Drive a diesel? 3 Reasons to Fuel Up with Biodiesel Instead

Do you drive a diesel-powered vehicle? Did you know that diesel doesn’t burn as clean as normal gasoline?

While diesel fuel is made from crude oil which is often imported to the U.S. or drilled off-shore, biodiesel is a great renewable alternative made from soybeans, animal fat and other vegetable oils. As the national leader in soybean production, Illinois farmers grow a renewable alternative efficiently and sustainably.

At this point, you might be wondering if you can use biodiesel in your diesel-powered vehicle. The answer is yes! This powerhouse fuel can be used in any diesel engine without modifications. And, you can feel good about it too.

Better for engines

Unlike gas or diesel, biodiesel offers engine cleaning properties. Due to its superior lubricity, biodiesel reduces engine wear and contains higher cetane rating (similar to octane rating for gasoline) for enhanced power.

This cleaner burning fuel is also considered an all-weather fuel. So long are the days of “gelling up” in sub-zero temperatures. Since 2003, vehicles fueled with biodiesel have logged billions of problem-free miles in sub-zero Illinois weather.

Better for economies

Illinois is one of the largest biodiesel-producing states and supports nearly 2,000 jobs in all sectors of the Illinois economy. Made from readily available, renewable resources, biodiesel reduces U.S. dependence on foreign oil. Additionally, soybean oil is a natural byproduct when processing soybeans into soybean meal and soy protein, so biodiesel production doesn’t take away from food production.

Better for the environment

Compared with regular diesel fuel, biodiesel has significantly fewer emissions of particulate matter and other harmful pollutants. In fact, biodiesel is labeled a Clean Air Choice^® by the American Lung Association. Calculations show that using biodiesel can reduce a community’s overall health costs by reducing risk of asthma and other respiratory diseases.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated biodiesel an advanced biofuel. Biodiesel made with soybean oil can help reduce greenhouse gases by up to 86 percent, compared to regular diesel. And, for every unit of energy used to produce biodiesel, it generates 5.54 units of renewable energy.

Many suppliers are starting to use biodiesel to transport products across the county, leaving a smaller environmental impact in their path.

Better for engines. Better for economies. Better for the environment. Biodiesel is a powerful, clean-burning renewable fuel produced from renewable resources. We’ll call that a win-win for Illinois.

Learn more about biodiesel here: https://www.ilsoy.org/article/about-biodiesel

To find a biodiesel retailer near you, visit Biodiesel.org.