Truck Manufacturer Scania embraces biodiesel blends up to 100 percent
05 September 2007
http://www.busnews.com.au/index.cfm?storyid=32598&cp=displaystory
Scania has become one of the few truck manufacturers to embrace biodiesel following the decision to broaden the permitted uses of biodiesel blends in its vehicles. Operators are no longer restricted to either B5 or B100, and can now use any blend of biodiesel from a few percent to 100 per cent.
“This is good news for truck operators and good news for the environment,” Australia National Manager Sales and Marketing John Kananghinis says. “It means that operators who want to use the fuel face very few restrictions. So long as an operator’s engine is fitted with a modern fuel injection system and the fuel they are using meets the Australian fuel standard or the European biodiesel standard, they can use biodiesel with confidence.
“Scania engines fitted with unit injection sytems can now run on any blend – from B5 to B100.”
Unit injection is fitted to all modern Scania engines, and was first introduced on the Scania 12-litre engine in 1996. It has been installed on Scania V8 engines built since 2000 and Scania five-cylinder 9-litre engines since the engine’s introduction to Australia in 2004. Scania operators had been restricted to B5 or B100 on engines fitted with unit injection systems – either HPI or PDE. B5 is a blend of 95 percent diesel and 5 percent biodiesel. B100 is 100 percent biodiesel.
Because biodiesel has similar properties to diesel fuel, it can be blended in any ratio with petroleum diesel fuel. Biodiesel used in Scania vehicles must meet the European standard EN14214. Pure plant oils are not approved for use in Scania engines.
Scania National Manager Contracts and Technical Graeme Miller says users need only guard against the accumulation of water in biodiesel blends. “The subsequent growth of microrganisms can be a problem,” he says. “Water in small amounts is relatively harmless, however, bacterial growth can clog fuel filters. We recommend the use of a biocide in these instances
“So long as operators watch for this and ensure they adhere to the amended servicing intervals when moving from diesel to biodiesel, they’ll see no change to engine performance or their transport operations. Depending on the blend, they may see a slight fall in fuel economy.”
Operators can move to 100 percent biodiesel in engines fitted with Scania HPI or Scania PDE fuel injection systems without the need to drain the vehicle’s fuel tanks or make any mechanical modification. However, the oil filter and centrifugal oil cleaner must be cleaned after 1,000km and subsequently at every oil change.
Because biodiesel dissolves the deposits left by diesel fuel, the fuel filter must be replaced at 1,000km intervals for the first 3,000km after changing to biodiesel. Extended oil changes are not available when using biodiesel. In addition, the viscosity grade of the oil must be 25W-40.
Oil levels need to be checked periodically; if the oil rises above the maximum level, the oil must be changed. The fuel filter must be changed at every oil change. When changing back to diesel from biodiesel, the engine oil should be changed when the tank is empty. If alternating between diesel and biodiesel, the servicing requirements of biodiesel should be adhered to. Restrictions remain for operators of older Scania engines fitted with in-line pumps. Only B5 can be used in such vehicles.