Official IFT Blog Site

The U.S. EPA is standing firm on its biofuels plan that mandates an increasing amount of biofuels be blended into the petroleum fuel supply each year.

Follow the link to the article here.

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday, Aug. 7, denied a request submitted by the State of Texas to reduce the nationwide Renewable Fuels Standard. As a result, the required total volume of renewable fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, mandated by law to be blended into the fuel supply will remain at 9 billion gallons in 2008 and 11.1 billion gallons in 2009.”

An increasing demand for biofuels will result, and with so many new biodiesel feedstocks being found in the U.S., producers must find a way to ensure high stability in all biodiesel fuel in the pipeline.

Recent testing at certified U.S. test laboratory, Inspectorate, has revealed that DiesoLIFT BD-3 significantly outperforms commonly used biodiesel stability additives such as BHT and Nalco 5300A- a result that is supported by completed and ongoing testing at Montana State University-Northern, IFT’s partner research university.

IFT’s DiesoLIFT BD-3 will improve the oxidative stability of most unstable biodiesel to levels higher than both U.S. (ASTM) and European (EN14112) standards, creating a better-performing, higher-quality, more marketable biodiesel product.

IFT is currently marketing BD-3 to biodiesel producers all over North America and commercial samples are available by request. Please contact Paul Lee at plee@internationalfuel.com for more information.

This month’s issue of Biodiesel Magazine features an article about IFT’s BD-3 additive- a multifunctional formula that has been proven to provide superior oxidative stability enhancement when blended with biodiesel.  BD-3 has emerged as a top performer in addressing stability issues in biodiesels produced from various feedstocks.

Click here for the article on the web.

In May 2008, IFT submitted a sample of BD-3, it’s newest product for use in biodiesel, for testing in a study conducted by the Bio-Energy Innovation and Testing Center at Montana State University-Northern.

BD-3 once again proved that it was a top performing additive in addressing oxidative stability and deposit control issues in biodiesels produced from various feedstocks.

The group presented its findings at the AOCS Annual Conference in Seattle, WA on May 19.

Please visit www.internationalfuel.com to view the BD-3 presentation at the AOCS Conference as well as the BD-3 Test Summary on the BD-3 Product Page.

For industry fleet managers who have heard about IFT products from their peers and through the news wire, the summer of 2008 has become the “testing season”- a chance to finally see for themselves what kind of value DiesoLIFT additives can bring to their fleet.

As part of IFT’s pull-through strategy of developing demand from end users while simultaneously building relationships with large-scale distributors, we travel throughout the country to set up verification tests on-site with major end users of both diesel and biodiesel blends. 

The same questions seem to come up with all major fleet managers in the early stages of discussion.  Therefore, we are using the IFT Blog as somewhat of an FAQ guide for the viewing public.  If any of your questions are left out, please feel free to e-mail me directly at plee@internationalfuel.com and I will answer you promptly with a personal e-mail or phone call.

• How can IFT products help me to combat a now $4.00+ per gallon cost of diesel fuel?
  • While we can’t make up for the almost 100% increase in diesel costs over the last 3 years, we can help to shave off 10-15 cents NET for every gallon you would normally consume.  IFT products have always been priced extremely low, coming out to about 2-3 cents to additize one (1) gallon of fuel.  This price stays fixed but as diesel prices go up, the NET benefit from using IFT products begins to skyrocket.  At a $4 cost per gallon of diesel and 5% gain in fuel economy provided by DiesoLIFT products, the end user saves 17-18 cents (Net) for every gallon of fuel consumed.  Multiply this net savings per gallon by the total annual fuel consumption in gallons, and for most major end users, it equates to hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars in annual fuel expense savings.
• Does fuel additized with DiesoLIFT products stay in compliance with ASTM specifications?
  • Yes.  Diesel and biodiesel blends additized with DiesoLIFT products stay completely within ASTM specifications.  You may request certification and test documents directly from me.
    
