2007-09-06
Scania broadens permitted biodiesel use
Scania has become one of the few truck and bus manufacturers to completely embrace biodiesel.
Scania operators are no longer restricted to either B5 or B100, and can now use any blend of biodiesel from a few per cent to 100 per cent.
“This is good news for truck and bus operators and good news for the environment,” said Scania Australia National Manager Sales and Marketing John Kananghinis.
“It means that operators who want to use the fuel face very few restrictions. So long as an operator’s engine is fitted with a modern fuel injection system and the fuel they are using meets the Australian fuel standard or the European biodiesel standard, they can use biodiesel with confidence.
“Scania engines fitted with unit injection sytems can now run on any blend – from B5 to B100,” he said.
Unit injection is fitted to all modern Scania engines, and was first introduced on the Scania 12-litre engine in 1996.
Scania operators had previously been restricted to B5 or B100 on engines fitted with unit injection systems – either HPI or PDE. B5 is a blend of 95 per cent diesel and 5 per cent biodiesel. B100 is 100 per cent biodiesel.
Biodiesel is the name for a variety of ester-based oxygenated fuels made from vegetable oils or animal fats. Biodiesel is most commonly manufactured in Australia from domestically-produced canola.
Because biodiesel has similar properties to diesel fuel, it can be blended in any ratio with petroleum diesel fuel.
Biodiesel used in Scania vehicles must meet the European standard EN14214. Pure plant oils are not approved for use in Scania engines.
Scania National Manager Contracts and Technical Graeme Miller said users should guard against the accumulation of water in biodiesel blends.
“The subsequent growth of microrganisms can be a problem,” he said.
“Water in small amounts is relatively harmless, however bacterial growth can clog fuel filters. We recommend the use of a biocide in these instances.
“So long as operators watch for this and ensure they adhere to the amended servicing intervals when moving from diesel to biodiesel, they’ll see only a small drop in engine performance and fuel economy but little change to their transport operations,” he said.
Operators can move to biodiesel in engines fitted with Scania HPI or Scania PDE fuel injection systems without the need to drain the vehicle’s fuel tanks or make any mechanical modification. However, the oil filter and centrifugal oil cleaner must be cleaned after 1000km and subsequently at every oil change.
Because biodiesel dissolves the deposits left by diesel fuel, the fuel filter must be replaced at 1000km intervals for the first 3000km after changing to biodiesel.
Extended oil changes are not available when using biodiesel. In addition, the viscosity grade of the oil must be 25W-40.
Oil levels need to be checked periodically; if the oil rises above the maximum level, the oil must be changed. The fuel filter must be changed at every oil change.
When changing back to diesel from biodiesel, the engine oil should be changed when the tank is empty. If alternating between diesel and biodiesel, the servicing requirements of biodiesel should be adhered to.
Restrictions remain for operators of older Scania engines fitted with in-line pumps. Only B5 can be used in such vehicles.
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Printable version 
Scania Australia
Telephone:
03 9217 3300
E-mail:
commercial@scania.com.au
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