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Biodiesel blend being offered at area stations

Biodiesel is a domestically produced renewable fuel made from vegetable oil, animal fats, or recycled restaurant greases. It is an alternative to petroleum diesel.

At its Ampride stores, Cooperative Grain and Supply sells a blend of 2 percent soy diesel and 98 percent petroleum diesel, dyed for off-road use and clear for on-road use.

Known as Ruby Fieldmaster B2, the premium blend is available for delivery to the farm, along with several other kinds of diesel fuel.

According to Delbert Peters, the diesel blend is a selling tool because it helps to reduce the demand for imported petroleum and benefits farmers who raise the grain.

"Some of our customers requested it," he said.

The fuel comes from Cenex, a refining company that has a share in the McPherson refinery. It is the only major refiner that is blending this product for distribution to the local market.

"We're not the cheapest price around," Peters said, "but we don't apologize for that because we know we're selling a premium product."

He said fuel costs change daily but CG&S tries to absorb some of the cost so the co-op doesn't have to change the price to the customer every day.

Cardie Oil, Inc., at Tampa custom-blends biodiesel for those who request it for bulk delivery. The soy diesel is kept in storage drums and mixed with petroleum diesel in the percentage requested by the customer. Most request a 2 percent blend.

According to employee Chris Stuchlik, the "splashing" method is used to blend the fuel. The soy fuel is placed in the tank, and the petroleum diesel loaded on top of it.

"Once it's blended, it will stay in suspension for quite a long time," he said.

Farmers like it, he said, because it helps engines run more cleanly and provides lubrication for injector pumps. They don't use it in the wintertime because it tends to gel slightly.

"I think biodiesel will catch on more as time goes along," Stuchlik said. "We'll change with the times."

According to Tim Svoboda, manager of the Cenex station at Durham, owned by Agri-Producers, Inc., the station sells an on-road B2 diesel blend. The co-op is working to provide off-road B2, as well.

Biodiesel in its pure form (B100) reduces air pollutants and is biodegradable. Other blends available in some places are B20 and B5. They generally can be used in conventional engines.

B100 requires engine modifications and may not be suitable for wintertime use. Engine warranties must be checked before the higher-percentage blends are used.

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