PETALING JAYA: BMW Group Malaysia is aghast at the government plan to introduce the use of B10 biodiesel, saying its use could lead to engine damage.

It said modern diesel engines in Malaysia could run on the B7 biodiesel but not B10.

"In our tests with B10 biodiesel worldwide, we have found technical challenges present when blending 10% of palm based methyl ester with the current conventional fuel," said  BMW Group Malaysia managing director and CEO Alan Harris.



"Testing on vehicles have found that fatty-acid methyl ester, which boils at high temperatures will move into the motor oil due to the regeneration setting resulting in thinning of the motor oil as it does not evaporate when the engine runs at high temperatures. This in turn leads to oil sludge, reduced lubricity with the risk of severe engine damage."

B10 biodiesel also results in higher levels of water in the fuel, which leads to corrosion of parts, which transport the fuel and promotes oxidation in the tank, causing a blocked fuel filter.

Harris said the Government should have consulted the automotive industry before announcing the B10 biodiesel plan.

"While biodiesel is introduced with the intention of promoting the use of clean and green technology as well as to increase the domestic use of palm products in the country, we must ensure that the technology is safe and proven to also benefit the industrial and the automotive sector," said Harris.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia also said the introduction of B10 biodiesel was incompatible with current engines.

It said its diesel cars could accept B7 diesel and its Fuso trucks could only use a B5 blend, Bloomberg quoted the company's president Roland S. Folger as saying.

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