Daf has confirmed that customers are allowed to use 100% bio-diesel on specific Euro 4 and Euro 5 trucks, whereas previously it had only permitted the fuel to be used in its Euro 3 vehicles. This is in contrast to Volvo, which earlier this month announced that it would not permit anything more than a 30% blend in its trucks. "But there are some provisos," warns Daf marketing director Tony Pain.
These include the halving of oil drain intervals, the regular checking of rubber hoses, only using fuel that meets the required European standard, and not allowing it to sit for long periods, as bio-diesel has a tendency to attract water. "The trucks also have to be on some sort of maintenance contract," he says, "as it's important that we see them on a regular basis. And we will only guarantee the catalyst for one year."
It only applies to the 9-litre and 12.9-litre engines, which covers all CF75/85s and XF105s and the catalyst is only guaranteed for one year. While the use of 100% bio-diesel tends to reduce particulates, it has a negative effect on NOX levels. So much so that trucks running on the fuel are unlikely to remain within the Euro 4/5 limits.
Despite this arguably being wrong on moral grounds, Pain says hauliers have nothing to worry about from a legal point of view. He also calms any fears that a rise in NOX levels will be detected by the truck's on-board diagnostics and cause the torque levels to drop by 40%.
The sensor fitted to new Euro 4/5 trucks is only designed to detect faulty EGR valves or a complete lack of AdBlue in SCR trucks, so NOX levels would need to increase by at least 80% before being detected. Mercedes-Benz will marginally increase the AdBlue dosage in trucks running on high percentage bio-diesel blends. It says this will ensure the NOx levels remain compliant with Euro 4 emission standards.
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