• How will I know exactly how much value I am getting as a result of using DiesoLIFT products?
  • Utilize your Engine Computers, Fuel Management Systems, Software, or any of your MPG tracking resources.  Account for all variables and the numbers will not lie, especially in periods of consistent weather like late Spring, Summer, or early Fall.  Compare the test period (typically 90-120 days) MPG to the average lifetime MPG for individual trucks, same period averages for previous years, and of course, you will see the financial benefit in the books.  In addition, monitor injector nozzle fouling occurrences, breakdowns due to filter issues, etc. and you will notice over a longer period that occurrences of these problems will be significantly reduced.
• Are DiesoLIFT products endorsed by OEMs?
  • IFT products are completely safe and keep fuel perfectly in compliance with ASTM specifications, so they do not void any OEM warranties.  However, OEMs have historically taken a neutral stance on use of fuel additives for obvious reasons.  Therefore, they will never endorse nor ban the use of additives that keep fuel in spec.  Once again, DiesoLIFT products are safe to use, have never caused any issues, and do NOT void any OEM warranties. 

DiesoLIFT 10 is the most widely used efficiency-enhancing additive produced by IFT.  IFT is also anticipating the North American release of DiesoLIFT BD-3, which stands to be one of the top performing biodiesel stability additives available on the global market, verified through comprehensive testing and comparison studies.

For more information on purhcasing IFT products or performing a Zero-Cost 90-120 day on-site testing program (only available to major end users), contact plee@internationalfuel.com.

If you’re following the biodiesel industry, it seems another group of entrepreneurs is announcing plans to build a new biodiesel plant almost every day.

For many small and medium-sized producers of biodiesel, adhering to strict quality standards has been a big issue. Often, the final product manufactured at these plans does not meet ASTM standards of biodiesel production, but are shipped out to end users anyway.

The most important quality aspects for biodiesel are flash point, alcohol content, cloud point, water and sediment content (including a test for the presence of a number of harmful elements), acid value, free and total glycerin, and most importantly, oxidation stability.

The oxdiation stability issue is one of the most relevant to today’s biodiesel users because it determines the length of time the biodiesel (or biodiesel blend) can be stored safely and if oxidation stability standards are not met, there could be disastrous harm caused to every tank, truck, engine, and part coming into contact with the fuel.

According to a recent article in Today’s Trucking, “Small and medium producers of biodiesel have ’significant failure rates,’ while about 90 percent of all tested biodiesel meets specifications, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2007 biodiesel quality survey.” (http://www.todaystrucking.com/news.cfm?intDocID=19383)

This presents a dangerous dilemma for end users who are considering a switch to biodiesel. If low-quality biodiesel is making its way into the marketplace undetected, is it worth the risk?

Of course, for biodiesel producers, a news report like the one shown above makes their potential clients fearful and hurts their ability to do business.

IFT’s DiesoLIFT BD-3 recently passed through comprehensive testing of its ability to improve oxidation stability in biodiesel and biodiesel blands and revealed itself to be the best available biodiesel stability improver on the market today.

For many producers, marketers, and end users of biodiesel, use of DiesoLIFT BD-3 will provide:

• Longer storage/shelf life
• Significantly lower ocurrences microbial growth caused by oxidation
• Increase the overall value of the product to end users

For full test data on DiesoLIFT BD-3 and to see how it stacks up to the “top” oxidation stability additives on today’s market, contact Paul Lee at plee@internationalfuel.com.

So it has come to this.

News reports this morning speak of a strike being organized by truckers in the state of Florida to protest the recent crippling rise in U.S. diesel prices.  The truckers- mostly owner-operators whose sole source of income is the operation of their truck- vow to park their rigs, drive at 45-mph on the highway, or simply display protest signs on their trailers, hoping to catch the attention of both the U.S. government, and big oil companies who supply the diesel fuel.

http://www.wesh.com/news/15756801/detail.html

For those who are still afloat, despite the $4-plus diesel prices, there are some temporary solutions out there. 

Recenty, readers have posted some useful suggestions:
1) Drive the speed limit on the highway.
2) Accelerate more slowly.
3) Closely monitor tire pressure.  Keep it high enough.

As I visit some of the larger fleets in the U.S., I see more technologies being adopted to help keep fuel economy high:
1) Filling truck tires with Nitrogen to prevent air loss or pressure loss- a costly, but apparently worthwhile solution.
2) Employment of various driver habit control systems (i.e. prevents idling, heavy acceleration, etc.)
3) More aerodynamics technology being added to the truck and trailer.
4) More efficient reefer units (refrigeration) being manufactured and purchased.

