Palm Oil Methyl Ester and Its Emulsions Effect on Lubricant Performance and Engine Components Wear

The results of an experimental work carried out to evaluate the effect of palm oil methyl esters, also known as palm oil diesel (POD) and its emulsions as alternative fuel on unmodified indirect injection diesel engine's wear and lube oil performance are presented in this paper. Half throttle engine with constant 2500 rpm setting was maintained throughout the wear debris and lube oil analysis such as for a period of twenty hours for each fuel system. The sample of lube oil was collected through a one way valve connected to the crankcase sump at the interval of four hours. When the engine warmed up, first sample has collected immediately. The same conventional lubricating oil SAE 30 was used for each fuel system. To measure wear metal debris and lubricating oil additives depletion of used lubricating oil, Multi element oil analyzer (MOA) was used. To measure the viscosity of lub oil an ISL automatic houillon viscometer (ASTM D445) has been used. Very satisfactory results have been obtained by comparing the lub oil analysis results of Ordinary Diesel and Palm Oil Diesel and their emulsions with 10 percent water by volume. In crankcase oil samples, accumulation of wear metal debris was lower with Palm Oil Diesel and emulsified fuels compare to baseline Ordinary Diesel fuel. Both Ordinary Diesel and Palm Oil Diesel emulsions with 10 per cent water by volume showed promising trends for resisting wear. © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of [name organizer]