Pros and Cons of Biofuel

[marky1983]

Just been having a conversation with a customer and he was saying he is making his own biofuel and running his trucks on it. He says he is making massive savings as he has is getting old cooking oil for free in the masses so he is not in short supply. This got me thinking how i could get my own supply and make my own and run my car on it.
Is anyone in the pistonheads massive making there own or running there p and j on the stuff.
Obviously it is a cheaper option to diesel but what are the effects on the engine and what extra servicing would be involved (ie how often to change filters).
Also the guy said that it is ok on older cars but newer cars dont run as well. Im told my 2000 320d 3 series would be fine but anything 2005 onwards is a bit hit and miss.
What are peoples opinions on this

[lost in espace]

http://www.vegetableoildiesel.co.uk/forum/index.ph...

[zaphod42]

It's viable but beware the gods of HMRC as the punishments are quite harsh and they do take an interest.

Complex area; the forum above is a good guide.

[marky1983]

From what i have read if you make your own for own purposes there is no problems but if you make it to sell it then you have to declare. There is forms to fill in even if you make it yourself but there is nothing they can get you on.

[eltax91]

zaphod42 said:

It's viable but beware the gods of HMRC as the punishments are quite harsh and they do take an interest.

Complex area; the forum above is a good guide.

You get up to 2500 litres per year, tax free, to run "alternative" fuels

[cpas]

eltax91 said:

zaphod42 said:

It's viable but beware the gods of HMRC as the punishments are quite harsh and they do take an interest.

Complex area; the forum above is a good guide.

You get up to 2500 litres per year, tax free, to run "alternative" fuels

As above. It was costing the Revenue more in chasing people up who only use a small amount so the law was changed a few years ago to allow making and using 2500l of your own fuel. I'm not sure if you are allowed to use anything other than vegetable oil though (ie you probably won't get away with using heating oil).