Fueling Kubota RTV900 Utility Vehicles with D2 and B20: Effects on Fuel Efficiency, Engine Wear, and NOx Emissions Written for presentation at the

Abstract

This paper reports preliminary results from an on-going study that began in July 2007 comparing the fuel efficiency (h/L), engine wear, and NOx emissions (ppm) of nine Kubota RTV900 utility vehicles fueled with B20 and eight vehicles fueled with D2. The 3-cylinder, 16.1 kW utility vehicles are used by the Facilities Management grounds department at the University of Arkansas. The vehicles are primarily used for transporting workers and grounds keeping equipment. Data on fuel use and hours of engine operation for all 17 vehicles are collected through operator log books. NOx emissions are monitored at 3-month intervals using the AutoLogic AutoGas 6-gas emissions analyzer with a chemiluminescent sensor (0-5000 ppm with 1-ppm resolution). During the first nine months of the study, there was no significant (p>.05) difference in fuel efficiency between vehicles fueled with B20 (0.611 h/L) and vehicles fueled with D2 (0.629 h/L). There was no significant (p>.05) difference in corrected NOx emissions levels between vehicles fueled with B20 (293 ppm) and vehicles fueled with D2 (287 ppm). There was no significant (p>.05) difference in engine wear metals (ppm) between vehicles fueled with B20 and vehicles fueled with D2 when analyzed using an independent t-test. This 2-year study will provide useful, real-world data on the fuel efficiency and NOx emissions of compression-ignition utility vehicles fueled with B20.