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German Dual Fuel Kit Burns Straight Oil In Diesel Engines
"Our message to farmers is that they have the ability to produce their own fuel, saving money and keeping the dollars local. That's huge," says Taavi McMahon, owner of Coulee Region Bio-Fuels. His company has the U.S. and Canadian distributorship for Greasenergy (www.greasenergy.com) a German company that manufactures conversion systems for diesel engines to burn vegetable oil.
  McMahon points out that when farms were worked with horses it took about 25 percent of the cropland to grow hay and grain to feed them. By contrast, today a farmer can grow oil-producing crops on 6 to 8 percent of his land to meet all his fuel needs.
  The Madison, Wis., based Coulee Region Bio-Fuels sells and installs conversion systems for burning straight vegetable oil. Mechanics have traveled as far as California for installations. For other customers, the company provides information and finds local mechanics for installation. Farmers with mechanical skills do the installation themselves.
  Costs vary according to the U.S/Euro exchange rate, but an adapter system costs from $2,500 to $3,000, McMahon says. Installation can cost an additional $1,000.
  Part of the modification is adding an auxiliary tank for the two-fuel system. Diesel is required to start the engine and also kicks in when the oil is cold. Greasenergy systems come with a poly auxiliary tank, but many farmers prefer to fabricate custom tanks to best fit their tractor or machinery.
  "They offer trouble-free technology that is computer-controlled. You want complete combustion of the fuel, and that's what the Greasenergy system does best. It takes as much guesswork out of it as can be done," McMahon says, explaining that the system switches automatically between diesel and oil.
  The Greasenergy conversion system includes an electrical fuel pump, coolant-water heat exchanger to pre-warm fuel, fuel filter unit, control valve with pressure regulator, heavy-duty relays, pipe set, cabling and instructions.
  Coulee Region Bio-Fuels has been working with Organic Valley, the largest cooperative of organic farmers based out of La Farge, Wis. The co-op purchased conversion systems for 3 tractors, 3 trucks and a bus.
  McMahon notes that Greasenergy conversion systems work on diesel pickups and cars as well.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Coulee Region Bio-Fuels, LLC, 222 S. Hamilton St., Suite 21, Madison, Wis. 53703 (ph 608 345-0618; www.couleeregionbiofuels.com).


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2011 - Volume #35, Issue #3