Spanking Ester

Fall 2009

that new car stink

By Leif Forer

Dear Ester, I heard some new diesels aren't so good on biodiesel. Or are they? Is this a fuel quality issue? ~Dealing with Every Little Engine-Troubling Emission ....[MORE]

Spring 2009 / Sustainability

are you gonna waste that?

By Leif Forer

Dear Ester,What defines a waste feedstock--does chicken fat qualify? Is WVO really W?WNWNDear Waste Not Want Not~First of all, we have to define waste.  There are probably as many opinions about what qualifies as waste as there are hairs on.......[MORE]

Winter 2008 / Quality

glycerides? who gives a drip!

By Leif Forer

Dear Ester~ How much is too much total glycerin in your biodiesel? Sure, the ASTM max is 0.24%, but where did that number come from? If you have 2.4%, is that really so much worse? Don't SVO'ers have 100%?.......[MORE]

Spring 2007

the importance of washing fuel

By Leif Forer

Because biodieselSMARTER is brand spanking new and no one has written me any real letters yet, I am going to write myself the inaugural question. Dear Ester, What's the deal with water washing biodiesel? Is it effective, how do.......[MORE]

Fall 2007

pumps demystified

By Leif Forer

Dear Ester: Can I use the same pump to suck fat from a dumpster, process it into biodiesel, and dispense the finished product? Sincerely, Confused About Pumps Dear CAP: You want different pumps for different applications. The environment where.......[MORE]

Winter 07-08 / Safety

yes, methanol is that dangerous.

By Leif Forer

Dear Ester~ Is methanol really all that dangerous? ~Not Overly Concerned Dear NOC~ Yes. I once poured some of the gasoline that my dad kept in the garage for filling his lawnmower all over our driveway. It shone with.......[MORE]

Spring 2008

which are the sexiest ball valves?

By Leif Forer

Dear Ester~ - How about Graham Laming's One-Day Method? Why don't you use it? I hadn't heard of Graham Laming until last spring when Greg, our new (at the time) intern, showed up talking about his infopop forum hero........[MORE]

Summer 2008

lunch matters

By Leif Forer

Dear Ester~ What is sustainable biodiesel? Sustainability is generally broken down into three categories: social, economic and ecological. Believers in the status quo argue that economic sustainability is the only category that matters, while environmentalists hold ecology above all.......[MORE]

Fall 2008 / Safety

homegrown fuel? homegrown spills. homegrown cleanup!

By Leif Forer

Dear Ester~ I spilled some grease. What should I do? Desperate to Reclaim Important Product Dear DRIP~ Once upon a time we were collecting a couple hundred gallons worth of restaurant fryer grease in five-gallon jugs. We would uncap.......[MORE]