Engine Durability Tests with Sunflower Oil in an Indirect Injection Diesel Engine

Various reports have shown that plant oils can power diesel engines, but unmodified direct injection engines coke up when operated on these fuels for any length of time. Indirect injection engines are known to be more tolerant of fuel quality and a research programme to test the long-term durability of such an engine with sunflower oil as fuel was launched. The successful results of this test programme which led to the manufacturer extending the warranty on this engine to cover this type of fuel are presented.