Frequently Asked Questions

What is Biodiesel?
What is Biodiesel made from?
Is Biodiesel good for my engine?
What is the environmental impact of using Biodiesel?
What byproducts are produced?
How is Biodiesel made?
How long does it take to make a batch?
How much does one gallon cost to make with your equipment?
Are there any dangers?
Where do I get the equipment needed to make Biodiesel?
Where do I get the supplies I need for the process?
Where do I get the oil to make my Biodiesel from?
Will any restaurant oil do?
How do I place an order?
How long does it take for delivery
What if I want something special?
What payment methods can I use?


What is Biodiesel?
Biodiesel is the Ester (Methyl or Ethyl) created when Vegetable oil is mixed with an alcohol (usually Methanol) in the presence of a catalyst (usually Sodium Hydroxide) and allowed to separate and settle out.

What is Biodiesel made from?
Biodiesel can be made from almost any vegetable oil. All Vegetable oils have different properties that make it either a good source for Biodiesel or not. You can make Biodiesel out of fresh oil or used oil from restaurants.

Is Biodiesel good for my engine?
Yes. It's a better lubricator than petro-diesel and tends to be a better cleaning agent for your fuel system. It also has a higher Cetane rating, which means it's a better fuel. Biodiesel is not compatible with ordinary rubber. If your fuel system has rubber fittings they can be replaced with Viton to counter this, However, most modern Diesel engines do not use rubber fittings anymore.

What is the environmental impact of using Biodiesel?
Biodiesel is non toxic (you could drink it!), 100 times more biodegradable than petro-diesel, is cleaner burning, does not contribute additional Co2 to the atmosphere when burned, less explosive and less dangerous in a spill or accident, and smells like a deep fryer when it burns instead of the nasty diesel smell.

What byproducts are produced?
The only byproduct is called Glycerol, a mixture of Glycerin, impurities and any remaining alcohol and catalyst. The alcohol evaporates off naturally over time and the catalyst can be wasted out. The glycerin can be used as a good degreaser and hand soap. It can also be further processed into pure glycerin used in the cosmetic industry and others.

How is Biodiesel made?
It's a very simple process. Vegetable oil is placed in a reaction vessel where an alcohol and a catalyst is mixed into it. After mixing for a period of time, the mixture is allowed to settle. The mixture will separate and form two distinct layers. The top layer is Biodiesel and the bottom layer is the glycerol. After sufficient time has passed to allow complete separation, the glycerol is drained out and the remaining Biodiesel is washed to remove excess catalyst and other impurities before finally being filtered for use.

How long does it take to make a batch?
Our Processors are designed to make one batch, from start to finish in a matter of 6-8 hours. In general, consider it one batch in one day.

How much does one gallon cost to make with your equipment?
In most cases you can make top quality biodiesel for US $0.50 to US $0.90 per gallon, all manufacturing costs factored in.

Are there any dangers?
Yes. As with any chemical process, there are some dangers. If Methanol is used, exposure to it can cause blindness and eventually death. The catalyst is highly caustic and will cause severe burns. But if you follow the precautions, and you use quality constructed equipment, you should never come in contact with these chemicals.

Where do I get the equipment to make Biodiesel?
Until now, you had to make your own processor. Now you can buy processors. If you are handy with power and hand tools and understand the principals involved, you can build your own quite easily. If you don't have the "know how" or the time to build one of your own, you can now pick from a variety of models or have us custom build one for you. Just because you can't build one doesn't mean you can't make and use Biodiesel. Any of our models will barely add $0.10/gal to the cost of your Biodiesel

Where do I get the supplies I need for the process?
Supplies are not difficult to get. Methanol can be purchased from most automobile race shops, educational or lab supply houses. The catalyst (Sodium Hydroxide) is available in quantity from the larger janitorial and cleaning supply houses. For small quantities, Heet or Drigas brand fuel line antifreeze is pure Methanol and Red Devil drain cleaner (Lye) is Sodium Hydroxide.

Where do I get the oil to make my Biodiesel from?
Biodiesel can be made from fresh oil or used restaurant oil. Most fast food restaurants will be willing to give you all you need providing you explain what you are doing. Most restaurant managers will be interested and curious. Be nice and ask nicely.

Will any restaurant oil do?
Good question! The best oil to use is oil that has not been used to death. You should make test batches of any oil you wish to convert to see the conversion rate for that particular oil. Once you find one that can supply you with good used oil that is not overly used, you should be able to make good quality Biodiesel effortlessly and reliably.

How do I place an order?
Some items you may buy online using our Paypal service. Items available online have a "buy now" button or a "by mail" button. Other items can be ordered via email.

How long does it take for delivery?
At the present time, it takes a minimum of 30 days before your order will be ready to ship. We build them on demand.

What if I want something special?
If you have a special request, use the email address to make your request. We will work hard to fulfill your request if possible.

What payment methods can I use?
All payment must be in US Funds.
PayPal - We prefer you use the online purchasing method first. It only requires you to sign up for a Paypal account (which is FREE!). This is a safe and secure method of payment. You don't even have to have a credit card to use Paypal, you may have your Paypal account tied to a checking or savings account or even use a check.

Certified Check/Money Order - If you really don't want to do that you may communicate this to us and use money order (international is fine too) or certified check. Make all payments to the order of DarkStar VI.

International Wire - For our international friends, wire transfers can be arranged upon request.