Despite all of these solutions that have become available, some are too difficult to implement, too expensive to adopt, and in all cases, none are effective in combating the rapid increase in diesel prices.

Technologies like International Fuel Technology’s DiesoLIFT(TM) additives have value that increases as fuel prices rise.   At $1 per gallon of diesel, the return on investment in DiesoLIFT(TM) would only be about 2 or 3 cents per gallon of diesel consumed.  At a consumption volume of 1,000,000 gallons per year, it would stand to save you a net of about $20,000-30,000. 

However, at a fuel price of $4 per gallon, DiesoLIFT(TM)’s net return would be about 17 to 18 cents per gallon of fuel consumed.  Savings for a company consuming 1,000,000 gallons of diesel per year would be $170,000 to $180,000.  For a company consuming 10 million gallons per year, the savings would be nearly $1.8 million annually.

DiesoLIFT(TM) products require no fixed up-front investment, and IFT continues to offer its Zero-Cost Pilot Program to large fleets with a central fuel source.

Contact Paul Lee at plee@internationalfuel.com for details on the technology and the opportunity to verify its effectiveness on-site with your fleet.

Came across an article in the Milford Daily News today about rising diesel prices and I thought this particular owner-operator’s situation really exemplified the recent struggles of both owner-operators and large fleets:

“James Luke gets four miles to the gallon when his truck is fully loaded, and with prices of diesel fuel pumped up to $4.15 a gallon, he said he’s ready to pack it in.

‘I can’t make any money,’ the owner-operator truck driver said yesterday at the Massachusetts Turnpike Service Station at Rte. 128 in Weston. ‘I won’t tell you no lie. I left Des Moines, Iowa, Thursday night and stopped for gas in Indiana, Ohio and New Jersey, and paid a total of $1,600.’ “

For the full article, click here.

With diesel prices reaching an unprecedented U.S. national average of over $4 per gallon, owner-operators are being forced to work for little to no financial gain, while companies with large fleets are seeing profits plummet as diesel prices continue to skyrocket.

With no clear end to the diesel price hikes in sight, fleet managers are looking for solutions of any kind- even resorting to pursuing some gimmicky products that previously did not warrant their attention. There is a clear danger to being too open-minded to the fuel efficiency products offered in today’s market. Everything from fuel tank “pills” to magnets that “optimally align fuel molecules for maximum combustion” to additives containing metals have hit the market and are being offered by companies with little credibility. But, desperate times call for desperate measures, so fleet managers are being duped over and over again.

Where is there an efficiency product with market credibility, proven effectiveness in real-world application, many current high-volume users (with data to back up the product’s claims), and nearly $10 million worth of certified lab testing?

International Fuel Technology and its DiesoLIFT line of surfactant based additives have made a significant impact for many large fleets. Even before the recent rise in diesel prices to over $4 per gallon, DiesoLIFT was being used at Schnucks Markets (a fleet of 100+ trucks) and delivering 4-6% fuel economy improvements, significantly reducing the company’s annual fuel expenses. The recent rise in diesel prices only make DiesoLIFT more valuable to users today, while the unit price of the product remains constant.

To learn more about DiesoLIFT products and IFT’s “Zero-Risk Evaluation Period” for large end users, please contact Paul Lee at plee@internationalfuel.com

Find out why large fleets are continually turning to IFT for the best fuel efficiency solutions on today’s market. Find out how to burn less and save more as a result.

This is an excerpt from the recent press release announcing the completion of development and testing for IFT’s newest and most effective product for fuel stability in biodiesel and biodiesel blends, DiesoLIFT BD-3:

DiesoLIFT^TM BD-3, IFT’s proprietary fuel additive formulation for use with bio-diesels and bio-diesel fuel blends, has recently been introduced, following an extensive research and development program and subsequent testing that have demonstrated that DiesoLIFT^TM BD-3 is the top performing fuel additive technology for addressing oxidation stability and deposit formation in bio-diesels and bio-diesel fuel blends.

