B50 Biodiesel Mandate Takes Effect: Minimal Impact on Diesel Vehicles, Says Expert

The Indonesian government has officially implemented the B50 biodiesel regulation, mandating a mixture of 50 percent plant-based biodiesel and 50 percent diesel fuel. Automotive expert Yannes Martinus Pasaribu stated that the use of B50 will not cause significant changes for diesel vehicles that have already been using B40, a blend of 40 percent palm oil-based biodiesel and 60 percent diesel. “Because Indonesia has been implementing B40 for more than a year, the solvent effect of B50 biodiesel in cleaning old deposits in tanks and fuel lines is greatly reduced,” the researcher from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) said on Wednesday. He explained that vehicles already adapted to B40 do not require extensive cleaning of fuel deposits when switching to B50. Regarding environmental impact, Yannes noted that vehicles using B50 produce lower exhaust emissions. “In terms of emissions, B50 is still better because it produces lower carbon monoxide and smoke. However, although not significant, B50 is slightly less efficient due to its lower calorific value,” he said. “Overall, the performance of B50 is not much different from B40 for well-maintained vehicles,” he added. Yannes said diesel vehicle users do not need to make major changes to their maintenance routines when starting to use B50. According to him, vehicles that have gone through the stages of using B30 and B40 do not require extensive deposit cleaning when switching to B50, so fuel filters do not need to be replaced immediately at the start of use. Yannes advised diesel vehicle users to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for periodic filter replacement. However, for older vehicles, filter replacement needs to be done more frequently. He also recommended that diesel vehicle owners periodically check the condition of seals and rubber components, as B50 biodiesel has slightly more aggressive properties. In addition, Yannes reminded users of the importance of keeping the vehicle’s fuel tank clean, avoiding storing B50 for too long, and regularly servicing the vehicle at workshops that understand the use of biodiesel. “With consistent normal maintenance, diesel vehicles can use B50 safely and optimally,” he said.