The downside of biodiesel fuel

The actual oil industry believes biodiesel is not to blame for problems that Norwegian car owners are going through. But the nature of the energy means that it has to be handled totally different to what would be the norm regular petroleum-based diesel, the Norwegian researcher says, specially in colder climates or when it is stored for longer intervals.

Can diesel made from any biodiesel blend be held responsible for clogged car filter systems and nozzles, reduced or even lost engine power as well as costly visits to the garage area by Norwegian car proprietors? No, says the oil business. But Professor Terese Løvås from the Norwegian University associated with Science and Technology (NTNU) doesn't want to dismiss biodiesel concerns so easily.

"We know that biodiesel behaves completely different than they would say petroleum-derived diesel. Biodiesel is really a 'living' substance that can modify and deteriorate over time. This could create problems that are not resolved adequately by the current Eu (EU) product standards. We might need to review all the appropriate standards, and look at exactly what needs to be done to prevent these types of problems, " says Løvås, from NTNU's Department of one's and Process Engineering.

Almost all auto diesel fuel bought from Norway contains as much as seven per cent biodiesel. The mix is intended to help reduce CO2 emissions, because in principle biological carbon fuel are climate neutral. The particular biodiesel/petrodiesel fuel blend specifications are based on EU product requirements that stipulate detailed gas characteristics under various circumstances.

Clogged filters

However , Norwegian car owners regularly statement that they have problems where biodiesel is suspected to be the trigger. Following a sharp increase in blocked diesel filters a few years back, the British Department with regard to Transport asked the essential oil industry and regulatory regulators to solve the problem. Auto filtration became plugged by a waxy substance in cold weather, and also cars lost engine energy. The BBC reported that this biodiesel additive was the possible cause of the problems. A possible description was the use of recycled food preparation oil, which clumps easily in the cold.

The Norwegian television programme "TV two hjelper" reported the issues of a car owner who previously this winter struggled with repetitive engine problems and costly repairs. The auto repair center said that her car could hardly tolerate diesel with the biofuel additive. The program also questioned a repair shop owner who else said his shop maintained one to two cars a week which had clogged filters along with nozzles, probably caused by biodiesel.

A familiar problem

According to Løvås, we don't know the full level of the problem or just how much it has increased since biodiesel has been blended into petrodiesel, but it is quite clear that it is growing problem. "It's a well known issue among researchers and also the subject of a lot of investigation, " she says.

The main concern is that biofuels are less steady than petrodiesel, and they degrade over time. Light, temperature in addition to humidity increase the rate of decay.

"Biofuels contain oxygen substances, which can lead to oxidation when the fuel is not processed as well as stored properly. The gasoline then forms waxy ingredients that can clog filters and also nozzles, " says Løvås.

The EU product regular EN590 summarizes the product needs for diesel fuel. The conventional contains detailed requirements regarding cetane numbers (corresponding in order to octane in gasoline), thickness and viscosity, for example. Researchers, governments, engine manufacturers along with oil companies have collaborated to develop and periodically up-date the standard over many years.

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