76 SEBU8605-01
Maintenance Section
Refill Capacities
When biodiesel
fuel is used, crank case oil and
aftertreatment systems may be influenced. This
influence is due to the chemical composition and
characterist
ics of biodiesel fuel, such as density and
volatility, and to chemical contaminants that can be
present in this fuel, such as alkali and alkaline metals
(sodium, pot
assium, calcium, and magnesium).
•
Crankcase oil fuel dilution can be higher when
biodiesel o
r biodiesel blends are used. This
increased level of fuel dilution when using biodiesel
or biodiesel blends is related to the typically lower
volatility
of biodiesel. In-cylinder emissions control
strategies utilized in many of the industrial latest
engine designs may lead to a higher level of
biodiesel
concentration in the sump. The long-term
effect of biodiesel concentration in crankcase oil is
currently unknown.
•
Perkins recommend the use of oil analysis in order
to check the quality of the engine oil if biodiesel
fuel is us
ed. Ensure that the level of biodiesel in
the fuel is noted when the oil sample is taken.
Performa
nce Related Issues
Due to the lower energy content than the standard
distill
ate fuel B20 will cause a power loss in order
of 2 to 4 percent. In addition, over time the power
may deteriorate further due to deposits in the fuel
injecto
rs.
Biodiesel and biodiesel blends are known to cause
an incr
ease in fuel system deposits, most significant
of which are deposits within the fuel injector. These
deposits can cause a loss in power due to restricted
or mod
ified fuel injection or cause other functional
issues associated with these deposits.
Note:
Perkins T400012 Fuel Cleaner is most
effective in cleaning and preventing the formation
of deposits. Perkins Diesel Fuel Conditioner helps
to li
mit deposit issues by improving the stability of
biodiesel and biodiesel blends. For m ore information
refer to “Perkins Diesel Fuel System Cleaner”.
Biodiesel fuel contains metal contaminants (sodium,
potassium, calcium, and/or magnesium) that form ash
pro
ducts upon combustion in the diesel engine. The
ash can have an impact on the life and performance
of aftertreatment emissions control devices and can
acc
umulate in DPF. The ash accumulation may cause
the need for more frequent ash service intervals and
cause loss of performance
General Requir
ements
Biodiesel has poor oxidation stability, which can result
in long-term p
roblems in the storage of biodiesel.
Biodiesel fuel should be used within 6 months of
manufacture. Equipment should not be stored with
the B20 biodi
esel blends in the fuel system for longer
than 3 months.
Duetopooro
xidation stability and other potential
issues, it is strongly recommended that engines with
limited operational time either not use B20 biodiesel
blends or, w
hile accepting some risk, limit biodiesel
blend to a maximum of B5. Examples of applications
that should limit the use of biodiesel are the following:
Standby Ge
nerator sets and certain emergency
vehicles.
Perkins st
rongly recommended that seasonally
operated engines have the fuel systems, including
fuel tanks, flashed with conventional diesel fuel
before pr
olonged shutdown periods. An example of
an application that should seasonally flush the fuel
system is a combine harvester.
Microbial contamination and growth can cause
corrosion in the fuel system and premature plugging
of the fu
el filter . Consult your supplier of fuel for
assistance in selecting appropriate anti-microbial
additive.
Water accelerates microbial contamination and
growth. When biodiesel is compared to distillate
fuels,
water is naturally more likely to exist in the
biodiesel. It is therefore essential to check frequently
and if necessary, drain the water separator.
Materials such as brass, bronze, copper, lead, tin,
and zinc accelerate the oxidation process of the
biodi
esel fuel. The oxidation process can cause
deposits formation therefore these materials must not
be used for fuel tanks and fuel lines.
Fuel for Cold Weather Operation
The E
uropean standard “EN590” contains climate
dependant requirements and a range of options. The
options can be applied differently in each country.
The
re are five classes that are given to arctic climates
and severe winter climates. 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Fue
l that complies with “EN590 ” CLASS 4 can be
used at temperatures as low as −44 °C (−47.2 °F).
Refer to “EN590” for a detailed discretion of the
ph
ysical properties of the fuel.
The diesel fuel “ASTM D975 1-D” used in the
Un
ited States of America may be used in very cold
temperatures that are below −18 °C (−0.4 °F).
To Next Page
Loading...
