The use of turpentine as additive for diesel oil. A review

Year 2025, Volume: 11 Issue: 3, 880 - 895, 16.05.2025

Robert Madalin Chivu , Jorge Martins Florin Popescu Ion V. Ion Uzuneanu Krisztina Michael Fratita

Abstract

This paper reviews research on the effects of substituting diesel oil with mixtures containing turpentine on the performance and emissions of internal combustion engines. Studies have shown that turpentine-diesel blends offer several potential benefits when used as fuel. In some cases, significant reductions of up to 10% in fuel consumption have been observed. Overall, pollutant emissions decreased, with reduction in smoke opacity exceeding 40%, as reported in some studies. Certain blends exhibited increased engine performance, potentially due to improved fuel atomization from the lower viscosity of the mixture. Additionally, studies have documented thermal efficiency gains exceeding 3% in specific cases. However, the effectiveness of these blends is highly dependent on several factors, including the source of the turpentine (its geographic origin can significantly impact its properties and suitability for blending); the injection pressure (which is crucial for maximizing the benefits of the blend) and the proportion of the turpentine in the mixture (which significantly influences the observed effects).

Keywords

Biofuel, Diesel Engine, Engine Efficiency, Fuel Consumption, Pollutant Emissions, Turpentine

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