Impact of CPO and B35 on Diesel Engine Rocker Arm Wear During Long-Term Operation

Authors

Fawwaz Aqilah Nurmansyah, Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, UPN Veteran Jawa Timur, Surabaya, 60294Follow
Nur Fadilah Rizky Supramono, Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, UPN Veteran Jawa Timur, Surabaya, 60294Follow
Muhammad Ikhsan, Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, UPN Veteran Jawa Timur, Surabaya, 60294Follow
Erwan Adi Saputro, Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, UPN Veteran Jawa Timur, Surabaya, 60294Follow
Wiliandi Saputro, Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, UPN Veteran Jawa Timur, Surabaya, 60294Follow

Abstract

The increasing number of motor vehicles has led to higher fossil fuel consumption, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, and environmental degradation. As a renewable alternative, biodiesel offers a way to reduce these impacts. Indonesia, with its abundant natural resources, has significant potential for biodiesel production. Crude palm oil (CPO) is a promising feedstock due to its availability and relatively low environmental impact. However, the high costs associated with the transesterification process make direct use of pre-heated CPO an area worth exploring. This study investigates the impact of pre-heated pure CPO compared to B35 ("Dexlite") on rocker arm wear in a Kubota RD 65 DI-NB diesel engine connected to a Denyo FA-5 alternator. The engine was operated for 300 hours at an average speed of 2000 rpm under a 100% load condition from 4000 watts of halogen lamps. Wear on the rocker arm was evaluated based on dimension loss, mass loss, and visual morphology. The results showed that the CPO-fueled engine exhibited a 38.69% lower wear rate compared to the B35-fueled engine. These findings suggest that preheated CPO can reduce component wear, extend engine lifespan, and lower maintenance costs, making it a viable alternative fuel for diesel engines. Further research is recommended to assess its long-term effects on engine performance and efficiency.

Recommended Citation

Nurmansyah, Fawwaz Aqilah; Supramono, Nur Fadilah Rizky; Ikhsan, Muhammad; Saputro, Erwan Adi; and Saputro, Wiliandi (2025) "Impact of CPO and B35 on Diesel Engine Rocker Arm Wear During Long-Term Operation," Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST): Vol. 9: No. 2, Article 15.
Available at: https://citeus.um.ac.id/jmest/vol9/iss2/15