Ameer Randolph
Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine, originally designed his engine to run on coal dust. However, diesel engines can run on a wide variety of fuels, including biodiesel, renewable diesel, petroleum-derived diesel, and even cooking oil. The type of fuel used depends on the specific application and requirements, such as cost, emissions regulations, and fuel viscosity. For example, diesel fuel is commonly used in cars and trucks due to its higher energy density and lower tax rates in some countries, while fuel oil is often used in large ships due to its lower cost per ton per mile.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type | Ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD), Biodiesel, Petroleum-based diesel, Fuel oils, Vegetable oil, Animal fats, Coal dust |
| Engine Type | Compression-ignition engine (CI engine), Internal combustion engine |
| Engine Use | Cars, Lorries, Trucks, Tanks, Military vehicles, Construction equipment, Farm equipment, Generators, Boats, Ships |
| Additives | Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), Antifoaming agents (silicones), Antioxidants (hindered phenols), Metal deactivating agents (salicylaldimines) |
| Efficiency | Up to 43% for passenger car engines, up to 45% for large truck and bus engines, up to 55% for large two-stroke marine engines |
| Fuel Properties | Cetane number, Density, Flash point, Sulphur content, Biodiesel content |
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What You'll Learn
Biodiesel
The modern form of biodiesel was developed in the 1930s, when a method was discovered to transform vegetable oils for fuel use. Biodiesel can be used as a pure fuel (B100) in engines where the manufacturer approves its use. However, it is more commonly blended with petrodiesel, usually to less than 10%, as most engines cannot run on pure biodiesel without modification. These blends are indicated by a "B" factor, with B20 containing 20% biodiesel, for example.
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Vegetable oil
Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine, used peanut oil in his original design. Most diesel car engines are suitable for the use of straight vegetable oil (SVO), also commonly called pure plant oil (PPO), with certain modifications. The viscosity and surface tension of the SVO/PPO must be reduced by preheating it, typically by using waste heat from the engine or electricity; otherwise, poor atomization, incomplete combustion, and carbonization may result. One common solution is to add a heat exchanger and an additional fuel tank for the petrodiesel or biodiesel blend and to switch between this additional tank and the main tank of SVO/PPO. The engine is started on diesel, switched over to vegetable oil as soon as it is warmed up, and switched back to diesel shortly before being shut off to ensure that no vegetable oil remains in the engine or fuel lines when it is started from cold again.
The relatively high kinematic viscosity of vegetable oils must be reduced to make them compatible with conventional compression-ignition engines and fuel systems. Cosolvent blending is a low-cost and easy-to-adapt technology that reduces viscosity by diluting the vegetable oil with a low-molecular-weight solvent. This blending, or "cutting", has been done with diesel fuel, kerosene, and gasoline, among others; however, opinions vary as to the efficacy of this. Noted problems include higher rates of wear and failure in fuel pumps and piston rings when using blends.
In colder climates, it is often necessary to heat the vegetable oil fuel lines and tank as it can become very viscous and even solidify. Single-tank conversions were developed largely in Germany and are now used throughout Europe. These conversions are designed to provide reliable operation with rapeseed oil that meets the German rapeseed oil fuel standard DIN 51605. Modifications to the engine's cold start regime assist combustion on start up and during the engine warm-up phase. Suitably modified indirect injection (IDI) engines have proven to be operable with 100% PPO down to temperatures of −10 °C (14 °F). Direct injection (DI) engines generally have to be preheated with a block heater or diesel-fired heater.
Biodiesel is a type of fuel derived from vegetable sources, often soy, but it is refined at a special facility that must follow antipollution laws and other fuel regulations. Many vehicles with diesel engines can run on biodiesel or a blend of biodiesel and petroleum diesel without much modification. Using vegetable oil to fuel a vehicle is an entirely different matter. You're basically using the vegetable oil you can buy at the supermarket (or get for free from a restaurant) as fuel.
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Shale oil
Diesel engines are internal combustion engines that use the heat generated from compressing air in the cylinder to ignite the injected fuel. Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine, originally designed his engine to use coal dust as fuel but later experimented with vegetable oil. Modern diesel engines use a range of fuels, including petroleum-based diesel fuel, biodiesel, and renewable diesel.
While shale oil can technically be used as diesel fuel, it has low octane levels, which make it a poor fit for high-efficiency car engines. This is because shale oil has higher proportions of natural gas liquids and other easy-to-ignite hydrocarbons, which lower the octane levels of a gasoline blend. As a result, while shale oil may be used in some diesel engines, it is not suitable for high-performance engines that require high octane levels for efficient combustion.
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$105.99
Peanut oil
Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine, claimed that his engine would work with any kind of fuel in any state of matter. He tested his engine with various fuels, including kerosene, lamp oil, petrol, ligroin, coal tar creosote, paraffin oil, crude oil, and gasoline. In 1900, the French Otto society built a diesel engine that ran on peanut oil, with no modifications necessary for peanut oil operation.
One user reported that they ran some of their equipment on sunflower oil, and another reported that they had converted several vehicles with diesel engines to run on grease instead of diesel. However, they noted that it took a lot of work to make this happen.
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Gasoline
Using gasoline in a diesel engine can result in significant harm due to improper ignition and incomplete combustion, potentially leading to engine malfunction or failure. Gasoline doesn't ignite as readily as diesel fuel, leading to misfiring, reduced engine power, and potential stalling. Additionally, gasoline lacks the lubricating properties of diesel fuel, causing increased friction and wear on engine components, which can result in costly repairs, including damage to fuel injectors, pistons, and the fuel pump.
Even a small amount of gasoline in a diesel engine can cause damage by affecting its lubrication, reducing its efficiency, and potentially damaging fuel injectors and other components. It can lead to engine knocking, misfiring, and ultimately engine failure if not addressed promptly. Therefore, it is crucial to use the correct fuel for each engine type to prevent damage to engine components.
While diesel engines are designed for diesel fuel, historically, they have been known to run on other fuel types. During the first Diesel engine tests, German inventor Rudolf Diesel used illuminating gas as fuel, and managed to build functional designs, both with and without pilot injection. Diesel also experimented with types of lamp oil, petrol, ligroin, kerosene, coal tar creosote, paraffin oil, crude oil, and fuel oil, all of which eventually worked as well. In Scotland and France, the first 1898 production Diesel engines used shale oil as fuel because other fuels were too expensive. In 1900, a Diesel engine was built to run on crude oil but was exhibited running on peanut oil at the 1900 Paris Exposition and the 1911 World's Fair in Paris.
Despite these alternative fuels working in the past, it is important to note that modern diesel engines have specific requirements and using the wrong type of fuel can cause significant damage.
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Frequently asked questions
Diesel engines typically run on diesel fuel, which is derived from crude oil. However, some engines are designed to run on petrol, and other fuels such as biodiesel, bio-blends, and vegetable oil can also be used.
Biodiesel is a renewable fuel derived from animal fats and plant oils. It is considered a cleaner alternative to diesel made from the petroleum refinement process. Biodiesel can be used pure in engines where the manufacturer approves such use, but it is more commonly used as a mix with diesel fuel.
Diesel #1 is recommended for cold climates due to its low viscosity, which means it is less likely to gel in extremely cold temperatures. This type of diesel also includes added lubricants and detergents, which help keep engine components in good condition.