DiesoLIFT^TM BD-3 has been compared in performance to BHT, the antioxidant commonly used in the industry and market’s top performers in pure bio-diesels (B100) and B5 and B10 bio-diesel fuel blends. Test procedures included the EN 14112 Rancimat Oxidation Test, ASTM D 4625 Storage Stability Test and ASTM D2274/ISO 12205 Oxidation Test, ASTM D130/ISO 2160 Copper Corrosion Test, EN 12662 Contamination Test.

Results from the tests demonstrated that DiesoLIFT^TM BD-3 exceeds the performance of any other bio-diesel fuel stabilizer in the marketplace today.

In summary DiesoLIFT^TM BD-3:

-Protects bio-diesel blends against oxidation, degradation and performance drop

-Extends storage stability

-Allows bio-diesel to meet and exceed current standards and specifications

-Provides additional protection against metal contamination

-Confers fuel efficiency and emissions control performance to bio-diesel

-Is in liquid form, thus simplifying application and usage

-Is the top performing fuel additive technology for addressing oxidation stability and deposit control in bio-diesel fuel blends

Please visit our web site (www.internationalfuel.com, under Products – DiesoLIFT^TM BD-3) for a full technical paper on DiesoLIFT^TM BD-3.”

 

 

Ensuring biodiesel quality has been a top priority for both biodiesel producers and consumers around the world. Yet, stability issues have continued to negatively impact many users, sparking a search for solutions of any kind. IFT recently tested DiesoLIFT BD-3 against a panel of the top competing additives in the market and it clearly outperformed all additive products, delivering unparalelled stability improvements to biodiesel and biodiesel blends.

With the growing demand for stability additives from biodiesel producers, biodiesel marketers, and end-users, the timing of the development of DiesoLIFT BD-3 could not be any better.

For more information on DiesoLIFT BD-3, please contact Paul Lee at plee@internationalfuel.com.

Welcome to the new IFT Blog Site!

IFT has adopted this blog for several important reasons:

1. Education: The blog serves as a key source of specific information about IFT products.
   
2. Technical Information: The blog creates an open forum where the experts on the IFT technical staff can interact with visitors and current clients.
3. Answer Questions: The blog allows current and prospective clients to post any questions about IFT products and answers to these questions are made publicly available.
   
4. Open Interaction: To enable current clients and prospective clients to interact freely in an open, unregulated setting.

If you are visiting our website for the first time, here is a short overview of IFT and its products:

International Fuel Technology, Inc. (IFT) is a leading developer of surfactant-based fuel additives that have been proven to enhance multiple performance characteristics of liquid hydrocarbon fuels. IFT products have undergone stringent testing at many of the world’s foremost engineering test facilities and are currently being used worldwide in railroad, road transportation, and stationary power generation applications. IFT products deliver immense cost savings to clients by improving overall combustion efficiency by a proven 3-7%. In addition to this increase in efficiency, IFT products also improve fuel lubricity and provide a wide array of cost-saving maintenance benefits. The formulas are designed to be splash-blended with fuel at a central source and used continuously to provide maximum benefit.

Currently, the majority of IFT’s commercial clients are large end-users of diesel fuel for road transportation/distribution/freight operations- a group that includes some of the largest retailers and grocers in the United States and municipal transportation agencies. The majority of these clients pruchase IFT’s DiesoLIFT 10(TM) formulation, which is engineered for use with standard diesel fuel.

IFT has recently completed successful rail testing with M I Technology/Interfleet in Europe and is poised to begin implementing its products in both European and North American railroad operations in the future.

Our sincere hope is to have some of our clients post regularly on the blog site, which will enable the public to interact with current users of IFT products and ask them any questions.

IFT is based in St. Louis, Missouri (USA) and its surfactant-based fuel additives are available worldwide.

We invite all visitors to use both the IFT website (www.internationalfuel.com) and the IFT blog site (www.internationalfuel.blog.com) for any information on IFT products.

To request official published test reports or to speak to an IFT representative, please e-mail Paul Lee at PLEE@internationalfuel.com.

Thanks and we look forward to utilizing the blog site to maximize effective communication with our current and prospective client base!