The Malaysian Biodiesel association (MBA) is pushing – with the collaboration of the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities, and the Malaysian Palm Oil board (MPOB) – for the implementation of B10 in 2016, with a move towards B20 within the next two years. In support of government efforts to roll-out the implementation of the B10 biodiesel blend in fuel stations nationwide, MBA held a expedition drive to Cameron Highlands using a fleet of 13 vehicles over the course of two days.
The vehicles – comprising of seven different brands; BMW, Ford, Toyota, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Nissan – utilised various blends of biodiesel, ranging from B10, B20, B50 and one vehicle run exclusively on biodiesel B100. The numbers in the blend indicate the percentage of biofuel used – in this case, palm biodiesel. The purpose of the drive was to show that vehicles run on palm biodiesel were as reliable as any other diesel-powered vehicle, and to dispel concerns regarding precipitation and coagulation of palm biodiesel at low temperature.
The expedition covered over 600 km of highway and country road driving, along with the ascent to Cameron Highlands, with no issues. Biodiesel is a mix of petroleum diesel blended with vegetable oils. In the case of the MBA expedition, palm biodiesel was used.
Malaysia currently uses a blend of B7, which is diesel with a 7% biodiesel component, that entered the market in January 2015 in East Malaysia, while B5 has been available in all Peninsular Malaysia stations since 2014. The MPOB has spent RM340 million to build 35 petroleum depots nationwide to blend biodiesel – five in Sarawak (owned by Petronas, Shell and Synergy), eight in Sabah (owned by Petronas, Shell and Petron) and two in Labuan (Petronas and Shell).
Benefits of using biodiesel include a lower noxious greenhouse gas emission levels, including hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide. In the case of B100 biodiesel, 50% less soot and 40% less particulate is emitted, the visible indication of the pollution from diesel engines that drivers are familiar with. The MPOB has done testing with various diesel vehicles, notably in the heavy transport sector, and not recorded any issues with the usage of B10, although the specific testing method and duration was not detailed.
Various carmakers have previously raised concerns about the use of biodiesel in higher blend concentrations above B7 in their vehicles, with some saying that higher biodiesel numbers may cause clogging of engine components due to sludging. Others, however, have said that higher concentrations of biodiesel do not cause any issues.
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bmw say their cars cant use B10… MBA does a 600km drive and says “No problem”. must be an april fools joke…??
Because formation of sludge doesn’t immediately appear after such a short usage and certainly not in quantities to cause engine failure. So obviously they didn’t have anu problems going up Camerons.
B20 by 2018 ? Better B50 by 2018 and 2020 B80 ….. good luck to diesel owner cars especially the luxury recond ones …..
Malaysia’s greatest achievement. Take 90% usual diesel from the pump, mix with 10% palm oil. then announce to the world, we have done extensive research and spent hundreds of millions of ringgit to come out with Biodiesel!
Everyone can SAY….
i am sure one two way trip to cameraon highlands will be sufficient to prove to end consumers that biodiesel is ok for their car!!! BMW be damned!
this bunch of chaps certainly have no engineering mind, if an engine showing problem in just a 600km, that engine can be scrapped as it is badly design.
Rather than lobbying the idea of high bleand % in automotive diesel fuel, they should lobbying 5% biofuel blend in aviation fuel. Ask Tony boy and airbus to work on this. United airlines in US did it with biofuel (albeit it’s not palm biofuel).
THE WHOLE COUNTRY IS RUN BY IDI*TS…..
Mba u sucx u robber end user.
Automaker already test b10 is no suitable for modern diesel.engine.what u do now force us to kill the diesel engine.b10 mostly modern diesel engine can’t take.if u say no problem u warranty our diesel engine if u dare.
When Palm Oil prices per liter is about RM2.00/liter and our diesel pump price is RM1.55/liter.
MBA wants more expensive diesel for all of us. A bit selfish of them because now no one wants to buy palm oil due to boycott from European countries.
Honestly, its a great idea since petroleum is not a renewable energy, while the palm oil do grow from tree. However, they should done some extensive research. They should at least drive the car for at least 200,000 km. As a car enthusiast, I am very interested in the development of this idea and willing to contribute my energy for this. Anyone know how can I be one of their research team?
I wonder who was the 7th auto manufacturer Mr. Mohan referring to because I noticed Ford was typed 2x.
Car manufacturers already say their engines won’t take B10 but this bunch of self-serving bozos say otherwise. Testing on a single run ot 600km means nothing as the effect of sludging and blockage is accumulated over time. Diesel car owners will face more maintenance cost all because some palm oil growers want more money.
Am I the only one who smells April Fools?
There is no way to jump from B10 to B20 in 2 years unless MBA wants to destroy all diesel engines. If MBA wants to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs in their greed then so be it.
The diesel engine was originally designed to use peanut oil. Diesel engines today can use vegetable oil derived diesel with very few technical issues. In Malaysia biodiesel is actually Palm Methyl Ester (PME). All the main diesel engine manufacturers are from countries which goes through a distinct cold winter. PME tends to coagulate in cold weather making the fuel unusable. However, the coldest temperature in Malaysia where diesel engines can be found all over the place is no colder than 15 degree Celsius. PME will not coagulate in Malaysian weather nor will the fuel cause coking of the fuel injectors in diesel engines. As a matter of fact there is not a single place in Southeast Asia where PME will coagulate due to cold weather.
A 10% blend of PME to petroleum diesel WILL not affect the performance of a modern diesel engine. The fuel injection system of vehicles running on a B10 blend will have to be tweaked to enable these engines to run at their best. The problem here is cost.