More and more businesses are asking about the difference between diesel and biodiesel. After all, the fuel you choose for your diesel operations directly affects your performance, costs, and long-term operations. With alternative fuel options growing in popularity, it’s essential to understand how conventional diesel compares to renewable fuels like biodiesel before making a decision for your fleet or diesel-reliant business.
Choosing the right fuel for your operation comes with a lot of considerations. But we’re here to help you make the best decision for your business — we’ll compare biodiesel fuel vs diesel fuel across five key areas: environmental impact, performance, compatibility, cost, and availability.
What Is the Difference Between Diesel and Biodiesel?
Traditional diesel, also known as conventional diesel or regular diesel, is a petroleum-based product refined from crude oil. It’s been the standard fuel for diesel engines for decades, powering everything from semi-trucks and construction equipment to farm machinery and backup generators. And while effective, its nature as a fossil fuel means it’s not exactly renewable. Biodiesel, on the other hand, is an alternative fuel made from renewable resources like soybean oil, used cooking oils, vegetable oils, or animal fats.
Make no mistake, though, producing biodiesel isn’t as simple as simply mixing some used oil and gasoline — the process is much more scientific. We won’t get too far into the weeds here, but here’s the gist: biodiesel is formed through transesterification, a process that uses a catalyst to react large quantities of fats or oils with relatively small quantities of short-chain alcohol (typically methanol) to create a fuel that is compatible with regular diesel engines and rivals traditional diesel’s performance. While 100% biodiesel isn’t perfect (we’ll touch more on this later), it’s often blended with conventional diesel to create a product that is not only more environmentally friendly but also efficient and easy to use.
Biodiesel Pros and Cons
We’ll cover each of these pros and cons in more depth, but here’s the general overview of what makes biodiesel different from conventional diesel:
Pros:
- It’s a renewable energy source
- It has a lower environmental impact
- It reduces lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions
- It may enhance lubrication in diesel engines
- It can typically be used in most diesel vehicles with minimal (or no) modifications
Cons:
- It may be slightly less efficient than traditional diesel
- Cold weather can pose performance challenges in biodiesel-heavy fuel blends
- Maintenance and fuel storage can require more attention to detail
- Biodiesel availability may be limited without a wholesale supplier
Environmental Impact
Conventional diesel is a petroleum product, and burning it results in higher greenhouse emissions, particulate matter, and air pollution when compared to biodiesel. For businesses committed to sustainability or those that operate under strict emission regulations, traditional diesel can come with significant drawbacks.
Biodiesel, on the other hand, has a much lower carbon footprint across its entire lifecycle. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the emissions of 100% biodiesel are 74% lower than those of traditional, petroleum-based diesel. Additionally, transesterification (the chemical process that creates biodiesel) produces glycerine as a byproduct, which is commonly used in pharmaceutical or cosmetic products. So, objective waste isn’t just being turned into a single, usable product, but two — it’s a true recycling win-win.
Performance
Reducing your carbon footprint is an admirable goal, but as a diesel equipment owner, performance is of the utmost priority. Conventional diesel has the advantage here — it’s been around for almost a century, is predictable under heavy workloads, and is high-energy, making it perfect for construction, agricultural, or long-haul operations. It’s hard to beat the peace of mind you get from the consistency of a tried-and-true diesel fuel.
Biodiesel, in contrast, may provide slightly less energy per gallon (depending on blend) than petroleum-based diesel. However, the difference is typically small. While blends higher in biodiesel may see a small reduction in fuel economy or power, lower concentration blends like B5–B20 (5% and 20% biodiesel, respectively) can strike the perfect balance between sustainability and performance. With blends like these, the difference in performance is usually minimal and not disruptive to daily operations.
Cold weather can also pose problems for high-concentration biodiesels. Because cold temperatures can cause biodiesel to gel, cold starts may be more difficult with biodiesel than with a conventional diesel fuel. However, proper blending and temperature-controlled storage can mitigate or entirely prevent this issue and provide ideal performance year-round.
Compatibility
You want to boost sustainability, but you don’t want to do it at the expense of pricey modifications to equipment. The good news is that most modern diesel engines are made to run on blends up to B20 (20% biodiesel) without modification. Many manufacturers even encourage the use of low-level blends like B5 because of the added lubricity benefits. For older engines or equipment that sits idle for long periods, extra attention to storage and filter maintenance may be needed, since biodiesel can attract water and degrade more quickly than conventional diesel.
Of course, conventional diesel remains the most universally compatible option. Every commercially produced diesel vehicle, from farm tractors to long-haul rigs, is designed to run on it without issue. For businesses that can’t afford even minor disruptions, this reliability may tip the scales toward traditional diesel. But if you’re trying to balance compatibility and sustainability, biodiesel blends may provide a practical middle ground that doesn’t require significant upgrades to storage or equipment.
Cost
Fuel budgets are a critical part of any operation, and the cost difference between diesel, biodiesel, and renewable diesel isn’t always straightforward. Petroleum diesel prices rise and fall with the global crude oil market, which makes them familiar but sometimes unpredictable. Biodiesel costs depend more on the feedstocks used — whether soybean oil, animal fats, or recycled cooking oils — as well as any renewable energy credits and government incentives that can offset production expenses. Ultimately, the cost of both types of diesel fluctuates, but traditional diesel is typically cheaper overall.
Availability and Where to Buy Biodiesel Fuel
When it comes to choosing between conventional diesel and biodiesel, availability is often the deciding factor. In the United States, diesel fuel is everywhere — every truck stop, farm supply depot, and most wholesale distributors carry it. Biodiesel, however, can be a bit harder to find. While production has expanded in recent years, it’s still not as widely available at retail pumps, especially in rural areas where many fleets and agricultural operations are based.
For businesses that depend on a steady, uninterrupted fuel supply, wholesale fuel distribution becomes essential. Instead of relying on the nearest station, a wholesale partner can deliver bulk loads directly to your site. This means you can run the blend you want — whether fully conventional, B5, B10, or B20 — with confidence that quality is consistent and supply is plenty.
Looking for Quality Wholesale Fuel? Venture Fuels Has What You Need
Ultimately, both diesel and biodiesel offer advantages depending on your operation, but consistency and support are key to your business’s success. At Venture Fuels, we’ve built our reputation on helping clients make the transition to their chosen fuel type smoothly. We don’t just provide fuel, but support, too. So, if you’re looking for consistent quality, dependable delivery, and expert guidance, look no further. Venture Fuels supplies both fuel types in bulk with the reliable delivery and support your business needs. Contact Venture Fuels today for expert fuel planning and premium supply options.