Euro 5 diesel to go the B10 biodiesel route?

Shell product lineup

Some product-related news from the launch of the Welcome to Shell multi-year brand transformation programme last night. Last week, it was reported that Shell will be introducing Euro 4M V-Power 97 fuel at its stations in September as planned, and that Euro 5 diesel will be available in selection locations in the fourth quarter of the year.

According to the Mohd Haniff Abd Shukor, head of fuels marketing at Shell Malaysia Trading, the list of specific stations that will carry its Euro 5 diesel are still being finalised, but the Klang Valley and Southern region are definitely on the cards, so users will have another choice aside from BHPetrol’s Infiniti Euro 5 Diesel when that happens. He also said that the company is exploring the introduction of the fuel in the Northern region, but no timeframe for a rollout was mentioned.

Meanwhile, V-Power Racing users are already running their rides on Euro 4M specification fuel – Haniff said the new grade of limited application and unregulated fuel had been introduced a while ago, ahead of regular Euro 4 RON 97’s mandated September 2015 deployment timeline.

fuel up

Speaking of mandate, and this will be of interest to Euro 5 diesel users, the fuel is quite likely to go the B10 biodiesel (a blend of 10% palm-based biodiesel and 90% petroleum diesel) route if the government brings Euro 5 diesel in line with the October timeline for Euro 2M diesel to go B10.

Currently, BHPetrol’s Euro 5 is a B7 blend, and by the point of introduction sometime in Q4, Shell’s Euro 5 might well be a B10 blend as will BHPetrol’s, the move brought about by government mandate, though nothing has yet been set in stone. Sources have however revealed that Petronas is set to argue quite strongly against the case of going B10 for Euro 5 – will there be an exemption for Euro 5, given its limited (and non-regulated) deployment scale until its mandated introduction nationwide in September 2020? Stay tuned.

UPDATE:Shell has sent in a statement explaining its official position with regards to B10, and in relation to the mention in the last paragraph of the story. “Shell Malaysia remains guided by the OEMs on B10 biodiesel. The biofuels project is a Government mandated one. We remain committed to providing quality fuels to our customers.”

To make it perfectly clear, and as explained in a follow-up comment below, it’s not that Shell or BHPetrol is wanting to go the B10 path. All fuels retail providers in the country will simply have to if the government mandates that Euro 5 diesel has to make the switch from B7 to B10, like it will be with Euro 2M.

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Anthony Lim

Anthony Lim believes that nothing is better than a good smoke and a car with character, with good handling aspects being top of the prize heap. Having spent more than a decade and a half with an English tabloid daily never being able to grasp the meaning of brevity or being succinct, he wags his tail furiously at the idea of waffling - in greater detail - about cars and all their intrinsic peculiarities here.

 

Comments

  • prabowi on Aug 13, 2015 at 1:01 pm

    Dear paul,

    On your next fuel test for the euro4 petrol n euro5 diesel, please also include local cars with basic vvt engine as the mule. I notice that in the previous ron95 vs ron97 test, u were using vw cars with advance tsi engine as the lab rats. While it was ok to do so, most malaysian use cars with basic engine that might have reacted differently to the test.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 4
    • Paul Tan on Aug 13, 2015 at 1:03 pm

      That’s not true. The test fleet was half 1.4 TSI, half regular 1.6 MPI engine to represent advanced engines versus “basic engine” as what you mentioned.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 3
    • Obviously (Member) on Aug 13, 2015 at 3:39 pm

      I don’t think there are any grounds for a euro4 petrol and euro5 diesel test. What difference are you trying to prove?Theoretically, there will be no changes to fuel consumption or power between euro2 and euro4/5. The latter are simply cleaner than the former, with more advanced engines being able to handle them better.

