The brothers are hoping to prove that high-quality biodiesel can be used as farm equipment fuel in its own right, rather than as a 5 percent additive to conventional diesel. With the use of a biofuel conversion kit installed on the filtration system, the tractor's engine can run effectively and reliably on the biofuel, they said.
In the U.S., biodiesel has been around as a fuel additive for several years, but equipment manufacturers have not approved using 100 percent biodiesel.
John Deere, the largest farm equipment manufacturer, was the first off-highway engine manufacturer to recommend and factory-fill biodiesel in North America back in 2005, when a 2 percent biodiesel mix was standard.
Since then, the company has approved biodiesel concentrations up to a 20 percent blend (B20) in petroleum diesel fuel in John Deere engines through Tier 3/Stage III A models, including all non-emissions-certified engines.
Biodiesel blends up to B20 can be used only if the biodiesel (100 percent biodiesel or B100) meets ASTM D6751 (U.S.), EN 14214 (EU) or equivalent specification.
