This study investigates the effectiveness of Tea Tree Oil (TTO) in preventing aluminum corrosion in diesel-biodiesel–ethanol blends and identifies its optimal concentration for corrosion inhibition. Aluminum corrosion in these fuel blends presents a significant challenge for the automotive and transportation industries. To address this, aluminum specimens were immersed in fuel blends containing varying TTO concentrations (0–5%) for 600 and 900 h. Corrosion rates were measured through weight loss, and surface morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that TTO significantly inhibited corrosion, with its effectiveness increasing proportionally to its concentration. At a 5% TTO concentration, weight loss reduction reached 90.5%, and the corrosion rate decreased by 90.9% over 600 h. Inhibition efficiency peaked at 90.48% for the same concentration and duration. SEM analysis confirmed these findings, revealing improved surface preservation with increasing TTO concentration, with the 5% sample exhibiting an almost pristine surface. This study demonstrates that TTO is a highly effective and sustainable corrosion inhibitor for aluminum in diesel–biodiesel–ethanol blends. Its performance suggests that it could be a viable alternative to traditional corrosion inhibitors, with significant implications for enhancing the durability of aluminum components in biofuel systems and promoting environmentally friendly fuel alternatives.
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