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“Flower Power” Tractor Fuel Testing Program 1981-1987
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Abstract
Field tests for a variety of fuels on different tractor engines were carried out during the summers of 1981 through 1986. Fuels tested included alkali refined and winterized sunflower oil blended with diesel fuel, crude degummed sunflower oil blended with diesel fuel, high oleic safflower oil blended with diesel fuel, methylester of sunflower oil, or soybean oil. Blends of either 25% vegetable oil and 75% diesel fuel or 50% vegetable oil and 50% diesel fuel were used. Methylesters were not blended with diesel fuel. The manufacturers that participated in the project were John Deere, J.I. Case and Allis Chalmers.
The project indicated that farm diesel tractors can be operated on any of the fuels that were tested. Care should be taken, however, since some signs of premature engine problems were observed. In general, continued use of these fuels cannot be recommended at this time. Under conditions where emergency fuel shortages develop, these sunflower oil fuels may enable farmers to complete field work and economically maintain their operations even though engine life is reduced.
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Authors
- Mariusz Ziejewski - North Dakota State Univ.
- Kenton Kaufman - North Dakota State Univ.
- George Pratt - North Dakota State Univ.
- Jon Walter - North Dakota State Univ.
- Paul L. Aakre - North Dakota State Univ.
- Thomas J. German - North Dakota State Univ.
- Peter H. Waller - North Dakota State Univ.
- John Derry
Topic
Citation
Ziejewski, M., Kaufman, K., Pratt, G., Walter, J. et al., "“Flower Power” Tractor Fuel Testing Program 1981-1987," SAE Technical Paper 932476, 1993, https://doi.org/10.4271/932476.Also In
References
- Ohlhauser D.R. 1982 “The North Dakota Set-Aside Program.” N. D. Energy Office Bismarck, ND
- Quick G.R. 1980 “Development in the use of vegetable oils as fuels for dieselengines.” ASAE Paper No. 80-1525 American Society of Agricultural Engineers St. Joseph, MI
- Aakre P.L. 1983 “Field Testing Sunflower Oil/Diesel Fuel Blends on Twelve North Dakota Farms.” M.S. Thesis Agricultural Engineering Department, North Dakota State University Fargo, ND
- German T.J. 1985 “Endurance of Diesel Engines Fueled With Sunflower Oil/Diesel Fuel Blends.” M.S. Thesis Ag. Engr. Dept., N.D. St. Univ. Fargo
- Waller P.H. 1987 “Performance Evaluation of Two Diesel Fuel Blends as Diesel Fuel Substitutes.” M.S. Thesis Ag. Engr. Dept., N. D. St. Univ. Fargo, ND
- Ziejewski M 1985 “The Effect of the Level of Unsaturation and of Alcohol Modifications of Plant Oil Fuels on the Long Term Performance of a Direct Injected Diesel Engine.” Ph.D. dissertation College of Engineering & Architecture, North Dakota State University Fargo, ND
- CRC “Diesel Engine Rating Manual,” Diesel Vehicle Fuel, Lubricant and Equipment Research Committee of the Coordinating Research Council CRC, Inc. New York, NY Nov. 1959