Lubricating qualities of biodiesel and biodiesel blends

The lubricity qualities of biodiesel when blended with low sulfur/low aromatic and low sulfur/high aromatic diesel fuel were positive. Exxon and Peterson noted improvements in fuel lubricity as the concentration of biodiesel in diesel fuel increased. The findings of this investigation parallel these earlier findings. Specific conclusions drawn from the findings of this investigation include: (1) biodiesel in concentrations less than 5% appear to have no measurable improvement concerning the lubricity of diesel fuel. (2) Biodiesel concentrations of 20% show significant lubricity improvement when blended with both low sulfur/high aromatic and low sulfur/low aromatic diesel fuel. (3) Biodiesel improved the lubricity of low sulfur/high aromatic diesel fuel more than it improved the lubricity of low sulfur/low aromatic diesel fuel. (4) BIOCLE results confirmed earlier HFRR results that demonstrated a significant lubricity improvement of diesel fuel after it had been blended with biodiesel. (5) Results from field tests indicated that the use of biodiesel/diesel fuel blends did not reduce the length of service normally provided by a diesel fue injection pump.