Biodiesel improves lubricity of new low sulphur diesel fuels

In this work, biodiesel from waste vegetable oil was used as an additive in low sulphur diesel fuel in automobile engines. The result was a fuel mixture with high lubricating power. According to the lubrication trials, the experimental mixtures complied with lubricity conditions established by European regulations, even when only a small quantity of biodiesel was used. It was also found that the mixtures were compatible with different engine gaskets and engine lubricant. Lastly, bench tests were performed using an automobile engine with mixtures of diesel fuel without conventional lubricant additive and biodiesel. The results showed that engine performance curves were very similar to those obtained with diesel fuel and that contaminating emissions from the engine decreased substantially by including biodiesel in the fuel, except for nitrogen oxides. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.