Patrick’s Rants

In a strange concoction of gasoline, kerosene, and “magical powders” a pallet of cooking oil is turned into a diesel substitute. It’s not one of the formulas¹ that I have read, but it’s a non-heat process that claims a $0.42 cost. The resulting “bio” - in quotes due to the use of gasoline and kerosene - has been tested in one bus so far. The result is that the bus smells like cooking oil. The driver, Gary (erm… last name escapes me at the moment), reports no adverse effects on driving and keeps his fingers crossed that the resulting fumes will be gentler on his special needs riders.

In theory, the Flagstaff Unified School District will be moving to a fully recycled product (when one excludes the gasoline and kerosene) collecting waste oil from local businesses. Despite the use of refined petroleum products in the process this is a move in the right direction - independence from foreign oil sources and serious cost savings.

1 - http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_mike.html
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_aleks.html
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_aleksnew.html