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The effects of various aspects of FAME quality and sources on injector nozzle fouling, when blended into diesel were investigated systematically. The B10 fuels used for this investigation are representative of available FAME qualities in the market. The variables used to assess quality were age, water content, saturation level, monoglycerides level, antioxidant content and feedstock. The B10 fuels were tested in a PSA (Peugeot Société Anonyme) DW10 bench engine operating to a modified version of the CEC (Coordinating European Council) F-98 Nozzle Coking Test. Power loss was used as the primary indicator of nozzle fouling. Power loss did not exceed 1% with any of the B10 blends tested, which is within the repeatability limits. These results show that this set of B10s, formulated with market quality and worst-case quality FAME, did not cause measurable injector nozzle fouling in this modified version of the industry standard engine test.

The regeneration of a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) is dependent on both the amount and type of soot present on the filter. The objective of this work is to understand how the fuel can affect this ease with which soot can be oxidized. This soot was produced in a two-cylinder four-stroke direct-injection diesel engine, operated with a matrix of fuels with varying aromatic and sulphur level. Their oxidation behaviour in different environments was determined by Temperature Programmed Oxidation in TGA and a six-flow reactor. Transmission electron microscopy was used to examine the soot morphology. Oxidation with only O2 shows oxidation temperatures strongly dependent on the fuel type. Soot oxidation in the presence of NO and a Pt-catalyst results in a lower oxidation temperature. SO2 has an inhibiting effect leading to higher soot oxidation temperature.