      Unless the team wants to run some advanced engine cars, half of them running the dirtier fuel and half of them running the cleaner fuel for maybe 10 years, we’re not going to see any difference.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 12
      • Jonny on Aug 13, 2015 at 4:30 pm

        Bro, there’s a world of difference between Euro2 and Euro4 or 5. You haven’t seen the report done by RHB Research on test of various diesels? Anyway, the finding is big difference in torque and noise level. Don’t think Paul need to repeat the test.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 1
  • Anti-Fuel-Price on Aug 13, 2015 at 2:08 pm

    If I’m not mistaken, manufactures from BMW, Merz, Volvo, VW, Mazada are against B10 stating will not suitable & realibilty issues. Even Denso release a full statements regarding using B10 Diesel. How come SHELL go ahead while Petronas oppose it? I’m kind of confuse now? I support BHP stick with B7.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 2
    • Obviously (Member) on Aug 13, 2015 at 3:40 pm

      “…and by the point of introduction sometime in Q4, Shell’s Euro 5 might well be a B10 blend, as will BHPetrol’s, though nothing has yet been set in stone.”

      From the reading, BHP might change to B10 in time. It’s only Petronas that’s certainly opposing the change.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
      • Anti-Fuel-Price on Aug 13, 2015 at 4:01 pm

        Why they still go ahead with B10 since many manufactures opposing it. Yes maybe “some people” been forcing them use of Palm Oil coz global demand is LOW, so now they got no choice but FORCE Malaysian to buy back. Anyway I hope is NOT true since not finalize yet!!! *finger cross* *

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
    • Anthony Lim (Member) on Aug 13, 2015 at 11:16 pm

      It’s not that Shell (or BHPetrol) wants to go B10, and that Petronas doesn’t want to. Everyone will have to, if the government mandates that Euro 5 diesel has to make the switch from B7 to B10, like it will be with Euro 2M.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • seancorr (Member) on Aug 13, 2015 at 3:32 pm

    All I see is the fed gov’t protecting someone’s interests at the cost of angering the rest…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 1
    • aaron on Aug 13, 2015 at 4:28 pm

      Someone is trying to reap more profit by selling more of their palm oil.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 2
  • bullshit on Aug 13, 2015 at 7:38 pm

    Shell’s fuel not matter 95 or 97, it just feel the same without “kick”…try Castrol 97, then u will feel the differences. It work for ford and mazda, the rest not sure…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 6
  • Ultratux on Oct 08, 2015 at 12:13 pm

    A news article says lower sulphur content in Euro 5 reduces the lubricity in the diesel which could lead to “fuel pump wear and engine breakdown. Thus, a higher blend of biodiesel with high grade diesel would improve lubricity. Is that true?

    – See news article at: http://goo.gl/NeV3iK

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
    • SC Lee on Jan 01, 2016 at 11:22 am

      Sulphur content in diesel fuel helps to improve lubricity of the diesel fuel. However, the sulphur content in diesel fuel is the main contribution factor of pollution. With stricter emission regulations imposed, the sulphur content of the diesel fuel has to be reduced to a minimum limit such as euro 2 diesel has 500 ppm of sulphur whereas euro 5 diesel has 10 ppm of sulphur. With the reduction of sulphur in diesel fuel, naturally the lubricity of diesel fuel will reduce. To solve the problem, little addition of biodiesel up to 5% volume in diesel fuel helps to improve lubricity. However, if 10% biodiesel volume is used, the lubricity of diesel fuel will be reduced again, causing high engine friction and high engine wear if the B10 diesel fuel is used.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • SC Lee on Jan 01, 2016 at 11:26 am

    I am totally against the implementation of B10 diesel fuel for now. Addition of biodiesel up to 10% volume reduces the lubricity of diesel, causing high engine friction and high engine wear if the B10 diesel fuel is used

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • Garrel Khoo on Aug 23, 2017 at 12:25 pm

    Hi Paul
    I am using a 2004 BMW530d e60 diesel turbo engine. Is euro 5 suitable for my car?
    I had switch to euro 5 for the last 2yrs & recently during acceleration I hear ping sound. Could be due to wear & tear but I just want to be sure.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • good info

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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