Biofuel Effects on

Crankcase Lubricant
Performance
Dr. Katherine Richard, Dr. Stuart
McTavish, and Keith Strickland

The 5th ICIS Pan-American Base Oils and Lubricants Conference

December 3rd & 4th, 2009, Jersey City
 Contents

• Introduction to biodiesel
• Biodiesel accumulation in lubricant
• Potential lubricant issues with use of biodiesel
• Lubricant formulation approaches for biodiesel
• Control of negative biodiesel effects in B30 field trial
• Conclusions

© Copyright INFINEUM INTERNATIONAL LIMITED 2009 2 Performance you can rely on.
 Introduction

• The development and use of renewable energy sources is

increasing, driven by mixture of environmental, political and
economic factors
• Global use of 1st generation biodiesel fuel is increasing
• For vehicles, biodiesel is predominantly used as a fuel extender:
• Blended with standard petroleum diesel
• EU: EN590 currently allows up to 7% biodiesel (B7)
• USA: B5 is generally accepted and B20 is increasingly available
• Asia: Increasing mandates and usage across Asia, similar to
Europe

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 First Generation Biodiesel

• First generation biodiesel is a Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME),

produced by esterification of vegetable oils

Catalyst

FAME
Glycerine
Vegetable Oil (Glycerol)

• Three main feed stocks commonly used:

Palm oil Rapeseed oil Soybean oil

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 Impact of First Generation Biodiesel on
Lubricants

• Biodiesel can accumulate in the lubricant

• Lower volatility than petroleum diesel
• The chemical structure of FAME is inherently reactive
• Adding a chemically reactive material into the engine oil
• Type of feedstock can significantly affect FAME chemical properties
• Results in complex lubrication issues
• Three potential issues have been identified for biodiesel
applications:
• Increases oxidation of lubricants
• Increased piston deposits
• Increased corrosion

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 Primary Mechanism of FAME Accumulation
in Lubricant

Fuel Injector
Exhaust gas Diesel particulate filters (DPF)

Fuel sprayed into cylinder

after combustion Æ more fuel
lands on cylinder wall
Piston Rings
Fuel dissolves in the oil on
cylinder wall and is washed
down in to the sump

The lower volatility of the

FAME leads to a build up of
fuel in the sump and dilution of
Oil sump the lubricant

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 Potential Impact of FAME Accumulation in
Lubricant

Potential biodiesel
induced piston
Potential deposits
biodiesel induced
oxidation of lubricant

Potential biodiesel
induced soft metal
FAME and its degradation corrosion of bearing
products are lubricant surfaces
contaminants

Oil
Oil sump
sump

© Copyright INFINEUM INTERNATIONAL LIMITED 2009 7 Performance you can rely on.
 Aims of Investigation

• To understand the impact of:

• FAME level on lubricant performance
• FAME source / composition on lubricant performance
• Identify additive technologies to efficiently control the negative
effects of FAME in bench and engine tests
• Demonstrate control of negative biodiesel effects in a B30 field
trial

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 Impact of Biodiesel on Oxidation
PDSC Bench Oxidation Test

• Increasing levels of FAME reduces oxidation stability of lubricants

> 240 > 240

200 Good
Oxidation Induction Time, minutes

150

Top-tier
Mid-tier
100

50

Worse
0
Neat Lube Lube with 10% B0 Lube with 10% B50 Lube with 10% B100

• Top-tier lubricants provide increased oxidation stability with FAME

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 Impact of Biodiesel on Oxidation
PDSC Bench Oxidation Test

• Oxidation stability varies with FAME type, all reduce oxidation

stability PDSC Peak Onset
280

270 Top-tier Good

E6
Peak Onset Temperature / °C

260

250

240

230
A3/B3
220 PME
Mid-tier
RME
210 SME Worse
200
Neat lube Lube w/ 10% B0 Lube w/ 10% B50 Lube w/ 10% B100

• SME shows worst oxidation performance (SME>RME>PME)

• Attributed to increasing level of poly-unsaturation

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 Impact of Biodiesel on Piston Deposits
TEOST MHT-4 Bench Deposit Test

• FAME increases deposits in bench test

40

Neat oil
35
Oil with 10% B50

30 Worse
mg deposits

25

20

15

10
Good
5

0
Mid-tier Top-tier

• Top-tier oils minimise risk of biodiesel-induced deposits

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 Impact of Biodiesel on Deposits
Caterpillar 1N Engine Test

• Caterpillar 1N test requires artificial addition of biodiesel into the

sump to mimic fuel dilution of modern engines & induce biodiesel
deposits
400
B0
B30
350 Worse
B30 + 5% B100
300 MAX.
Weighted demerits

LIMIT
250

200

150

100

Good
50

0
Top-tier Mid-tier

• Top-tier oil gives excellent control of biodiesel induced piston

deposits with B30 and 5% biodiesel dilution of sump
• Biodiesel dilution in sump causes lower quality oil to fail test

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 Impact of Biodiesel on Soft Metal Corrosion
HTCBT Bench Corrosion Test

Copper Corrosion Lead Corrosion

140 1800

1600
120
1400
100
1200

80

ppm
1000
ppm

800
60
600
40
400
20 200

0 0
Lubricant Lubricant + Lubricant + Lubricant + Lubricant Lubricant + Lubricant + Lubricant +
10% Diesel 5% Diesel + 10% FAME 10% Diesel 5% Diesel + 10% FAME
5% FAME 5% FAME

• FAME dilution can result in dramatic increases in copper and lead

corrosion using a conventional mid-tier lubricant

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 Impact of FAME Source on Soft Metal Corrosion
HTCBT Bench Corrosion Test

