Biodiesel Information for Passenger Cars
•DefinitionsofBio-BasedDieselFuels
•MercedesBenz/DaimlerApprovalConcerningBiodiesel
•FrequentlyAskedQuestionsonBiodieselFuelIssues
•FrequentlyAskedQuestionsonBiodieselVehicleIssues
Overview
Biodiesel Information for Passenger Cars Last Updated June 2010
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Definitions of Bio-Based Diesel Fuels
Biodiesel: BiodieselischemicallyreferredtoFattyAcidMethylEster(FAME).Itisproducedfromrawvegetableoiloranimalfatandmethanol.Biodieselischemicallydistinctfrompetroleumdieselandbearsqualityrisks,dependingonfeedstock(fuelageing,coldflow),givenphysicalproperties(fuelevaporation),andaccuracyofproductionprocess(contaminations).Therefore,theuseofbiodieselcanhavetechnicalimplicationsupontheoperationoftheengine/fuelsystem.
Renewable Diesel Fuels:Non-biodieselfuels.Producedfromdifferentbiologicalmaterialsthroughvariousproductionprocesses:
Renewable Diesel: A paraffinic fuel with high quality produced from vegetable oil or animal fat by hydro treatment.
Biomass-to-Liquid = Sun Diesel (BTL): A paraffinic fuel with high quality produced from biomass (e.g. waste biomass) which is converted through high-temperature gasification into a synthetic gas, which is then transferred by Fischer-Tropsch process to the liquid fuel.
Vegetable Oil: Non-biodiesel fuel. Unprocessed vegetable oil extracted from plants is not suitable as fuel for on-road diesel vehicles due to it’s low cetane number <40, high viscosity, and coking behavior.
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Main Quality Characteristics of Straight Biodiesel (B100 / 100%)
Fatty Acid Methyl Ester content: DescribesthepurityofbiodieselandisnotregulatedintheUSA.
Aging characteristics: Biodieseltendstooxidizemorerapidlythandieselbyformingacidsandpolymers.Theoxidationstabilitydependsonthefeedstockused.SoybeanMethylEster(SME)whichismainlyusedintheUnitedStateshasaloweroxidationstabilitycomparedtothatofbiodieselfromotherfeedstocks.
Contaminations:Duetoproductionshortcomingstherearepossibilitiesforthecontaminationofbiodieselwithalotofharmfulbyproducts.Therearedistributors/retailerssellingbiodieselblendeddieselthatarenotcertifiedforthequalityoftheirproductandproductionprocesses.
Higherbiodieselblendingincreasesthepossiblenegativeeffectsoftheabovementionedqualitydeficienciesandpossibledamagetotheengine/fuelsystem.Mercedes-Benz/DaimlerApprovalConcerningBiodiesel.
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Mercedes-Benz/Daimler Approval Concerning Biodiesel
Mercedes-BenzapprovestheuseofB5accordingtoASTMD975(standardUltraLowSulphurDiesel(ULSD)withamaximumofupto5%biodiesel)inallCommonRailInjection(CDI)andBlueTECdieselenginesTheonlyapprovedprocessedbiodieselforB5blendingisonethatmeetsASTMD975specificationtopreventdamagetotheenginesystemfromdepositsand/orcorrosion.
Dieselfuelscontainingahigherpercentageofbiodiesel,(e.g.B6toB20)accordingtoASTMD7467aswellasstraightbiodiesel(B100/100%)ASTMD6751maycauseseveredamagetoyourengine/fuelsystemandarenotapproved.
TheMercedes-BenzLimitedWarrantydoesnotcoverdamagescausedbytheuseoffuelsthatdonotmeetMercedes-Benzapprovedfuelstandards.
Mercedes-BenzvehiclesmustonlyusequalifiedcommercialbrandfuelthatmeetMercedes-Benzapprovedfuelstandards!
Labeling of approved fuels.
Attention! Any percentage of homebrewed biodiesel does not meet Mercedes-Benz approved fuel standards and is not approved!
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•FuelRegulationsintheUSAConcerningBiodiesel
•HomeBrewedVersusCommerciallyProducedBiodiesel
•TechnicalRisksofDieselFuelContainingBiodiesel
Frequently Asked Questions on Biodiesel Fuel Issues
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Fuel Regulations in the USA Concerning Biodiesel
Regularultralowsulfurdiesel(ULSD)acc.toASTMD975mightcontainbiodieselupto5%v/v.RecentlyanotherspecificationforanULSDwithabiodieselcontentof5.5to20%v/v=B20waspassed.Biodieselwhichisusedforblendingorasstraightbiodiesel(B100/100%)hastofulfilltheASTMD6751.Therequirementforagingstabilityisnotsufficientlyregulated.B100itselfisnotsuitableforDPFapplications
ItisuptotheindividualUSstatestoadopttheASTMstandards.
DuetoqualitydeficienciesB20andB100arenotsuitableforpassengercarandlightdutytruckapplicationsofMercedes-Benzequippedwithdieselparticulatetraps.
Fuels which are labeled like this are:Approved by Mercedes-Benz!
Only diesel with the ULSD label is the approved fuel. Up tp 5% vol biodiesel(ASTM D975): no special labeling
Fuels which are labeled like this are:Not approved by Mercedes-Benz!
