TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Components: The apparatus further comprised of: pipes in the bottom of the preparation tank constituting a liquid to liquid heat exchanger to warm the feedstock using retained heat in the residuals; a second set of pipes in the bottom of the preparation tank constituting a second liquid to liquid heat exchanger to warm the feedstock using retained heat in the finished fuel oil with piping from the cracking kettle and back to the fuel oil storage tank; motor driven prattles within the preparation tank to stir/mix the warmed feedstock to avoid separation of hydrocarbons; and high temperature pumps having seals and bearings cooled with heat transfer oil, the latter cooled with a condenser to disburse heat with air cooling. Preferred Method: The oxidizer combines technologies of incineration and oxidization which simultaneously produces sufficient heat to continuously power the entire apparatus, including enough heat to generate electrical power to operate the apparatus, while at the same time eliminate odor pollution by complete oxidation/incineration of light ends. The method of using recycled heat and reducing the fuel consumption of the three stage heating process in which the first stage is preheating the feedstock, the second stage is heating the feedstock from 125-325 degrees F driving off from the feedstock water in the form of steam and light ends in a first hot air heat exchanger using hot air from an oxidizer/incinerator, channeling the steam to the atmosphere through a stack; channeling the light ends to the oxidizer, using the light ends as fuel to generate process heat in the oxidizer/incinerator, while the third stage is heating the feedstock less water and light ends to 650-690 degrees F in a second hot air heat exchanger which also uses hot air from the oxidizer/incinerator; and feeding the heated feed stock to a cracking kettle and a distillation tower. In the method, touch screen computer and software are interactive with an apparatus operator and using subroutines to provide real time data to various parts of the program that are adjusting in real time to meet desired production and yield levels. The software is using a large number of parameters all at once in real time making small adjustments continuously so that everything remains within set ranges which are determined by specifications of each fuel is produced in consideration of each fuel's distillation curve. The software is automated for: (a) maximizing uptime by managing the pumps and motors servicing the main feedstock and prep tank, monitoring levels in these tanks ensuring they remain at specified levels drawing from sources of feedstock; (b) activating, monitoring and managing the motor at the top of the prep tank that stirs contents of the tank; (c) monitoring and controlling adjustments required to maintain temperature of the feedstock as it moves through the apparatus including (i) when entering to the feedstock tank and when leaving it (ii) when entering the prep tank and when leaving it, (iii) when entering the first hot air heat exchanger, within that heat exchanger, and when leaving it, and (iv) when entering the second hot air heat exchanger, within that heat exchanger, and when leaving it; (d) monitoring and controlling the flow and thus the residence time the feedstock remains in each of the heat exchangers using controls to the high temperature pumps located on a rack below the heat exchangers; (e) monitoring and controlling a blower and dampers attached to the oxidizer automating the process by which percent of heated air directed into the hot air heat exchangers and the percent of heated air directed up the stack is adjusted to provide necessary heat to reach temperatures required to create maximum yields of finished product streams, temperatures recorded by the software in the heat exchangers providing data necessary for the software to establish damper settings; (f) monitoring and controlling temperature in the cracking kettle; (g) monitoring and controlling the high temperature pumps located on the rack below the heat exchangers to adjust residence time of the unfinished product through each part of the apparatus; (h) monitoring each of fifteen sensors spread evenly throughout the distillation tower providing temperature data to the software that is used by the software for controlling the distillation curve to maximize yield of diesel or biodiesel fuel leaving the top of the tower and entering the condenser; (i) monitoring and controlling fans in the condenser to maximize speed at which the diesel entering the condenser at 650 degrees F can be condensed from gas to a liquid that leaves the condenser at 350 degrees F; (j) controlling pump flow of the diesel from the condenser to the filter/chiller by monitoring temperatures in the filter/chiller to ensure residence time necessary to maximize extraction of any remaining particulates or matter that is undesirable such as sulfur; (k) if any functions within the apparatus fail to respond within tolerances to controls and commands from the software, alarms notifying that direct operator intervention is required such as when such alarms may be addressed through manipulation of the software through a keyboard interface; and (l) if catastrophic failure occurs, the software notifying and works in support of an automated fire suppression system to accelerate shut down process.