Biodiesel discussed at Northern forum

The owners of the company making biodiesel being sold locally and the owner of the company selling it at the pump answered questions from diesel technicians and others at Montana State University-Northern following a ceremony celebrating the start of selling the locally made product.

Brett Earl and Logan Fisher, owners of Earl Fisher Biofuels in Chester, and Lary Poulton, owner of Ezzie's Wholesale Inc. that is selling a mix of petroleum diesel and the renewable fuel in Havre, talked about using biodiesel during a forum at at diesel technician training session at Northern.

"This is the chance to ask the guys that make the fuel, and the guys that distribute the fuel, some very detailed and technical questions and the benefits of buying local, how it affects your economy and your environment, " Taylor Lyon, technician at Northern's Bio-Energy Center.

The first question was about the acidity of the biodiesel and if it would affect seals at the pumps, with follow-up questions about how it would affect seals and other parts of engines.

Brett Earl said the main issue is the solvency of biodiesel and how it affects natural rubbers and plastics.

"Biodiesel is a very, very, very good solvent, " he said.

That can affect some materials, softening it and hurting the ability to act as a seal, he said.

Fisher said other materials, like Teflon, will not be harmed. He added that using a 20-percent or lower blend probably should not affect the seals. If a 50-percent to 100-percent blend is used, it could affect the seals, he said.

Earl said that, while the acidity might increase if the biodiesel sits for too long, the acidity level is part of the specifications the fuel is tested for. Fuel approved for sale will not have problems with acidity.

He also said that starting with a low blend and gradually increasing the amount of biodiesel being used in a vehicle or piece of machinery seems to prevent major problems occurring.

National Biodiesel Board technician training program manager Rache Burton said engine manufacturers also have been upgrading specifications to better deal with the differences in petroleum diesel and biodiesel.

Earl said one problem is the solvency of the biodiesel eating away residue in fuel tanks, a varnish-like substance that accumulates, and it clogging up fuel filters. He added that, because he gradually increased the blend he used, he has had no problems with that.

Fisher said he did have problems on his farm, however.

Poulton said a concern could be putting biodiesel into older tanks without cleaning them first. He hired a company to clean the tanks that will be used at the Havre Cenex station, just to be certain there were no issues, although the tanks were fairly new and should not have had a problem, he said.

Another question was about leaving the fuel sitting in machinery fuel tanks over the winter, and if that could cause problems.

Earl said he always has made certain there was not much fuel left in the tanks when he parks machinery for the winter. Refilling with fresh fuel and diluting the previous remainder should solve the problem.

"I didn't change anything I do on my farm …, " he said. "The solution to that problem is dilution, and I have no problem. "