100% Biodiesel (ASTM D6751): B100 Up to 20% Vol Biodiesel (ASTM D7467):B20
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Home Brewed versus Commercially Produced Biodiesel
Forhomebrewing,theproductionprocesscannotbecontrolledinanadequatemannerconcerningcompletenessofreaction,conditioning,processingandcleaningnecessities.Aqualifiedproductionprocessandalsobiodieselblendingwouldrequireacompleteanalyticalfuellaboratory,whichhomebrewproducerswouldmostlikelynotinvestin.ThismayleadtofuelsnotmeetingASTMspecifications.
Privatefuelstoragefacilitiesmaynotbesuitable.
Fuels which do not meet the ASTM specifications are NOT approved by Mercedes Benz and the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty does not cover damages caused by the use of fuels that do not meet Mercedes-Benz approved fuel standards !
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•TechnicalRisksofDieselFuelContainingBiodiesel
•FurtherImpactsofBiodieselonVehicleCharacteristics
•RecommendationsforaVehicleWithExtendedStandstillPeriod•
•WarrantyGuidelinesforBiodieselUsage
Frequently Asked Questions on Biodiesel Vehicle Issues
WhichUseDieselFuelContainingBiodieselforPeriods>4Weeks
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Technical Risks of Diesel Fuel Containing Biodiesel
Cloggingoffuelfiltercausedbya)soaps,whichmaybeformedbybiodieselcomponents(agingproductsandcontaminants)b)microbes,whichmaycontaminatebiodieselblends.
Fuelgellingundercoldclimateconditions,e.g.additivesofbiodieselandconventionaldieselaresometimesincompatible.
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Sludgeformationwithinengineoilduetobiodieselagingproducts.
Increaseinengineoildegradationwhendrivingunderlowloadconditionsasbiodieselhasdifficultyevaporatingfromengineoil.
Technical Risks of Diesel Fuel Containing Biodiesel (continued)
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Sticking/corrosionofhighpressurepumpparts/injectorsespeciallyafteralongerstand-stillperiodofthevehicleduetoagingproductsofbiodiesel(stickypolymers,acids).
Technical Risks of Diesel Fuel Containing Biodiesel (continued)
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Nozzlecoking/andinjectordepositsacceleratedthroughby-productsofbiodiesel.
Depositformationonpistonringsandalsoonlambdasensors,exhaustgasrecirculationsystemparts.
Technical Risks of Diesel Fuel Containing Biodiesel (continued)
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Further Impacts of Biodiesel on Vehicle Characteristics
Impact of Biodiesel on Engine NoiseThereisnonegativeimpactonnoise,vibration,orharshnesswhenusingapprovedbiodieselcontainingULSD(B5)
Burning Properties of Diesel Fuel Containing Biodiesel (Emissions)ThereisnochangeinthelevelofregulatedemissionswhenusingapprovedbiodieselblendedULSD(B5)
Exhaust Smell When Using Diesel Fuel Containing BiodieselTheuseofB5willnotresultinadifferentsmell.B100exhausthasadifferentsmellthanthatofdieselexhaust.(smellslikeFrenchfryoil).Fordieselcontainingbiodiesel,smelldependsonblendingrate.
Fuel Consumption and Engine Power Comparison (Diesel vs. Biodiesel Blended Diesel)BiodieselcontaininguptoB5willhavenodifferenceintermsofpowerandfueleconomynotablewhencomparedtonormaldiesel.
Biodiesel>B5hasalowerenergycontentthandieselfuelwhichresultsinaslightpowerlossandaslightlyincreasedfuelconsumption.
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Beforeparkingthevehicle,thefueltankshouldbefilled.Reducingtheemptyvolumeofthefueltankreducestheamountofoxygenleftinthefueltankwhichleadstobiodieselaging.Thevehicleshouldnotbeparkedinthesun,highertemperaturewillcausequickerbiodieselagingandcanleadtotheformationofcorrosiveacidsandstickypolymers.Whenvehicleidlingisnotpossibleduringandafterthestandstillperiodaslistedabove,anauthorizedMercedes-Benzdealermayhavetochangehydraulicpartsandpumpoutthefueltank.
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Recommendations for a Vehicle With Extended Standstill Periods Which UseDiesel Fuel Containing Biodiesel for Periods > 4 Weeks
Refer to the appropriate owner, maintenance manuals for your vehicle.DieselfuelwithuptoB5BiodieselcontentaccordingtoULSDspecificationASTMD975meetsMercedes-BenzapprovedfuelstandardsandwillnotvoidcoverageundertheMercedes-BenzLimitedWarranty.AlldieselfuelscontaininggreaterthanB5biodieselaswellasstraightbiodiesel(B100/100%)arenotapprovedbyMercedes-Benzastheriskforsevereenginedamageisincreased.Anydamagescausedbytheuseofsuchnon-approvedfuelswillnotbecoveredbytheMercedes-BenzLimitedWarranty.
Vehicle Modifications for Biodiesel UsageNomodificationkitisnecessaryforuptoB5Biodieselcontent.
BiodieselcontentgreaterthanB5isNOTapprovedforMercedes-Benzvehicles,hencenoapprovedmodificationkitisavailable.
Warranty Guidelines for Biodiesel Usage
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Example shown: Model Year 2010 (All Models) Maintenance Manual
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