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By Jenni Gritti Probst | Posted March 11, 2024
Renewable diesel fuels… they're kind of like nature's gift to our engines. So, what is renewable diesel fuel, exactly? We're talking about fuel made from stuff like soy, palm, canola, even used cooking oil and animal fat. These, along with biomass, algae, and more, are what we call renewable fuels. And they do something remarkable; when used correctly, these can reduce the total well-to-wheel lifecycle carbon impact of operating an engine, although the tailpipe emissions remain essentially the same as traditional fuels.
“What’s lifecycle carbon,” I hear you asking. Well, this is the total carbon impact of producing, transporting, and finally using the fuel in an engine. The term well-to-wheel is still used even for fuels that are grown and then consumed in machines with tracks, it can be confusing but hang in with us…
Some of these renewable fuels, especially those made from fats and vegetable oils, undergo a process called hydrotreating. What you get from that is a top-notch fuel, commonly known as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), and guess what? It's a great match for your Cat® engine-powered equipment.
But wait, are biomass fuels renewable, too? What about synthetic? Short answer: It depends. These can be transformed into fuel through a different method known as the Fisher-Tropsch process, where the final fuels are known as biomass-to-liquid (BTL) or gas-to-liquid (GTL). And depending on where the original feed materials came from, these liquids can be renewable too. BTL, GTL, and HVO - they're all cousins with similar chemistry and performance specs, often called drop-in fuels and they're all welcome in Cat diesel engines (but please be sure to consult your operations and maintenance manual or Cat dealer for more details).
Now, let's set the record straight. Drop-in fuels like HVO and BTL aren't the same as your run-of-the-mill biodiesel. That’s because drop-in fuels are usually made up of paraffinic hydrocarbons. And here's the best part, you can toss them right into your diesel engine as drop-in replacements.
Some benefits of using renewable fuels:
To keep things running smoothly with your latest U.S. EPA Tier4 Final or EU Stage V Cat powered machines, make sure your renewable fuels meet the latest version of any of these specs:
Then you can use them:
Many other non-Tier4 Final and Eu Stage 5 engines can also use blends of HVO, BTL, GTL and biodiesel alongside regular diesel, but please consult your engine OMM (Operations and Maintenance Manual) or ask your local dealer for a full lowdown.
But hold on, before you go blending away, check your engine's manual for specific biodiesel limits.
Here's what you need to know about using HVO, BTL or GTL fuels with Cat engines:
EPA Tier 4, EU Stage V, and similar emission standards.
But remember, folks, like all fuels, keep them clean and dry. Nobody likes contamination or water sneaking in.
Contributor
Not one to walk away from the chance to tell a good tale, Jenni spends her days crafting and sharing stories of the people, products and services that make the world a better place. When she’s not working her dream job at Caterpillar, she’s usually outdoors hiking, exploring, and playing in the dirt.
A number of renewable and alternative fuels can be used as drop-in replacements for diesel fuel. These fuels must meet the specifications and characteristics described below in order to be used in Cat engines and reduce the risk of downtime.
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