Abstract
Keywords
RME, Rapeseed Oil Methyl Esters, Biodiesel, fleet tests
Abstract
The use of a 50% RME fuel mixture was tested over the 1993 – 2005 period. The experimental fleet included twenty heavy trucks from EURO 0 to EURO 3 standards, ten light vehicles with indirect injection engines and four light vehicles with common rail engines and DPF. Half of the fleet used RME50 and was compared to reference vehicles running on commercial diesel fuel. Heavy trucks ran a mileage on RME between 230,000 and 530,000 km. '406' sedan mileage exceeded 230,000 km and 'C5' 190,000 km. Behaviour, consumption and lubricant analyses were recorded over the twelve-year period. Ten trucks engines were disassembled for wear and deposits inspection. The engines showed no sign of deposits in rings and crankcases. The use of RME had no effect on injection. Effect on consumption was explained by LHV variation. Lubricant dilution observed on most vehicles was reinforced by the use of RME but did not cause any increase in wear. A reduction of wear found on some trucks was explained by lower soot contents in the lubricant.