vancouver biodiesel???

[joedelica]

I want to start running B20 bio and was referred to the Vancouver Biodiesel Co-op, but there website is down. Does anyone in North Van or Van have an alternative? And do you need to change the lines on the Deli?

Cheers,

Joe

[vanjuggler]

Autogas Propane sells biodiesel at most (all?) of their locations now. I just filled up with b20 at their Main and 3rd location. They also sell bio at a location out in burnaby along the new skytrain line (not sure the exact location). And I often fill up at their nordel ct location (south side of the alex fraser bridge), where they have b5, b20 and b40. I always get b40. They have another location at Byrne road and marine drive in south burnaby. - http://www.autogaspropane.com/mainland.htm

I've never gone the the biodiesel co-op, and I don't have a good impression of them (possibly for no real good reasons).

The other alternative is hooking up with the Whole Energy Canada guys (http://wholeenergy.ca/) - they have B100, and live in North Van, but have no official fill-up station there.

[joedelica]

Vanjuggler,

Thank you, and may I ask how long you have been running bio; and if you have done any mods to accommodate bio?
Lastly, do you notice any difference between the B40 and B20.

Cheers,

Joe

[jeremy]

I'm in on the same question? Why the B40? I've talked to the Whole Energy Guys but they're do mostly private industry fill ups. They WERE looking for a meeting place to do regular public fill ups though. You've had good results from the Main and 3rd location? Did you have to change over your fuel lines and gaskets in the fuel pump? I live right around the corner from this Main and 3rd location and I'd like to switch to Biodiesel as soon as I know that it won't eat up my lines. Good posts.

[coaxial]

from the whole energy site

Presently Whole Energy fuel is available for retail sale at the following locations:


North Vancouver

B100 sales in North Vancouver have been suspended until further notice. Questions should be directed via e-mail to Andrew Saikaley

Surrey

In Surrey B15 is available at Super Gas, 10852 120th Street near Old Yale Rd.

[vanjuggler]

Biodiesel is not going to instantly eat up your lines. It'll slowly eat them up. :) I wouldn't think twice about throwing b20 or b40 into your tank, but if you start running it consistently all the time, then look to switch your rubber parts to synthetic after a few months. As I said, I ran bio about 1/3rd of the time (sometimes b20, sometimes tanks of b100) for ~8-10 months before switching.

YMMV, IANAL, ...

My suggestion is to throw a tank of b20 in there, and then go notice the nicer smelling fumes :).

[vanjuggler]

I know Andrew from Whole Energy pretty well.

They import virgin canola up from Whole Energy USA, and they have a main location out in Port Kells. They have a tanker that they use to do wheel-to-wheel distribution of bio/dino blends for specific customers. ( A white deli *just* drove past my window !)

Andrew used to sell bio in the alley behind a bike shop in north van, but there just wasn't the demand yet to make it worth his while. They would love to have some kind of depot for b100 in town, but all the gas stations are owned by Big Oil, there aren't any indy stations left (except for auto-gas propane).

If I had a house, I'd get a 1000L tidy tank, and share access with a few bio-friends. I'm sure whole energy would love to come by and fill it up whenever it was empty. Anyone with a house in the vancouver area want to do something like this?

[delicat]

I have a house in Burnaby, tempting...

[Adam]

I have two 1000L tanks.....a bit of a commute though.

[delicat]

Adam,

What are the dimensions on those tanks? It's hard to visualize 1000L...

Thanks,
David

[Sailing Deli]

1000 L = 1 Cubic Meter

[Adam]

Adam, What are the dimensions on those tanks? It's hard to visualize 1000L...

They are approximately 4' high by 4' long, by 3.25' wide. These two will fit side by side in the 8'by9' shed.....once I get the foundation level. Not as big as I expected considering they will hold 5 barrels worth of oil each.

[delicat]

Where do we get those things? I have plenty of room for a few of them (just don't tell my wife please)...

[vanjuggler]

I really like the idea of these 1000L totes for a few reasons:

* diesel is getting really expensive
* I like supporting biodiesel with my 'dollar vote', despite some of the current problems with biodiesel production
* I'd rather give money to a local company than to exxon or chevron
* I like the idea of small communities of people becoming more self reliant

Back before the winter, Whole Energy was selling bio for $1.05 retail, and their wholesale cost was lower. I imagine that their prices have risen slightly as diesel has gone up, but I still think buying bulk bio from them would be much cheaper (10-20 cents) than retail diesel.

I'm totally interested in trying out a mini "co-op" type idea, but I don't have the space for it. I've talked with Andrew about how this kind of thing could work - having many small neighborhood pumps. B/c the fuel isn't hazardous, I don't think there is much to worry about - it's kind like buying/storing/selling wiper fluid. The Whole Energy guys regularly deliver all around here, so you wouldn't likely even need to go pick up - they could deliver.

There are obviously some details to work out - eg: tracking how much fuel people take, paying for the fuel, ... but I think something like this can work. At the very least it would be fun trying. :)

If there wasn't enough interest from the delica community, perhaps we could team up with other diesel vehicle clubs too... :) Time for a Vancouver Biodiesel club???? :)

[EricN]

Thinking about this all night and day since our PM. I already have a pump/filter setup and my storage tank idea can easily be upsized. All that would be needed is a fuel counter ($70 I think at Princess auto) and then decide if we either get it all delivered at once then everyone comes and pumps out their own "supply", saving everyone having to come here everytime they need fuel, or have it all pumped into my trailer setup (lots of 45 gallon drums) and depending on locations I just drop it off.