Diesel injector makers voice out concerns over biofuel

biodiesel

Having announced its concerns over the reported October implementation of B10 biodiesel, BMW Group Malaysia has brought our attention to a 2012 joint-statement by five diesel injector manufacturers – Delphi, Denso, Bosch, Continental and Stanadyne – detailing the possible effects of biofuels, or fatty-acid methyl esters (FAME), on diesel engines.

Fuel sources like rapeseed methyl ester, soybean methyl ester and palm oil methyl ester are collectively known as FAME. The statement says, “It must be recognised that the physical and chemical characteristics of bio components are significantly different to conventional fuels and that care must be taken in their specification and use,” adding that “many vehicles, engines and equipment are not designed to run on them.”

The statement reveals that the European diesel fuel standard EN 590:2009 covers diesel blends with up to 7% FAME (B7 biodiesel), but adds that the FAME standard EN 14214:2009 is being extensively revised to facilitate blending of up to 10% FAME (B10 biodiesel).

b5 bio

While the companies do not specifically single out any ‘bad’ blends, and understand the need for continually revising standards, they raise issues regarding reduced fuel stability (leading to “plugged filters, sediments and sticking moving parts”), impurities in the fuel and compatibility issues with older vehicles (most likely affecting filters, hoses and seals), with FAME.

The statement further cites EN 590:2009 section 5.4.3, which says “Diesel fuel shall be free from any adulterant or contaminant that may render the fuel unacceptable for use in diesel engine vehicles”. Perhaps the more technically- and scientifically-aligned amongst you can shed some more light on this – the full statement is below.

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Jonathan James Tan

While most dream of the future, Jonathan Tan dreams of the past, although he's never been there. Fantasises much too often about cruising down Treacher Road (Jalan Sultan Ismail) in a Triumph Stag that actually works, and hopes this stint here will snap him back to present reality.

 

Comments

  • Alvin on Jun 11, 2015 at 5:15 pm

    GOV wont care as sarawak and sabah having most diesel cars running around…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 2
  • sepul on Jun 11, 2015 at 5:40 pm

    Government is talking to themselves all the while.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 2
  • See Gov how to reply them, this is terrible issue, the gov just give another burden to his rakyat, A lots of issue now a day, like never stop, make rakyat suffer then he feel happy.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
  • cendol (Member) on Jun 11, 2015 at 5:54 pm

    Our palm oil is already nobody wants to buy them.
    Felda share price already dropped 50% since IPO.
    Now car companies express worry about biodiesel.
    Good bye Malaysia.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 7
    • kzm (Member) on Jun 11, 2015 at 6:59 pm

      this not about nobody want palm oil but incompatibility of B10 to diesel engine.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 12
  • Kenneth Khong on Jun 11, 2015 at 6:56 pm

    Dear Gov, dont make one sided decisions. As it is, cars aren’t cheap in Malaysia. Don’t make diesel car owners suffer. As it is, the intro of Euro 4 has been delayed time and again. So why is it that B10 is so eagerly introduced? Again, dont male us suffer for benefit of big GLCs. It is definitely not right.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 0
  • Middle Age Driver (Member) on Jun 11, 2015 at 7:59 pm

    This B20 is only incompatible for BMW? Other diesel cars no problem as I don’t hear Mercedes & other Jap 4WD makers issue same warning?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 6
    • Diesel Driver on Jun 11, 2015 at 11:36 pm

      I am sure you are not a diesel driver and do not care. I am owner of a diesel engine and extremely concern over the damage that this B10 will cause into my engine. Do understand that these statements are meant to tell the gov not to implement this fuel without talking to the industry leaders. Bravo to Paultan.org in informing the people and gov (if they are reading) about our concern here.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
    • Energy Analyst on Jun 12, 2015 at 11:41 am

      Mitsubishi & Isuzu did, read it up

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Where did gov got the data saying B10 is no harm? Feel sendiri?
    Kindergarten level leaders, no wonder dua dua pun kosong.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • seancorr (Member) on Jun 11, 2015 at 8:10 pm

    Good luck in selling B10 here unless they adhere to the guidelines pointed above else a lot of diesel vehicles will be entering the workshop and then followed by extreme negativity towards the fed gov’t.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Jimmy on Jun 11, 2015 at 11:00 pm

    Euro 4 & 5 is kura-kura sulong.
    Biodiesel is arnab bongshu.

    Khawans is more important then everythink, including SS.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Omg… statement issued in 2012. Clearly the monkeys in putrajaya dont understand shit. Either the English is too deep or they don’t understand technical stuff. Or porim, sirim and all the other useless department gave the thumbs up for b10, in which case because all are stupid, the thumbs up was meant for the joint statement but no one understood anything.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • Eleusine Indica on Jun 12, 2015 at 9:48 am

    If the Euro5 diesel still not here in Klang Valley when the B10 already hastily pushed to the msrket, I will purposely drive all the way to Johor Pagoh BHP just to buy proper diesel.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Hadi75 on Jun 12, 2015 at 10:29 am

    Government should give choices to diesel users just like the petrol users with ron 95 and ron 97…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • jimmy on Jun 12, 2015 at 10:47 am

    hope the GOV do more survey on technical then approve it

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • BLT_Club on Jun 12, 2015 at 10:59 am

    If I owned a diesel, I’d be damn worried now. Just goes to show how lackadaisical our G is.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Henri Bardon on Jun 12, 2015 at 1:09 pm

    As long as biodiesel meets EN14214, there should be no problem for the diesel injectors. The issue is that malaysian biodiesel allows stearin as feedstock which is not good for transport fuel but ok for generators. Also diesel quality in Malaysia which notoriously bad should be addressed

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Yes, right now I’m really worried. Just told by my friend that there will be RM12K to replace my diesel fuel pump system….Just give me options for the pure diesel and B10 diesel, so that I can choose which to go for and I don’t might to pay more instead of paying RM12K bill.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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