• FAME source can influence extent of biodiesel induced corrosion

200 2000
COPPER LEAD

150 1500

ppm Pb
ppm Cu

100 1000

RME
SME
50 PME 500 RME
SME
PME

0 0
Neat lube
Lubricant Lube w/ 10% B0
Lubricant + Lube w/ 10% B50
Lubricant + Lube w/ 10% B100
Lubricant + Neat lube
Lubricant Lube w/ 10% +
Lubricant B0 Lube w/ 10% B50
Lubricant + Lube w/ 10%+
Lubricant
10% Diesel 5% Diesel + 10% FAME 10% Diesel 5% Diesel + 10%B100
FAME
5% FAME 5% FAME

• Correlation of FAME poly-unsaturation and corrosion

• SME > RME > PME

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 Control of FAME-Induced Corrosion
HTCBT Bench Corrosion Test

• Tailored formulation approaches required to target the soft metal

corrosion mechanisms of biodiesel FAME

Copper Corrosion Lead Corrosion

140 1800

1600
120
Mid tier
Mid tier 1400
Top tier
100 Top tier
1200

80

ppm
1000
ppm

800
60
600
40
400
20 200

0 0
Lubricant Lubricant + Lubricant + Lubricant + Lubricant Lubricant + Lubricant + Lubricant +
10% Diesel 5% Diesel + 10% FAME 10% Diesel 5% Diesel + 10% FAME
5% FAME 5% FAME

• Biodiesel-induced corrosion can be controlled and minimized by

appropriate choice of lubricant additives
© Copyright INFINEUM INTERNATIONAL LIMITED 2009 15 Performance you can rely on.
 Control of Biodiesel Effects in B30 Field Trial

• Demonstrate control of biodiesel in modern engine design with DPF

• Drive cycle designed to promote biodiesel build up in lubricant sump
• In cylinder post injection of fuel for DPF regeneration results in fuel
dilution
• Realistic, but harsh driving conditions
• 4x Mercedes Benz C220 CDI with DPF
• 2 vehicles on B30 RME and 2 vehicles on ‘real’ B0
• 60,000 km in 6 months, representing 2 oil change intervals
• Mixture of city and autobahn driving

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 Control of Biodiesel Induced Lubricant Oxidation
B30 Field Trial

• Small, insignificant increase in oxidation observed with B30

• Analytical method can give higher, false readings in presence of biodiesel
• Typical oxidation in ACEA OM646 engine test ranges from 15 to 30
A/cm

30 30

25 25
Oxidation (A/cm)

Oxidation (A/cm)
20 20

15 15

10 10

5 5

0 0
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 30000 35000 40000 45000 50000 55000 60000
Test Distance (km) Test Distance (km)

Car 1 Car 2 Car 3 Car 4 Car 1 Car 2 Car 3 Car 4

• Top-tier lubricant technology keeps excellent control of biodiesel

induced oxidation with B30
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 Control of Biodiesel Induced Piston Deposits
B30 Field Trial

• Low level of biodiesel induced piston deposits observed with B30

• With B30, engine cleanliness remains well within acceptable limits

Car 1 B0
Car 2 B0
Car 3 B30
Car 4 B30
Piston Rating (merit)

B0 B0 B30 B30

Vehicle

• Top-tier lubricant technology maintains excellent control of biodiesel

induced piston deposits and engine cleanliness with B30

© Copyright INFINEUM INTERNATIONAL LIMITED 2009 18 Performance you can rely on.
 Control of Biodiesel Induced Corrosion
B30 Field Trial

• Risk of biodiesel induced corrosion increases with FAME dilution

from in-cylinder post injection
• Comparable low copper and lead corrosion levels observed with
petroleum diesel and B30
Average Copper Corrosion at ODI Average Lead Corrosion at ODI
50 50
Car 1 B0 Car 1 B0
Car 2 B0 Car 2 B0
40 40 Car 3 B30
Car 3 B30
Car 4 B30 Car 4 B30
Copper (ppm)

Lead (ppm)
30 30

20 20

10 10

B0 B0 B30 B30
0 0
Vehicle Vehicle

• Biodiesel induced corrosion can be controlled and minimized in the

field by appropriate choice of lubricant additives

© Copyright INFINEUM INTERNATIONAL LIMITED 2009 19 Performance you can rely on.
 Overview of B30 Biodiesel Field Trial

• No issues observed with vehicle operability with B30

• Significant biodiesel accumulation in lubricant observed
• Field trial shows top-tier lubricant technology with B30 fuel
gives:
• Excellent control of biodiesel induced oxidation
• Excellent control of biodiesel induced deposits & engine cleanliness
• Provide excellent wear protection
• Excellent control of biodiesel induced corrosion

• Top-tier lubricant technology shown to give excellent all round

performance and be compatible with biodiesel blends up to B30

© Copyright INFINEUM INTERNATIONAL LIMITED 2009 20 Performance you can rely on.
 Summary

• The chemical structure of biodiesel is inherently reactive

• Adding a chemically reactive material into the engine oil
• Increasing levels of biodiesel result in complex lubrication issues
• Chemical mechanisms are different with biodiesel and petroleum diesel
• Biodiesel can cause increased oxidation, deposits and corrosion
• High quality lubricants minimize effects of today’s levels of biodiesel
• Impact of future higher levels of biodiesel can be minimized and
controlled by selection of appropriate additive technology

• This work has been conducted in partnership with Petronas Base Oil SDN
BHD

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