Evaluation of degradation in lubricating oil and engine wear using Jatropha oil blended with diesel in stationary compression ignition (CI) engines

Abstract The current environmental scenario has compelled global economies to explore more sustainable and renewable energy resources. The focus of international policies is to enhance the use of alternative renewable energy sources while minimizing the carbon footprint. Vegetable oils and biodiesel can emerge as promising fuels of the future. However, using vegetable oils and biodiesel in engines can cause problematic issues like sticking rings, injector choking, and wear decay of the vital parts of engine during operation. This paper aims to study the prospects and scope of using Jatropha Curcas straight vegetable oil and diesel blends in the engine without making hardware modifications. Initially, Jatropha Curcas oil was pretreated to remove free fatty acid and wax content. Performance and emission tests were carried out on a single-cylinder, four-stroke, and constant-speed engine. A splash blend of 10 % Jatropha Curcas oil in diesel showed almost synonymous performance to that of pure diesel. A 512- hour endurance test was conducted on a bench engine test to evaluate the effect of Jatropha Curcas oil & diesel blend on wear and deposits, rating vital engine parts and fuel injection equipment. Trace metal analysis showed better results for diesel than Jatropha blend. The deposits and merit rating of vital engine parts conclude that after the removal of FFA and wax, a 10 % pretreated vegetable oil blend can be successfully used in stationary diesel engines.