The first Michigan school district to switch its entire bus fleet to B20 has logged one million miles on the alternative fuel, and maintenance records reveal that the district has saved money as a result.

The district’s 31 school buses, including 13 powered by Cummins, 2 powered by Mercedes, and 16 powered by International, have achieved this milestone “with no challenges and no modifications,” according to Wayne Hettler, garage foreman and head mechanic . The district also uses B20 in nine support vehicles including a foodservice truck and a Toro Diesel 3-wing mower.

Part of the incentive leading to the switch to B20 was the receipt of a grant in 2003 through the Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services which funded St. Johns for the incremental cost difference of the B20. Even though the grant ended in December of 2003, Hettler’s been able to show his staff and the school board that they are still saving money by using B20.

Hettler tracks statistics like the time buses idle, the miles per hour, oil analysis, and the mileage the buses get. The main cost savings is on the extended intervals between oil changes.

“I’m convinced that we are able to extend the oil changes because the B20 burns cleaner and isn’t dirtying the oil as quickly,” said Hettler. “We’re using oil analysis to determine the oil change times. We solely credit biodiesel for cleaning up the oil, thus saving the district the costs of oil, filters, labor and the like. We have our records for each bus before a single drop of biodiesel was ever put in the tank, up through our present usage. I challenge other fleets to ‘read’ their fleet records and make these cost-saving changes after switching to B20.”

Hettler also reports an increase in miles per gallon, and improved lubricity, leading to longer fuel pump life. “Prior to April ’02 we averaged one fuel pump change in our fleet per year. We haven’t had to change any fuel pumps since April ’02,” he said.

According to the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee, Hettler has used the oil from more than 15,000 bushels of soybeans to fuel his fleet with biodiesel. “There is much less smoke at the B20 level and both the mechanics and bus drivers have noted the difference, not to mention the kids,” Hettler said. “After all, we’re using soy biodiesel for the health benefits for all of us, the environment, and to support America’s soybean farmers.”

Adapted from news releases compiled by the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee.