Summary of a 12-Year Experiment in the Use of 50% RME Fuel Mixture in Heavy Trucks and Light Vehicles

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Experiments on the use of a 50% RME (Rapeseed Oil Methyl Ester ) fuel mixture were conducted at the agricultural cooperative “Champagne Cereales”, over the period 1993-2005. The study was carried out on twenty heavy trucks from EURO 0 to EURO 3 standards, ten light vehicles with indirect injection engines and four light vehicles (“Peugeot 406” and “Citroen C5”) equipped with “common rail” engine and with DPF (diesel particulate filter ). Half of these vehicles used RME50 fuel and performed the same services along with another group of reference vehicles running on standard diesel fuel. The mileage run on RME50 by heavy trucks ranged between 230 000 and 530 000 km. “406” sedan mileage exceeded 230 000 km and “C5” 190 000 km. Consumption was recorded and lubricants were analysed over the twelve-year period. Injection systems were examined and ten heavy truck engines were disassembled for wear and deposits assessment. The use of RME resulted in no notable incident, and its effect on consumption was according to LHV (lower heating value ) variation. Lubricant dilution was observed on some vehicles, and this phenomenon was reinforced by the use of RME. The lower viscosity level did not cause any increase of wear. The assessed engines showed no sign of deposits in rings and crankcases. On the other hand, the use of RME reduced wear on certain heavy trucks due to lower soot contents in the lubricant.