Technical Performance of Vegetable Oil Methyl Esters With a High Iodine Number

Abstract

The Federal Institute of Agricultural Engineering in Austria has been gaining more experience about the technical performance of biodiesel with a high iodine number. Long term tests were carried out on the test bench with rape seed oil methyl ester, sunflower oil methyl ester and camelina oil methyl ester with an iodine number of 107 to 150. The oil viscosity was observed and the engine parts were inspected after each run. To demonstrate the suitability of a methyl ester with a high iodine number a fleet test with 9 vehicles and 1 stationary engine was carried out over a period of 1 to 3 engine oil drain intervals. Camelina oil methyl ester was used with a content of 37% linolenic acid (C18:3). No unusual deposits could be observed after dismantling the engines.