B50 Road Test Reaches 40,000 Km: How is the Fuso Truck Engine Condition?

The government’s efforts to expand the use of renewable energy through biodiesel mandates continue to progress. Following the success of B35, it is now the turn of B50 fuel, a mixture of 50 percent biodiesel from palm oil, which is undergoing intensive testing. However, before it is officially distributed at petrol stations, several automotive manufacturers, particularly in the commercial vehicle sector, are actively involved in monitoring road test results to ensure engine readiness for the new fuel specifications. PT Krama Yudha Tiga Berlian Motors (KTB), the official distributor of Mitsubishi Fuso commercial vehicles in Indonesia, is one of the parties paying close attention to this progress. Aji Jaya, Sales & Marketing Director of PT KTB, explained that the road test process is still ongoing to assess long-term engine performance. Aji stated that reaching 40,000 km is an important milestone for the testing team. At this stage, stakeholders are beginning to review initial data before proceeding to the final phase to comprehensively evaluate engine component durability. “At 40,000 km, an evaluation will be conducted first—what are the impacts? What are the results? We are still awaiting the final evaluation results from the road test,” said Aji. Furthermore, he emphasised that accurate data is essential before this policy is implemented on a massive scale. The 50,000 km mark is considered sufficient to represent the workload of commercial vehicles, which typically travel long distances daily. “Because it is important for us to know the results after using B50 up to 50,000 km. So, the target might be June or July to reach 50,000 km,” he said. Aji added that after achieving the mileage target, the inspection process will not only involve sensor monitoring or on-road performance. There will then be a more in-depth technical process to examine the physical condition inside the combustion chamber. The evaluation results will serve as a reference or guideline for manufacturers in providing maintenance recommendations to consumers. This is crucial to ensure that engine lifespan remains optimal even with a higher biodiesel blend. “Up to now, from the road test results up to 40,000 km, there are no issues. But for more accurate and certain information, we must wait for the evaluation. After the engine is disassembled and examined, that will allow us to draw conclusions,” said Aji.