Straight Vegetable

Oil as a Diesel Fuel?

Biodiesel, a renewable fuel produced
from animal fats or vegetable oils, is
popular among many vehicle owners
and fleet managers seeking to reduce Straight vegetable oil is not the same as biodiesel and is generally not recommended
emissions and support U.S. energy for long-term vehicle use. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL 21940.

security. Questions sometimes arise

even at concentrations as low as 1%, the maintenance costs and/or shorter engine
about the viability of fueling diesel
use of SVO can cause long-term engine life. Figure 1 shows the tendency to form
vehicles with straight vegetable oil deposits. These findings are consistent carbon deposits increases with increasing
(SVO), or waste oils from cooking and across a substantial body of technical proportions of vegetable oil blended into
other processes, without intermediate literature, including an SAE technical the fuel.4
processing. But SVO and waste oils paper that reviewed published data on the
use of SVO in diesel engines.3 The SAE 1.8

Coking Index Relative to Diesel

differ from biodiesel (and conventional
paper states:
diesel) in some important ways
1.6
and are generally not considered • Compared to No. 2 diesel fuel, all
acceptable vehicle fuels. of the vegetable oils are much more
1.4
viscous, are much more reactive to
oxygen, and have higher cloud point
Performance of SVO and pour point temperatures.
1.2
Research has shown there are several
technical barriers to use of SVO as a • Diesel engines with vegetable oils offer 1.0
vehicle fuel.1 acceptable engine performance and
emissions for short-term operation. 0.8
The published engineering literature 0% 3% 5% 10% 15% 20%
Long-term operation results in
strongly indicates using SVO leads to Percent Oil in Fuel
operational and durability problems.
reduced diesel engine life2 caused by
Figure 1. Buildup of carbon deposits in
the buildup of carbon deposits inside the Some investigators explored modifying
the engine as a function of the proportion
engine and the accumulation of SVO in vehicles to preheat SVO prior to injection
of oil in the fuel.
the engine lubricant. These issues are into the engine. Others examined blends
attributable to SVO’s high viscosity and of vegetable oil with conventional
Viscosity (the thickness, or measure of
high boiling point relative to the required diesel. These techniques may mitigate
a fuel’s resistance to flow) is another
boiling range for diesel fuel. The carbon the problems to some degree but don’t
important consideration related to the
buildup doesn’t necessarily happen eliminate them entirely. Studies show
use of SVO. The viscosity of SVO is
immediately upon use of SVO; it typically carbon buildup (coking) continues
much higher than that of diesel fuel at
takes place over the long term. However, over time, resulting in higher engine

1 Alleman, T.L.; R.L. McCormick; E.D. Christensen; G. Fioroni; K. Moriarty; J. Yanowitz. Biodiesel Handling and Use Guide (Fifth Edition). (2016). afdc.energy.gov/files/u/publication/
biodiesel_handling_use_guide.pdf
2 Sidibé, S.S.; J. Blin; G. Vaitilingom; Y. Azoumah. “Use of Crude Filtered Vegetable Oil as a Fuel in Diesel Engines State of the Art: Literature Review.” Renew Sust Energ Rev
14(9):2748-2759 (2010).
3 Babu, A.K.; G. Devaradjane. Vegetable Oils and Their Derivatives as Fuels for CI Engines: An Overview. SAE Technical Paper No. 2003-01-0767.
4 Figure 1 adapted from Jones, S.T.; C.L. Peterson; J.C. Thompson. Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho.
“Used Vegetable Oil Fuel Blend Comparisons Using Injector Coking in a DI Diesel Engine.” Presented at 2001 ASAE Annual International Meeting, Sacramento, Calif.,
July 30– August 1, 2001. SAE Paper No. 01-6051.
 100
(20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum
90 diesel) or higher. Visit the National
80
Biodiesel Board website for information
on OEM approvals of biodiesel use in
Viscosity (mm2/second)

70 vehicles (biodiesel.org/using-biodiesel/
60 oem-information).
100% Sunflower Oil
50 To ensure good performance in engines,
40 biodiesel must meet quality specifications
developed by ASTM International.
30 ASTM Specification D6751 (astm.
20 org/Standards/D6751.htm) is for pure
Diesel biodiesel (B100) used for blending
10
with petroleum diesel fuel. Biodiesel
0 that meets ASTM D6751 is legally
18 28 38 48 58 68 78 88
registered with the U.S. Environmental
Temperature in ºC Protection Agency. Blends up to B5 may
Figure 2. Viscosities of sunflower oil and conventional diesel fuel as a function be found in conventional diesel fuel
of temperature. without additional labeling at the pump.
Properties of these low-level blends
normal operating temperatures.2 Figure the lubricant is more significant in these are covered by the diesel fuel ASTM
2 illustrates the viscosities of diesel fuel engines—even for petroleum diesel—and Specification D975 (astm.org/Standards/
and of 100% sunflower oil over a range would likely be severe with SVO. In D975.htm). A separate specification,
of temperatures. High fuel viscosity can general, these systems were not originally ASTM D7467 (astm.org/Standards/
cause premature wear of the fuel pumps designed to accommodate the properties D7467.htm), exists for blends of
and injectors. It can also dramatically alter of SVO, and they can be seriously biodiesel ranging from B6 to B20,
the structure of the fuel spray coming out damaged or poisoned by out-of-spec or and pump labeling is required to inform
of the injectors by increasing droplet size, contaminated fuel. the consumer that a biodiesel blend is
decreasing spray angle, and increasing being sold.
spray penetration. These effects tend to
Biodiesel: Fuel Made
increase wetting of the engine’s internal For a complete list of ASTM biodiesel
surfaces, thereby diluting the engine From SVO requirements, see the Biodiesel Handling
lubricant and increasing the tendency Biodiesel is an alternative fuel that can and Use Guide (Fifth Edition) at
for coking. be made from SVO or other fats in a afdc.energy.gov/files/u/publication/
chemical process called transesterification biodiesel_handling_use_guide.pdf. In
The long-term effect of using SVO in (or esterification), which involves a addition, the biodiesel industry created a
diesel engines equipped with modern reaction with methanol using caustic quality assurance program for biodiesel
emission control systems is also a soda (sodium hydroxide) as a catalyst. producers and marketers. To learn
matter of concern. Buildup of fuel in Through the process of converting more about the BQ-9000 program, visit
plant oils or greases to biodiesel by bq-9000.org.
transesterification, the viscosity and
Where can I get more
boiling point of the fuel are reduced
information? to values more similar to conventional
■ The U.S. Department of Energy’s diesel fuel. Biodiesel has substantially
Alternative Fuels Data Center, at different properties than SVO and
afdc.energy.gov, contains a vast results in better engine performance. In
collection of information on particular, biodiesel has a lower boiling
point and viscosity than SVO.
alternative fuels and alternative
fuel vehicles. Biodiesel is most commonly used as
a blend with petroleum diesel fuel.
■ The National Biodiesel Board is the
All manufacturers of diesel vehicles
national trade association
and engines have approved the use of
representing the biodiesel B5 (a blend containing 5% biodiesel
industry. Its website, biodiesel.org, For more information, visit:
and 95% petroleum diesel), and some
afdc.energy.gov
serves as a clearinghouse of approve the use of blends up to B20
biodiesel-related information. DOE/GO-102021-5649 • December 2021