My car smells like french fries, what does yours smell like?

Of course, I'm independently hardcore -- which means that I'll bike through rain. No, I'll bike through ridiculous downpours of death. I will arrive to my destination soaking wet, shake off like a dog that just finished paddling through a lake, and change my clothes, so that I can function again. However, I must say, not everyone appreciates receiving me this way. Furthermore, I'm a musician -- how do I go on tour via bike!?

What do we do then? Well, we drive.

Every time I load up a vehicle to go to a show, I wonder how many people have gotten into their car that day. How many people got into their car to make deliveries for their business? How many got in their car to travel accross country? How many went back to their homes in the suburbs where the Metra doesn't stop? How many?

Almost two years ago, someone mentioned that a friend of theirs was driving a car on veggie oil. A first, I didn't believe her and I promptly challenged this notion as I normally do. I whipped out my laptop that night and started a most dedicated google search. My goal? To prove that this could not be done!

But sure enough, eight web pages later and two articles about Willie Nelson, and I was instead now salivating at the idea of a car that made me hungry every time I drove, because I used grease that previously had fried onion rings. Through further research I found out that not only is this possible, the original diesel engine's were built to run on peanut oil -- and they haven't changed much since. The big difference is that the hoses are very tiny, and since petroleum fuel combusts (sets to fire) at a much lower temperature, the system is adjusted for this. So you just have to chemically or physically heat up veggie oil before it goes into the engine, and you're good to go.

The only thing you have to do to turn any diesel car into a green car is choose the cleaner fuel option. If you don't understand or don't want to make any changes to your car, then just roll up to a bio-diesel pump or become a part of the northern Illinois biodiesel Co-Op and get your fuel that way. If you're willing to take the big plunge, then go to greasecar.com look up your model car and buy a conversion kit. Then all you have to do is become good friends with  your nearby restaurants and take thier fuel, lightly filter it and dump it in  your car -- free fuel.

Take it from me, I've gone the distance. I purchased a 1985 Mercedes 300D to test all of this out. I saved more money in one year of owning the car and running it on cleaner fuel then I would have if someone had given me a gas car that was  efficient in miles per gallon.

I named my car 'biomoo' -- the plan was to add black spots to the white Mercedes. And now that I've sold her, I miss her much.

But soon there will be another day because we will have a newer, bigger, more tour appropriate diesel vehicle -- and we'll go on veggie-powered tours. I can't wait.

If you're interested in learning more. I am certainly happy to help. Email me at biomoo@gmail.com, just make sure your subject reads "teach me biodiesel."  If you're interested in keeping up with other things Mojdeh, check out www.lethalpoetry.com.

Mojdeh Stoakley
Mojdeh is an Afro-Persian powerhouse of delight! More