Alexander Noack of Elsbett made the same statement to me regarding the
lubricating oil contamination problems when using soybean SVO. (We were
discussing only SVO so I am not sure if he also meant to imply soybean based
Biodiesel as well.) I did some research on the lubrication oil contamination
issue and polymerization issue and the following links may be helpful:
http://www.missouri.edu/~pavt0689/Research_Needs_Resulting.pdf
http://www.biodiesel.org/resources/reportsdatabase/reports/gen/19990902_gen-228.pdf
http://www.me.iastate.edu/biodiesel/Pages/biodiesel21.html
The vegetable-based lubricating oil that is referred to, is mandatory to
use in Elsbett converted engines, according to the Elsbett instructions.
However, this lubricating oil, made by Fuchs, is not sold in the U.S. so this
poses a problem. However, I have not been able, so far, to find any other
Elsbett customers in the U.S. who seem concerned by this.
Bruce Colley, Sustainable Energy Project
http://www.sustainableenergyproject.org
----- Original Message -----
From: Keith Addison
To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2004 4:09 PM
Subject: Re: [biofuel] Diesel VWs: High Mileage Vehicles, Well Kept Secrets?
Hakan, MM
>MM,
>
>You asked about VW, Europe and biodiesel. In Europe the VW diesels are
>certified for RME fuel (biodiesel). The are clearly stating that in the
>specifications.
RME = Rapeseed Methyl Esters. They don't like soy biodiesel. It's
been thought that this is more political than anything else - Europe
grows rapeseed, the US grows soy. But biodiesel is biodiesel is
biodiesel. Which is what the EPA says with their "substantial
equivalence" for all feedstocks, although the NBB only tested virgin
soy biodiesel. But there could be more to it. Rachel Burton posted a
link to Lyle's site and her report on a recent SVO workshop with
Elsbett engineer Alexander Noack. It included this interesting bit:
"Soybean oil is bad. Whether it is straight vegetable oil or soybean
based biodiesel. It is a no-go in diesel engines. Why? In diesel
engines you have slight mixing between fuel and lubricating oil.
There is a fuel property in soybean oil that makes it reactive when
in contact with engine lubricating oil. It supposedly has a
polymerizing action with the engine oil, which is detrimental to the
life of your lubricating system. What they do in Europe is use a
vegetable-based lubricating oil for the engine to prevent any
problems with fuel-lubricating oil intimacy. What else? They do not
use soybean oil; They use rape seed also known as canola."
http://www.biofuels.coop/blog/archives/000066.html
Energy Blog: Elsbett Workshop
Slightly different, but if you have a look at the new Euro standard
for biodiesel, here:
National standards for biodiesel
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_yield2.html#biodstds
See "Europe EN 14214", scroll down to "Oxidation stability hrs; 110¡C
- 6 hours min". Only Europe has such a standard, and the concern is
polymerisation due to oxidation. The Iodine No. standard is <120;
others are lower, but the US ASTM D-6751 doesn't specify an IV. The
higher the IV the more it's a drying oil that will polymerise, the
highest being linseed and fish oil and the lowest coconut and palm
kernel. For an explanation see:
Iodine Values
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_yield.html#iodine
So have a look at these Iodine Values:
Rapeseed oil, h. eruc. - 97 to 105
Rapeseed oil, i. eruc. - 110 to 115
Soybean oil - 125 to 1
So. I think there's some substance to this, I'll find out more soon.
Meeting the German or Austrian standard isn't difficult, but the Euro
standard might be, especially if we think bubblewashing is a great
idea. Might have to drop bubblewashing, go for simple stirring
instead (and making the stuff properly in the first place). Might
have to use an additive as well. And, might have to drop soy too.
Something tells me the ASTM standard isn't about to adopt these Euro
oxidation limits any time soon.
Anyway, both VW and Mercedes seem to be going for Fischer Tropsch
diesel from biomass. Perhaps the reason they prefer it to biodiesel
might be that it gives them a nice industrial, high-tech, expensive
operation to invest in, well beyond the reach of this shabby
riff-raff that's taken to making biodiesel in their garages and now
the whole thing's right out of corporate control. :-)
Best
Keith
>Hakan
>
>At 20:16 19/05/2004, you wrote:
> >I have collected four testimonials to high-mileage VW Diesels that
>came up in
> >discussion. I have seen many such testimonials over the years, but I have
> >been
> >meaning to make a few points in response to them. These came up
>recently, in
> >response to reports that the two gasoline hybrids have not been getting as
> >good
> >mileage as they advertise. My comments are below the four testimonials.
> >
<snip>
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