Biodiesel Anniversary

Today we celebrate one year of using a biodiesel blend in the tractor and backhoe, and to remark how happy we are with it.

We are using a 10% blend of biodiesel with 90% low-sulfur petroleum diesel, sold as B10. (Pure biodiesel is B100.)

Biodiesel is a manufactured product—not raw vegetable oil—that conforms to the ASTM standard D6751. It can be used in mixes up to 20% with no modification to the diesel vehicle. Higher percentages may require modification of fuel lines in some cases and special handling and storage.

Biodiesel is an ideal in combination with low-sulfur petroleum diesel since it adds back the lubrication qualities low-sulfur petroleum diesel lacks.

It also burns cleaner, reduces emissions, and is a domestic, renewable product. Our experience—admittedly subjective—is that the tractor’s exhaust smells less. I primarily notice it when I smell others’ tractors or diesel equipment in comparison. And Sean says that the engine oil has stayed clean longer. We had no trouble with it gelling during the winter, even though our tank is above ground outdoors.

“The fossil fuel energy required to produce biodiesel from soybean oil is only a fraction (31%) of the energy contained in one gallon of the fuel” (U.S. Department of Energy, 2004 Biodiesel Handling and Use Guidelines). This includes the farm equipment, processing, and transportation of the product.

The Department of Energy calls biodiesel blends a “drop-in technology” that requires no changes to infrastructure or diesel engines. It could be used in home heating systems, and where it is being sold for over-the-road use, it could power diesel trucks and cars. I wish I could just pull up to the gas station in our diesel VW and fill it up with B10 or B20. But it is not widely available locally.

Check out the biodiesel website for more information.