A boatload of reasons to keep biodiesel afloat

When I first heard about biodiesel about a decade ago, it was from a hippie type who was making it in his backyard from recycled vegetable oil. From his description, I almost pictured having to filter guacamole from the fuel going into my truck and I thought: "How nice, but it sure isn't for me."

I've changed my mind. Whether biodiesel has matured as a fuel, or perhaps because I'm now more open-minded, I've come to see biodiesel very differently.

As a marine biologist by training and profession, as the operator of a twin-engine diesel powerboat, and as a military veteran, I'm concerned about my use of petroleum.

My occupational duties and recreational habits release pollutants into the atmosphere and have the potential to release very toxic petroleum into our waters. I'm also painfully aware that I am asking our sons and daughters to die to protect my fuel sources — perhaps arguably now, but certainly in the future as petroleum supplies shrink and global demand grows.

Consequently, I am preparing our boat to use biodiesel, and so from personal experience I know the very first thing a boater or other user will ask is: "Will this stuff hurt my engine?"

I've found that biodiesel is a much purer and homogeneous fuel than petrodiesel — which is a complex soup of many hydrocarbons — so biodiesel doesn't include the useless, unburnable hydrocarbons that cause rough operation, smoke and the all-too-familiar diesel odor. Many boat operators have commented on the smoother idling of their engines after switching. Also, biodiesel's flash point is higher than petrodiesel, so it's safer during fires or when those occasional pesky electrical problems develop.

The reluctance of diesel-engine manufacturers to honor warranties on new engines using biodiesel largely comes, I understand, because biodiesel can be homemade or even commercially produced without attention to quality or without the necessary technical expertise. As with any fuel, quality counts and I'll use only biodiesel that meets the appropriate ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards.

I'm purchasing my fuel from a Mount Vernon fuel company that already is producing reasonably priced, high-quality biodiesel. I suspect warranty coverage will improve as the industry accumulates experience and trust.

The second thing to ask is whether we are only kidding ourselves that biodiesel will help the environment. In repeated studies, biodiesel exhaust has been found to have fewer of the gases and particulates that cause cancer and other health problems, and that contribute to global warming. A slight increase in nitrous oxide has been reported, but it's negligible compared with the decrease in other gases. Also, the nitrous oxide varies greatly based on the raw material used for the biodiesel.

Biodiesel also has good lubrication properties, so the sulfur that is added to petrodiesel isn't needed. Additionally, if biodiesel is spilled in marine and freshwater environments, it is far less toxic than petrodiesel.

Of course, biodiesel has been criticized for its premium price, but this will certainly recede as the industry develops — a good reason to provide governmental incentives now to create an economy of scale. Also, biodiesel may become relatively cheaper as petrodiesel becomes more scarce and thus more expensive.

I suggest, though, that biodiesel users should be informed consumers. The more critical factors include performance in very cold weather, and the initial use in older engines in which petrodiesel crud has accumulated. This crud can mobilize when biodiesel is introduced and your fuel filters may initially need extra attention.

There is also a 5 percent decrease in energy when a pure blend is used, but most users find this negligible. If your fuel is a blend of biodiesel and petrodiesel, your supplier should know a correct blending technique. They should also know how to stabilize the fuel during long-term storage.

Incidentally, I've become convinced that biodiesel will indeed support American farmers and that suppliers, even those who use recycled vegetable oil and not exclusively crops to produce high-quality biodiesel, will help create a marketplace for the fuel.

Biodiesel is certainly not the final answer, but those who rely on diesel engines for their occupational or recreational needs can ease their consciences a little because they are lessening their effects on the environment and decreasing the demand on our troops to defend our petroleum sources.