Product Description
From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank is the first and only book that details all aspects of running diesel engines on vegetable oil. Includes information on biodiesel, the diesel fuel substitute made from new or used vegetable as well as information on running any diesel engine on straight vegetable oil (SVO). This book is packed with history, information, instructions, photos, diagrams and resources. If you want to stop supporting Mid-East Petroleum oil, you must get this book.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 22 reviews)

Unless you're already a pro . . .

This book is excellent in some ways. The most useful section details the basics of biodiesel home brewing, transesterification, titration, testing, building the processor (pp. 59-98). The bulk of the book (pp. 5-58) concerns preliminaries - a history and (useful) description of the functioning of diesel engines, a section on growing one's own fuel, renewable energy. Then, the author shifts gears and discusses the SVO (greasecar or 'straight vegetable oil' approach) (pp. 99 -116). There are numerous disadvantages to SVO which are not discussed. The book closes out with a generalized section on troubleshooting (pp. 117-132). Then, a series of more or less useful appendices (pp. 139-62). All in all, the book is worth buying with lots of useful info.
Now - the caveat. Unless you have advanced pipefitting, plumbing, mechanical, and chemist skills - by all means - get 'hands on' instruction. Building and operating a biodiesel processor is not a book-learned skill - it requires the combination of trade-skills as listed. Methanol - one of the key components in the mixture is a highly flammable and dangerous fluid. Lye (POH) - another component can seriously burn, blind, or even kill you and must be handled with the utmost care. You must be trained in this. Glyceron, the by-product, is the glyceron which is found in 'nitro-glyceron' - go figure. Plus, even if you don't care much about yourself, there's a lot that can mess up your vehicle if you don't get it right. And I know you care about your vehicle, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this far.
There are a number of key issues not discussed in the book. The biodiesel community breaks down into two basic camps: 1) SOV (straight veg oil users - where the transesterfication process takes place within the vehicle) - a subspecies is the group that uses a 'solvent thinner' to achieve this process (mainly of historical interest) and 2) the home-brewers (those who build and operate biodiesel processors). My advice is to save the money you would spend on this book and access a class taught by a member of this community - namely, 'girl Mark', Maria Alovert. She is not only expert at making biodiesel (including disposal or reapplication of by-product) but she teaches workshops throughout the U.S. on a continuous basis. She may be accessed by searching on the machine you are operating now. 'Girl Mark' also produces excellent, precise written materials which deal with crucial subjects like the advantages of Potasium Hydroxide (KOH) over Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) for the entire process which Tickell's book does not. Brewing Bio is a complex - yet not undoable process. You want the best - for you and your vehicle.
May 29, 2008

Safety issues

I purchased this book before starting a biodiesel project with a local community development group. After researching, designing, building, and operating a biodiesel processor for myself, I would not recommend this book. It promotes open reaction tanks, which would expose the user to toxic methanol fumes, and possibly splashing methodixe- a corrosive, flammable chemical used in making biodiesel. It also says that washing biodiesel is unnecessary, which could cause engine damage. When researching biodiesel, please be careful- use only closed methanol and mixing tanks (wash tanks aren't as big of a concern), and make sure to learn all about the safety aspects of the titration chemicals and the storage of methanol. Here's to happy, safe, "brewing"!
December 26, 2007

good introduction

The book is a good introduction to alternative fuels but for the svo conversion I found was not complete enough and doesn't have enough pictures and the diagrams are badly made. For the rest: recipes for biodiesel, and other it's good but still not much details. But anyway it's a must for anyone interested in the subject, being the only book available, but before doing anything ask around for more precise and recent advance in this technology.
July 05, 2007

From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank: The Complete Guide to Using Vegetable Oil as an Alternative Fuel

Very helpful but quite thechnical...

November 10, 2006

Ecellent bio-diesel primer

This book is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in learning the basics of the renewable fuel bio-diesel.

Mr. Tickell does an excellent job in presenting the argument as to why, from an economic and envrionmental standpoint, our government should invest in renewable fuels. Job creation, reduced trade deficit, and the environment to name a few.

The most astounding bit of information I gleaned from this book is that the most promising future of bio-diesel lies in algea.

This book is worth the investment.
November 09, 2006

SIMILAR PRODUCTS

Biodiesel Basics and Beyond: A Comprehensive Guide to Production and Use for the Home and Farm
by William H. Kemp

Biodiesel: Growing A New Energy Economy
by Greg Pahl

How to make biodiesel
by Dan, M Carter, Jon Halle

Do It Yourself Guide to Biodiesel: Your Alternative Fuel Solution for Saving Money, Reducing Oil Dependency, and Helping the Planet
by Guy Purcella

Forget the Gas Pumps--Make Your Own Fuel
by Jim Wortham