofuels use and regularly start my truck to let school kids do some "tailpipe sniffin!" Smell difference with B100 is a world apart, really don't like the smell of B20 anymore. For me, it boils down to doing the right thing, and that means getting off petroleum as much as possible.
Vashon Island, Washington resident Larry gets his biodiesel from Dr Dan's Alternative fuelwerks in Seattle. He drives a 1996 VW Transporter that has been sipping biodiesel since October of 2002.
How he likes it: Both engines run noticeably better with B100 than petro-diesel. Key benefit in VW is smoother acceleration, no complaints about "stinky" diesel. Key benefit in boat is no smell of diesel, exhaust or raw fuel which used to permeate boat.
What he feels are the key benefits and detractions: I wonder about the stability of biod if I leave it in the tank unused for long periods in the boat??
Vashon Island, Washington resident Larry gets his biodiesel from Dr Dan's Alternative fuelwerks in Seattle. He drives a 2000 Isuzu Sailboat engine that has been sipping biodiesel since June of 2002.
How he likes it: Both engines run noticeably better with B100 than petro-diesel. Key benefit in VW is smoother acceleration, no complaints about "stinky" diesel. Key benefit in boat is no smell of diesel, exhaust or raw fuel which used to permeate boat.
What he feels are the key benefits and detractions: I wonder about the stability of biod if I leave it in the tank unused for long periods in the boat??
Olympia, Washington resident Rupert gets his biodiesel from Soundbiodiesel in Port Townsend, West Bay Marina in Olympia and Dr. Dan's alternative Fuel Werks in Seattle.. He drives a 2002 VW Jetta Wagon that has been sipping biodiesel since August of 2002.
How he likes it: A LOT!
What he feels are the key benefits and detractions: The part that always puts a smile on my face is how the plants that are used to MAKE biodiesel BREATHE the carbon dioxide that is emitted when you USE the fuel. So you close the loop! I am getting the same performance and the same mileage as I did on Petro-diesel.
The only downside is that not enough people know about it, which I personally am trying my best to do something about (see picture). Once word spreads and demand increases we will see more production and better prices. I would DEFINETELY like to see more effective crops used, Canola, mustard seed, rapeseed, etc. We could take a leaf out of Frances book on the matter.
