Cost savings without power loss - Valtra tractors running on biodiesel

05/16/2006

The five Valtra T Series (T180 and T190) and HiTech 8550 Series, which make up a fourth of the association´s fleet, are required to perform at their peak. Since their acquisition around two years ago, each of the tractors has been in use for about 5000 work hours, out of which 1300 hours have been fuelled with biodiesel.

The switch to biodiesel has succeeded without complications or even modifications to the engines. "We had heard some rumours that biodiesel may damage a tractor´s engine. Since the changeover we have had nothing but positive experiences, and we cannot confirm any of the negative rumours,” says fleet manager Dietmar Straube.

Valtra recently cleared most of its tractors to be fuelled with esterified biodiesel complying with EN 14214 or ASTM D6751 norms. The newest Tier III compliant Common Rail Sisu Diesel engines form the only partial exception; for most of these models biodiesel is only recommended as a five per cent mixture. Smooth tractor operation can of course only be achieved with the right servicing. If biodiesel is used, the engine oil and fuel filter must be changed twice as often as required by the normal service interval, as biodiesel is more liable to absorb condensed water than normal diesel fuel. Accordingly, the Grünlichtenberg farming association has reduced the service intervals for their Valtra tractors by half.

Valtra tractors perform a wide variety of tasks at Grünlichtenberg, including light cultivation work, manure spreading and transportation of all kinds. The association produces potatoes, sugar beet, other vegetables, meat and milk and even has its own direct sales markets. Dietmar Straube confirms that the performance of the Valtra tractors with biodiesel is just as high and reliable as when fuelled with normal diesel.

About four years ago the Grünlichtenberg farming association has started to convert its entire fleet to use 100% esterified biodiesel, which the association orders from manufacturers throughout Germany. According to Dietmar Straube, the main reason for the changeover is the low cost of biodiesel compared to normal diesel fuel: "Our machines consume about 1,000,000 litres of fuel every year, which is why we are convinced of the savings we can achieve with biodiesel."

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