On the back of comprehensive testing, HVO has been approved for use in newer four- and six-cylinder engines
German truck maker Mercedes-Benz has approved the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) in a range of its heavy- and medium-duty truck engines.
The company says the approval, which comes after comprehensive testing, relates to variants of the in-line six-cylinder OM 470, OM 471 (first generation), and OM 936 engines and the in-line four-cylinder OM 934 which meet the Euro 6 emissions standard.
“The engines are designed as standard to make use of the new HVO fuel,” the company says in a statement.
“This decision applies to all engine variants whatever their output category.”
HVO is a biodiesel fuel sourced from waste materials and certified cultivation facilities, and can be the by-product of crop plants and the cooking oils and fats.
The fuel is aromatic-free and produces no ash during the combustion process, Mercedes-Benz says, and can be used as an alternative or in conjunction with regular fuel to reduce environmental impacts.
“Use of unblended HVO above all leads to dramatic improvements in CO2 performance,” it says, highlighting that no changes are required to standard vehicles.
“Since the characteristics of HVO mean that it is absolutely comparable to conventionally produced petroleum-based diesel fuel, no modifications to the engines or their peripherals are necessary.”
“The injection process, fuel lines and seals remain unchanged.”
Oil changes and cleaning of the particular filter also remain the same, as does the vehicle warranty and goodwill policy.
In terms of engine performance and torque, the numbers also stay the same with HVO.
The Mercedes-Benz approval relates to the all fuels that meet the prEN 15940 standard.